Page 4 Thursday, February 11, 2010 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION ABCDICTIONOPQRSTDECEPTIONUVWXYZ The Scotch Plains–Fanwood The Westfield Leader Letters to the Editor Times Since 1959 — Established 1890 — DD Legal Newspaper for the Town of Westfield, Legal Newspaper for the Borough of Fanwood TM Boroughs of Mountainside and Garwood And the Township of Scotch Plains Local Government Does Work in DD And the County of Union, NJ. Diction Deception Members of: Below are four arcane words, each New Jersey Press Association • National Newspaper Association • Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce Westfield - ‘The Quiet Zone’ with four definitions – only one is correct. Scotch Plains Business & Professional Association • Fanwood Business & Professional Association I wish to express my sincere thanks to this project. This “Quiet Zone” not only The others are made up. Are you sharp everyone, especially the town officials – benefits the residents of Westfield, but enough to discern this deception of dic- Periodicals – Postage Paid at Rahway, New Jersey Periodicals – Postage Paid at Rahway, New Jersey past and present- who contributed to the neighboring Clark and Scotch Plains too. tion? P.O. Box 250 • 251 North Avenue, West P. O. Box 368 success of the “Quiet Zone” instituted in It improves the quality of our lives, and it If you can guess one correctly – good Westfield, N.J. 07091 Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 Westfield. certainly improves all of our property guess. If you get two – well-read indi- Tele: (908) 232-4407 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.goleader.com • Fax: (908) 232-0473 This endeavor began for me back in values. But most importantly, according vidual. If you get three – word expert. If 1995 when I approached than Assembly- to the Federal Railroad Administration you get all four – You must have a lot of POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the offices of the newspapers at man Richard Bagger about the distress- research, it has increased the safety of the free time! P. O. Box 250, Westfield, New Jersey 07091 ing train whistle in our community. He railroad crossing dramatically. All words and correct definitions Published every Thursday by Watchung Communications, Inc. started the ball rolling, as did our town In these times when people have lost come from the board game Diction council – and the long process has finally faith in government, it is refreshing to Deception. Paul Peyton Horace R. Corbin Jeff Gruman come to fruition, expedited by the support know our small town still cares enough to Answers to last week’s arcane words. ASSIGNMENT EDITOR PUBLISHER SALES MANAGER and determination of our current Mayor listen and help its residents. It should be a 1. Sakeen – A wild goat of the Suzette F. Stalker David B. Corbin Michael L. Bartiromo Andy Skibitsky, the town council and priority to improve what we can in our Himalayas COMMUNITY ASSISTANT PUBLISHER & SPORTS MARKETING PRODUCTION Councilman Jim Foerst. communities. 2. Tentation – Experimental adjust- Michael Pollack Ben Corbin Robert P. Connelly Many uninformed people have com- In short, it was worth the wait. ment EDUCATION & ARTS SERVICES BUSINESS OPERATIONS mented on the reasons why the town Gary Strano 3. Temulentive – Somewhat intoxi- would spend so many years working on Westfield cated 4. Miff – To take offense or quarrel SUBSCRIPTION PRICE www.goleader.com/subscribe One-year – $28 • Two-year – $52 • Three-year – $76 • One-year college (September to May) – $20 ‘What About Volunteerism’ SURPHUL 1. Bristled; standing erect To Fill SID Manager Job? 2. Out of use 3. Harsh in taste, acrid Kudos to Mayor [Nancy] Malool for I have been a volunteer in Scotch Plains 4. To bathe with medicated water It’s Football, Dang It; Man-up opposing the Scotch Plains Management for over 25 years serving both as chair- PECCADILLO Corp. (SPMC) in reference to the $44,000 man of the Construction Board of Ap- 1. An expert on social behavior among being spent on salaries and fees, etc. peals and Fire Sub Code official. All of ethnic groups Hiring Lisa Schiller [as co-manager of the board members, including myself, 2. A petty fault or minor offense And Play Outdoors in the Cold! the Special Improvement District] con- serve the people of Scotch Plains gratis as 3. A vagabond stitutes a conflict of interest since her well as many other too numerous to Those who watched the Super Bowl surely noticed brutality and physicality play itself out. They want to see 4. A burrowing animal of South husband is an SPMC board member. mention. America related to the armadillo but advertisement after advertisement chiding emasculated contact and impact, and they want to feel it, uncensored, Westfield’s SID (Special Improvement Wake up people of Scotch Plains! Don’t smaller males for an apparent loss of vim and vigor. One such ad, in the natural element it exists for most of the latter half of District) program is successful under Mr. complain about your taxes when you stand IDONEOUS for Dockers, featured men strutting in their underwear to the schedule. Yet, the NFL is shunning this to cater to [Dominic] Verdic alone. mute and allow these practices to con- 1. Self-absorbed What about volunteerism for Lisa tinue. 2. Producing a slight glow the tune of “I Wear No Pants.” Perhaps these ads were a corporate sponsors. Schiller’s position to give back to your clarion call to onlookers of the Super Bowl to man-up and To see Peyton Manning sporting a suntan from the Bob Roberts 3. Suitable; proper community! Scotch Plains 4. Peaceful; friendly be like their favorite gladiators of the gridiron. Miami shore on the sidelines of the Super Bowl seems TORMINA We’re starting to question, however, how gladiator-like about as anachronistic as a wind-burned Derek Jeter Municipal Mergers: Is it 1. Deep feeling of remorse, guilt the NFL’s decision makers are exactly. putting a parka over his pinstripes. 2. Turmoil While the NFL, undoubtedly the behemoth of the four The other element is this: The NFL is a sport that also 3. Severe gripping pains in the bowels A Case of ‘Boroughitis”? 4. Extreme doubt, disbelief professional sports played in America, has created an celebrates the chaos, debauchery and madness that is the Over the February 7 weekend, Gina The reason that I bring this up is Union image of manliness, it refuses to allow Super Bowls to be home team’s fan base. Each stadium has its hooligans, but Genovese, former mayor of Long Hill, County, itself. Probably only political decided in anywhere but tropical, neutral locations. We’ve in one voice, these 80,000 madmen cheer their teams on had an interesting piece in the Home junkies (geeks?) realize that we have four Letters to News Tribune. She thought that we lim- CD’s and four LD’s in the county. None heard that this is done so that, a year in advance, TV and to victory and distract the ever-loving heck out of the ited ourselves in thinking about munici- coincide perfectly with each other. Lin- the Editor radio crews can plan their schedules easier and prepare to opposing team. It makes another compelling storyline pal mergers to two towns at a time. In den has three CD’s with Union Township broadcast two weeks of nonsense prior to game day. For and sideshow during the games. Tailgaters begin cooking many cases we end up with one, still, and Elizabeth having two each! Plainfield Business-Sponsored as great as the game itself always is, the Super Bowl sadly up the energy in the parking lot and then bring it inside to small town that can’t take advantage of is the only town in the sixth CD and Signs Are ‘Out of Class’ has been corrupted to become a quasi-Corporate Bowl, the game. size. She proposed trying a mindset of Hillside the only one in the 29th LD. The five towns as a model. only district of the eight is the 20th LD, Around August 2009, St. Helen’s Ro- filled with unnecessary pre-game and in-game tomfool- What we had at the Super Bowl this year, again, was a This got me thinking with other issues which is totally in Union County yet man Catholic Church in Westfield erected ery that sometimes supercedes the action on the field. milquetoast crowd in a neutral site. This should come as rambling around the public debate over shares three CD’s. Neighboring counties three new church name signs at entrances However, we all know the real reason games will never no surprise. The Super Bowl will always have a slightly the last year. We always have the issue such as Middlesex, Morris and Essex, to their property. Attached to the three be played north of the Mason-Dixon line: Weather in most elitist crowd due to the cost of a ticket. That kills some of with the relevancy of the counties (add in also have a few towns placed in our sphere. signs are commercial advertisements, the archaic title of Chosen Freeholder), The stars are aligned. Let us have 12 “contributed by Johnson Funeral Home.” northern cities could be unmanageable as compared to the crowd’s edge instantly because the average fan is the Census with the forthcoming con- districts that match the CD’s instead of 21 If I owned a business and paid for St. their southern counterparts. priced out. Sadly, the NFL compounds this by welcoming gressional (CD) and legislative (LD) re- counties. We center merger activities in Helen’s signs, would I be allowed to First of all, why should the southern portion of the the game in neutral sites, where most in the crowd cheer apportionment, issues with the winner- these rather arbitrary districts. We can advertise my business? I have never seen country get all the fun and reap the economic benefits of on other teams during the other 18 weeks of the season and take-all set up of county government and throw out the various historic (archaic?) other places of worship do this. Now St. hosting Super Bowls? Last I checked, many of the league’s are not going to go wild over either team. It’s just another all the scandals from having so many objections to 18th century-based home Helen’s wants to apply for a “variance” to officials in this complex, home-rule sys- rule by setting up new parameters. Every- allow these advertisements to remain since staple franchises call northern cities home: New York, spectacle to them. tem with supra-municipal agencies. body starts off equally. I brought it to the attention of the Westfield Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, New England, Buf- Easy solution: Play the game where it should be played Let us face it — many of our bound- The political parties will no longer Zoning Board. St. Helen’s had no permits falo, Cleveland, Green Bay and even the lowly Lions of – in one of the respective participating cities. Can you aries are legacies of the founding of the have their safe districts, which have caused for the church name signs and advertise- Detroit. When we think of football, these bastions of the imagine this game being played in the Super Dome in colony/state with a large infusion around entrenchment. Actually, campaigning will ments issued; they just erected them with- the turn of the 20th century with be easier since there won’t be the cross out approval from the Town of Westfield. ballfield come to mind first. (Sorry, Dallas and Miami. New Orleans? Is there any good reason why that couldn’t boroughitis. How many can even remem- town/county issues to deal with. Since we This is really “tacky” and out of class The Jets and Giants fans who occupy the newspaper office have been a reality? Next year, the AFC city (whomever ber the sewage issues that created some are on the bubble for a reduction to 12 for St. Helen’s and Westfield. don’t aspire to give you any more credit than you already that would be) could host the game. If you know that you boroughs? CD’s, future censuses will not be a major Marion Monteverdi Roberts get). Not surprisingly, these are some of the league’s top have the opportunity to provide an economic boon to your I might be blue-skying here. Yet, do we factor for decades and only cause minor Scotch Plains TV markets as well. However, none of them will seem- city and allow your fans to have another home game, really have an opportunity here with the adjustments. And it reduces long-stand- 2010 census and through coming reap- ing parochial suburban versus urban ri- ingly ever have the opportunity to host the big game. wouldn’t this add just another layer of competition to an portionments? Most likely, we will be cut valries. Spending Cuts: More It doesn’t hurt to try however. already-competitive sport? to 12 House seats. Adjust our Legislative Roger Stryeski Harm Than Good? State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. intro- If this were to happen, when the Jets or Giants make it districts to three per (36 instead of 40) CD Roselle and abolish counties! There is much to feel encouraged about duced a Senate resolution earlier this month urging the to the Super Bowl, there would be a chance that the new regarding the President’s State of the NFL to select New Jersey as the location for Super Bowl Meadowlands stadium could host the game. How cool Union address, but the President and XLVIII in 2014. The NFL owners’ Super Bowl Advisory would that be? Why should we need a state senator to file Westfield-Y Employees Show Congress have their work cut out for Committee allowed the Meadowlands Stadium Co. to a request to have the Super Bowl in New Jersey? How them. Millions of older Americans face enormous challenges, many of whom place a bid, waiving the traditional requirement that host asinine does that seem? ‘Concern For a Fellow Citizen’ work very hard to build nest eggs only to stadiums have a minimum outdoor temperature of 50 In one of the greatest moves the sport has ever made, the What started out as a routine day on my much better. Patti applied an ice pack, see them crack due to soaring health care degrees or an indoor stadium. NHL has decided to host a Winter Classic hockey game way to workout at the Westfield Area Mary Kay followed me home in her car costs. “New Jersey offers the best venue for the Super Bowl, each and every January 1 – outdoors in the elements. YCMA was interrupted by a serious bump and Cathy called that evening to check Too many older Americans lack access on the head. As I exited my car (which up. period,” Mr. Kean said. “We have the image, logistics and Players wear vintage uniforms as well as toques and to quality, affordable heath care. Many was parked in front of the “Y”), I hit my I realized how grateful I am to live here are falling further behind financially while ambiance that is unparalleled in the world and the mil- scarves to brave the elements. This year saw the Philadel- head very hard on a metal box located on in Westfield. The “Y” should be very dealing with the enormous responsibili- lions of diehard fans in this region would do everything in phia Flyers and Boston Bruins slug it out on the ice in front a pole. Unbeknownst to me, a concerned proud of their employees; these wonder- ties of providing care for their parents and their power to make Super Bowl XLVIII the biggest, of a sold-out Fenway Park. This has turned into a large citizen was watching as I held my head in ful people acted in a very professional children. They face an insurance industry most-talked-about game in the history of the NFL.” success for hockey, and it is no surprise. The game is being excruciating pain. This kind-hearted per- way. But more than their professional- that uses discriminatory practices to deny, son escorted me into the “Y,” sat me ism, they showed a real concern for a limit, or charge too much for coverage. The strangest element in the NFL’s game plan about brought back to its roots, its elements. Why is it such a down and then recruited two more people fellow citizen. I always knew the “Y” was Millions fall into the costly Medicare hosting Super Bowls is twofold. One, the NFL has seem- foreign concept to move the Super Bowl to its roots as well to help. a warm, inviting and special place. This prescription drug coverage gap. In 2007, ingly celebrated the guttural nature of the game for a long – non-neutral sites where the fans will add an element to I must thank these three people, all experience only confirmed what I already 32 percent of the Medicare beneficiaries time. Watch an old NFL Films (RIP Harry Calas) produc- the greatest show on turf? employees of the “Y,” for their kindness, knew. A heartfelt thank you to Cathy, in New Jersey fell into this Part D “dough- care and total professionalism. Cathy Mary Kay and Patti — I will always tion or a re-broadcast of a Steel Curtain Super Bowl and One downside we forgot to consider: cheerleaders. If nut hole.” Dawson, Mary Kay Snodgrass and Patti remember your kindness and I will pass it AARP is committed to putting the notice how many times the blood and sacrifice of the played in a northern city, ladies might have to don fur Casseba all exhibited the best part of forward. country’s fiscal house in order — because players, let alone the harsh and unpleasant winter condi- coats over their skimpy outfits. Everyone has to make human nature. Their kindness, care and JoAnn Neylan our members care deeply about the legacy tions, are mentioned. People turn on the NFL to see sacrifices though. Man-up. compassion really made me feel safe and Westfield they’re leaving for their kids and grandkids — but we must be certain that any efforts to cut spending don’t do more harm than Goose Advocates Muse With Satire good. We stand ready to work with the President and leaders from both political On ‘Another Pest Problem’ – Children parties to find solutions that make sense for older Americans today and tomorrow. Apparently, this Canada goose prob- these smelly, loud, obnoxious, destruc- lem has ruffled a few feathers. But I’m tive, lovable creatures that had the audac- Kenneth Lindhorst glad that Ms. [Kitty] Branton (Letter to ity to call Westfield home. AARP Council, Summit the Editor, February 4, 2010) raised these Gavin Shulman Washington School concerns because there is another pest Mary Snauffer problem in Westfield. Children. Goose Advocates; New York, NY They’re everywhere. You can’t order a Show Gives Thanks Taylor ham, egg and cheese at the Bagel The producers of Believe!, the 62nd Chateau without knocking one over. Not Supreme Court Free Annual Washington School Show, would to mention the double strollers, which like to publicly thank our advertisers, makes walking on the sidewalk all but an Speech Ruling Was parents, teachers and administrators for impossibility. (Talk about an irksome situ- your extraordinary support. Your com- ation!) With their incessant crying, whin- ‘Proper’ Per 1st Amend. bined efforts resulted in a show that was ing and innocence, no wonder our town is The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck enjoyed by almost 1,000 attendees in our becoming a regular romp-a-room. Some- down parts of a law which infringed upon community, raising important funds for one has to put an end to this growing free-speech rights. This was proper, as our classrooms and our kids. population before our town is over- the First Amendment of the U.S. Consti- The strong sense of community at whelmed by these cute and playful crea- tution reads in part: “Congress shall make Washington School is a reflection of the tures. no law... abridging the freedom of speech, greater bond that unites us in Westfield. Which is why we should heed Ms. or of the press...” We thank each and every one of you who [Kimberly] Gurlavich — the USDA ex- In response to this most welcome Su- directly, or indirectly, assisted us in our pert sent to rescue our town — and her preme Court ruling, many Democratic annual endeavor. smart advice, and stop feeding these crit- politicians have openly expressed their Many thanks to our playbill advertis- ters immediately. Children, like geese, contempt for free speech. Some of the ers. Full-page ads: Ascione and Wilson; quickly become dependent on our good most thoroughly awful politicians – such Klinger-Keuter Music Studio; M&R nature, and if we cut off their food supply as Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Landscape; Ironshore Insurance Co.; KBK they’ll eventually look for a new place to Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Con- Interior Design; Ferraro’s; INFA Energy live. And who wouldn’t agree that most gressman John Conyers (D-Mich.) – have Brokers; Westfield Knights of Colum- of our kids could do with a little less food gone so far as to propose amending the bus; Manhattan Bagel; D. Villane Con- these days anyway? Constitution so that free-speech rights struction; Top Line Appliance Center; But, starvation is of course, a drawn- can be legally violated by the federal Silvia Stark of Coldwell Banker; Keenan out process, which could take up to a government. Building and Remodeling, and Joseph month in some cases. And as Ms. Branton The best response to these anti-free Pink and Co. Half-page ads: Rockn’ Joe; points out, we don’t have time for “scien- speech hysterics is provided by political Jersey Mike’s; Vincentsen Assoc.; Jeni- Your State Legislators tific evidence to get rid of these pests – we commentator, and TIA Daily editor, Rob- Fit; Susan Cook Photography; Clark Den- need a quick, and not a long-term, solu- ert Tracinski: “What part of ‘no’ do the tal Assoc.; Galaxy Building Contractors; ---LD-21------LD-22--- LD-21 includes Westfield, Mountainside, tion.” Which is why, as she points out, the Democrats not understand?” Eugene Wisniewski of Century 21; An- Sen. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R) Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D) Garwood, Summit and Cranford. solution is to obviously gas them. Talk thony James Master Builders; Castle 425 North Ave. E. 1514 E. Saint Georges Ave. Mark Kalinowski Bootery; Kenneth W. Arida, D.D.S.; about efficiency. In an increasingly bu- Clifton Westfield, N.J. 07090 Linden, N.J. 07036 LD-22 includes Scotch Plains, Fanwood, reaucratic society sometimes, we forget Cosimo’s; Sharon E. Rabbitt, life coach; (908) 232-3673 (908) 587-0404 Plainfield, Clark and Linden. that the easiest solution is often the most Deadlines Patrician Floors; Curves; Scott Gleason Asm. Jon Bramnick (R) Asw. Linda Stender (D) of Re/Max, Gersch Orthodontics; Law simple. We don’t have the time for sci- General News - Friday 4pm 251 North Ave. West 1801 East Second St. E-mail ence and nature to do its work and allow office of Matthew Albano; Emily Westfield, N.J. 07090 Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 [email protected] these children to grow into adults, so let’s Weekend Sports - Monday 12pm Miranda-Thompson personal trainer; Paul (908) 232-2073 (908) 668-1900 [email protected] just wipe ’em out. Classifieds - Tuesday 12pm Nazzaro Music Studio; McCormack Con- Asm. Nancy Munoz (R) Asm. Jerry Green (D) [email protected] Just kidding! What a terrible thought! Ad Reservation - Friday 4pm tracting; Scientific Graffiti; Satsang Yoga; 57 Union Place, Suite 310 17 Watchung Ave. [email protected] Gassing children, a living thing! Awful! To Reach Us Hye-Young Choi of Coldwell Banker; Summit, N.J. 07901 Plainfield, N.J. 07060 [email protected] But seriously folks, lets round them up, E-Mail - [email protected] Burgdorff Realtors/ERA; Paul Arfanis, (908) 918-0414 (908) 561-5757 [email protected] say we’re headed to Saturday soccer and D.D.S.; Berkshire Furniture and Peluso 7th Congressional District dump them all in Newark. Then we can For more information, see Construction. www.goleader.com/help Representative Leonard Lance, 425 North Avenue E., Westfield, NJ 07090 (908) 518-7733 drive home and wipe our hands clean of Producers, Washington School Show