So We Never Forget... Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, September 9, 2010 OUR 120th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 36-2010 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS THE TERROR…Ed Zazzali of Scotch Plains took a trio of photographs from Newark of the collapse of the Twin Towers. Commuters Riveted By Tragedy on 9/11 Twin Towers Destroyed September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 attacks, and many schools and busi- By FRED LECOMTE By DEBORAH MADISON nesses were shut down. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Both Trade Center towers had huge, Leaving behind the billowing plumes In what is being equated with the gaping holes from which flames, of smoke and terror striking Lower 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor in its smoke and debris poured out for hours Manhattan, commuters arrived safely devastating magnitude of death and after the crashes. A third hijacked jet into Westfield’s train station via NJ destruction, Tuesday, September 11, subsequently crashed into the Penta- Transit from the city and Port Author- 2001 will be a date infamously linked gon at approximately 9:45 a.m. A ity in Elizabeth. with the worst act of terrorism to ever fourth jet crashed approximately 80 Visibly anxious, commuters Mike touch American soil. miles outside of Pittsburgh at 10:10 Webb and Donald Glassford were will- Countless numbers of lives and the a.m. ing to relate their experiences from a New York City skyline have been Then, one hour after the first crash, devastating day that they could never horrifically altered by a terrorist at- the North Tower collapsed on itself at anticipate. tack that totally destroyed the World 10 a.m. and the South Tower col- REMEMBERING HOW IT WAS...The lower Manhattan skyline as it was in August, 2001. Mr. Webb said, “Although at this Trade Center Twin Towers after two lapsed approximately one half-hour time the Port Authority is closed, trains hijacked airline jets crashed into the later at 10:30 a.m. Both towers are running one way – out. It’s a load- 110-story buildings. A third hijacked crumbled into piles of rubble, send- Residents at Sycamore, Central and-go situation.” jet was intentionally plunged into the ing shattered glass and a thick cloud “NJ Transit is very organized,” Mr. Pentagon 15 minutes before the first of smoke, debris and soot billowing Webb stressed. “They’re getting every- of the Twin Towers caved in and into the streets of Lower Manhattan body out.” collapsed. for hours, covering cars and people Lament Lack of Crossing Guard An employee at CBS Sports, he was Two hijacked commercial airline trapped in its blinding wake with silt By LAUREN S. BARR South and Westfield Avenues, and incident. He said that four of the nine advised by his superiors not to come jets were flown directly into The and dust. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Waterson Street mid-block. positions eliminated were at traffic into the city yesterday, the day after the World Trade Center Twin Towers, Although numerous employees WESTFIELD – The town council Michael Endy of Irving Avenue lights. Mr. Gildea explained that the tragedy. Instead, he would conduct busi- located in Battery Park City in Lower were evacuated after the initial plane returned from its summer hiatus at raised concern about the safety of the eliminated positions were chosen in ness by conference calls until further Manhattan, on Tuesday morning in crashes, eyewitness accounts from Tuesday night’s conference meeting Central/Sycamore intersection for consultation with the police depart- notice. what is being described as a terrorist the streets below reported, on the to hear complaints from several Third elementary-school children crossing ment, board of education, traffic pro- Mr. Glassford, who is employed as a suicide mission. The North Tower major news stations, seeing people Ward residents regarding the elimi- to attend Jefferson Elementary School fessionals and the B.R.A.K.E.S. (Bik- distributor in auto services in Port Eliza- was hit at approximately 8:45 a.m. plunge out of upper-story windows, nation of a crossing guard at the inter- without a crossing guard. He also ers, Runners And Kids Are Entitled beth, was one among many with a near the 80th floor, and the South to their death, from the fiery floors section of Central and Sycamore questioned whether new signage in- to Safety) group. clearer view of the city. Tower was hit near the 70th floor at above. Avenues. stalled meant there was no turn on red Third Ward Councilman Mark He commented, “I saw the second approximately 9:03 a.m. Thousands of terrified people ran In addition to the post at Central at all, or just during the fire signal. Ciarrocca told the residents that the plane heading across the river over As of yesterday morning, much of frantically from the impenetrable and Sycamore, crossing guards were Town Administrator James Gildea council had to meet a large budget CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 New York City was paralyzed by the cloud of smoke that enveloped the en- eliminated at Clark Street and explained that the Central Avenue shortfall and was restrained by a 4- tire tip of Lower Manhattan after the Brightwood Avenue, Gallows Hill corridor is still under construction by percent cap on tax levy increases. He buildings collapsed. Road and St. Marks Place, Grove Union County but that the sign Mr. said that the decision on which cross- One Bus Misses Route Hundreds of passengers aboard the Street and Central Avenue, Kimball Endy questioned is solely a “no turn” ing guard positions to cut was one of four airplanes were immediately pre- Avenue and Wychwood Road, Moun- on red for the fire signal and that the the “hardest things we had to do” but On Westfield’s Opening Day sumed dead, and thousands of New tain Avenue and North Chestnut current prohibition of “no turn” on that “you can argue having a crossing CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Street, Park and Central Avenues, red during school hours will remain. guard at every intersection.” He said By MICHAEL POLLACK pany that everything was in place and The left lanes at all four corners of the that he hopes that parents will volun- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader ready for the morning of September intersection will also be changed to teer for the town’s “walking school WESTFIELD – Westfield experi- 2. However, one of the buses did not MS BOE Delays Solar Panel; “left-turn-only” lanes. bus” program. enced a bussing hiccup on the first arrive for the morning route the first Mr. Endy also said that he had Grandview Avenue resident Mat- day of classes, last Thursday, Sep- day of school. This route provides heard that a child was once killed at thew Debenedetto suggested that the tember 2, when a morning bus, from transportation to Edison Intermedi- New Courses Added for Year that intersection, but Mr. Gildea said new traffic light being installed allow Iselin-based Dapper Bus Company, ate School from the Washington By ERIC D. WILDSTEIN energy consumption while offering that he did not know of any such CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 failed to arrive; it was to take Wash- School zone,” she added. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader local units the lowest possible power ington School-area students on the Westfield’s transportation secretary MOUNTAINSIDE — The purchase price.” He said the solar north side of town to the southside’s was in the office at 6:45 a.m. the first day borough’s board of education (BOE) panels are “inherently beneficial” and Woman Threatening to Jump Edison Intermediate School. of school in the event there were any discussed long-term strategies at its estimated a possible 45-percent re- Westfield Schools Community Re- problems reported on any of the runs. At meeting on August 31 to help reduce duction in power consumption after lations Director Lorre Korecky ex- the same time, Business Administrator spending by lowering energy con- their first assessment of the Deerfield Is Rescued From Rooftop plained to The Westfield Leader that the Robert Berman was at Edison at 7:30 sumption and reviewing the district’s property. By SUZETTE F. STALKER He said officers made their way to district’s bus companies are provided a.m. to observe the bus drop-offs. foodservice program. The BOE con- Mr. Scerbo stressed that capital for Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the roof, where they discovered the with the school calendar and schedules Parents whose children were on sulted with representatives from the installation, maintenance and opera- WESTFIELD – A distraught 43-year-old woman. According to “well before the start of school.” the missed bus route drove their chil- Union County Improvement Author- tion of the solar panel system is fully woman was successfully led to safety other sources, the woman resides in “To ensure that everything is in dren to Edison, Ms. Korecky said. ity (UCIA) to join its Renewable En- funded through UCIA Renewable En- last Friday night after threatening to the building with her adult son and place for the first day of school, our That same day, “Mr. Berman met ergy Program, which would install ergy Program Lease Revenue Bonds. jump from the roof of a three-story their cat and, following difficulties business office called the bus compa- with the owner of the bus company, solar panels at Deerfield School. He said the “only cost to the district building in downtown Westfield.