Bigosinski Wins Council Seat
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ISittntb XtBB Serving' Westfteld,Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, December 30,2005 50 cents 4T w*» - It's finally official: Bigosinski wins council seat Leuthoid, was concerned not only aa a candidate in he is sworn in at the re-organization THK KKCOHD-PHESS According to Bigosinski, The judge the election...but concerned as how people meeting Tuesday. said that the elements that Leuthold are allowed to vote." Leuthold said he 'I am happy that the lawsuit was dis- WESTFIELD — After more than a would have to prove to warrant throwing believes two of the three voters in ques- missed," he said. "What's important now month of uncertainty, Democrat Tom out the election results, ordering a new tion had addresses outside the state, and is to move forward and get to work on the Bigosinski has been declared the winner election and barring me from being sworn one outside of the fourth ward. issues that concern the citizens of the of the Town Council election in the Fourth in just hadn't been met." Although Leuthoid said he has no Fourth Ward. Hopefully Eric, his family Ward, after a Superior Court judge decid- The race for the Fourth Ward was pos- intention of continuing to pursue the and everyone else will have a safe and ed last week to reject Republican Eric sibly the closest council race in Westfield issue, he added the situation has taught happy holiday, and then we can all con- Leuthold's request fora re-election. history, with Bigosinski beating Leuthold him and hopefully voters a valuable les- centrate on working together to make "I think at this point the decision is the by one vote after absentee and provision- son. "I think the biggest lesson learned is 2006 peaceful and prosperous for every- decision,1" said l^ujthold Tuesday. After al ballots were counted, 1,469 to 1,468. the value of voting and how every vote one in town. the judge's decision Friday morning, Those results held up following a recount, matters," said Leuthold. He added, "Three "There is a lot of work to do on Town Leuthold formally conceded and congrat- but Leuthold then filed a court challenge people voted that probably shouldn't have Council, and I welcome the challenges." ulated Bigosinski on his win. "I congratu- questioning the residency status of sever- voted." Even with Bigosinski's victory, lated Tom and said i think you'll be a al voters and requesting a re-election. Bigosinski said he was relieved and Republicans will hold a 6-2 majoritv on Barnburner good councilman for the town'," said "I don't apologize for my decision. I looking forward to serving the town when the council in 2006. The Scotch Ptains-Fanwood Raiders girts basketball players km w that the success their program had seen in Missing recent years had placed a big target on their hides. The Cranford Cougars TAKING A LOOK BACK: 2005 IN REVIEW had an entire team of returning starters with long memories looking Fanwood to exact a little revenge. After a slow and sloppy start by both clubs last week, the girls shifted gears in the second half in a game that would 4B V M6MI3T woman come down to a shot with only six seconds remaining. For more on this story, see Sports, Page C-1. is found Alzheimer's patient located in Woodbridge after a 7-hour search THE RECORD-PRESS FANWOOD — After a seven- and-a-half hour search that fea- tured aid from statewide police and fire departments, a 72-year- Scholars named old Alzheimer's patient was found in Woodbridge after wan- at Union Catholic dering away from her family's borough home Dec. 22, according Thirteen students at Union Catholic to local police. High School in Scotch Plains were The elderly woman Buffered recently named Edward J. Bloustein not only from Alsheimer'a dis- Distinguished Scholars; for a picture ease, but also from other ail- of the group, see Page A-5. Also, PHOTO BY BROOKS ments including diabetes, mak- Westfield High School recently President Buah't plan to privatize Social Security haan't gained much traction, but hi* visit to WestfleM in March to pro- ing her disappearance in freezing released its honor roll for the first mote the initiative was one of the top news stories of the year. marking period. For the full list of weather even more alarming. commended students, see Page 8-3. The woman, whom police declined to identify, was first President's visit, tragic deaths marked a busy year reported missing by her family at 5:26 p.m. after family members ByANNABOGOAMOWKZ on the council's agenda in 2005. Though dis- not run again, eouncilmen Andy Skibitsky searched for more than two THE KKCORDPRKSS cussion on the center stalled, the council and Sal Caruana announced their interest hours. had plenty of other items on its plate, m the Republican nomination for mayor, The Fanwood Police Police controversies, acts of heroism, a including the continuing effort to win with the local Republican Party endorsing Department went on to alert sur- mayor's resignation, the tragic deaths of approval for a deer hunt in the Ash Brook Skibitsky, a Third Ward Councilman. rounding police and emergency both public figures and private residents, reservation. Members of the Historical Society present- departments including the and n visit by both President George W. Also in Scotch Plains, hearings contin- ed their plans to renovate the Reeve House Fanwood Fire Department and Bush and one of liis most high-profile crit- ued on the controversial Cooper Road appli- before the Town Council and requested seed Rescue Squad, Scotch Plains Fire ics: 2005 was a year that saw no shortage of cation. The applicant was seeking to build a money to jumpstart their project. Department and Rescue Squad, news. With the New Year upon us, here is a single-family home on "Cooper Road island" In Fanwood, Raj Mukherji entered into a the Union County Canine Unit look back on the year that was. at the location of a utility building once contract to purchase the former Dean Oil and the New Jersey State Police. January: Starting the year off at the used by AT&T. Residents strongly opposed site to construct a 24-unit townhouse devel- Shortly after the alert, a report reorganization meeting, Westfield Mayor the project, which spanned the entire year, opment at Second Street and LaGrande came in that someone had seen Gregory McDermott spoke of the need to ending finally in December with a rejection Avenue. Also, the Department of the woman near Union Catholic create a "controlled development plan for by the Board of Adjustment. Community Affairs announced Fanwood High School on Martine Avenue. Great fun for residential neighborhoods" to curb the In Fanwood, Mayor Colleen Mahr would be one of six communities participat- As police searched the area, spread of McMansions without placing pledged to continue work on downtown ing in Transfer of Development Rights proj- dogs picked up her scent around garden club undue limits on property rights. Better redevelopment. The three downtown rede- ects across the state. The voluntary incen- the high school but lost it when management of existing parking spaces velopment initiatives — known as the Ling, tive based system designates sending and they followed it into the woods. A December was a busy month for the after the rejection of the municipal parking Marcovecchio and Mukherji-Landmark recieving areas, encouraging growth in search of the wooded area was Rake and Hoe Garden Club in deck was among his other goals, Both projects — would all see progress over the some places and preservation in others. made with the help of a helicop- Westfield. The club's junior mem- issues would continue to be top priorities course of the year. In Scotch Plains, library officials ter from the New Jersey State bers had a great time at Home Depot for the council throughout the year. And in Westfield, a mixed use building announced repairs for the township's ailing Police, said Lt Richard Trigo. in Ganvood preparing for an upcom- Westfield began the year under a cloud on South Avenue West, proposed by devel- library would cost between $800,000 to $2 Police also set up a command ing state-wide show, while the older of tfrief as town clerk Bernie Heeney died oper Joseph Buontempo was approved by million. post in the high school parking members carried out a holiday tradi- suddenly in New York City on New Year's the Planning Board. March: In a historic moment for the lot and searched the area, but to tion by decorating the Cerebral Patsy Eve of a heart attack. Heeney had worked February: Negotiations between area, President Bush visited the National no avail. League's Jardine Academy. See the for the town for more than 25 years. Newpointe Realty and the Westfield Town Guard Armory in Westfield to make his Other reports began coming in stories and pictures on Page A-3. In Scotch Plains, Mayor Martin Marks Council over a commercial development at pitch for sweeping changes to Social that the woman had been spotted was sworn in for his second four-year term the edge of downtown collapsed as the Security. The occasion was the second visit wandering in other parts of and said a proposed community and senior developer filed a lawsuit against the town. Scotch Plains on Raritan and center, possibly at Brookside Park, would be Also, with McDermott indicating he would (Continued on page B-1.) Lamberts Mill roads, so the com- mand post was moved to the Scotch Plains Fire Department's Benefit concert south side station.