TtBB Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, July 22, 2005 50 cents A new look and a new pastor for Westfield church after a long career road including stints as a the same aspects as being an educator — THE RECORD-PRESS teacher, coach, administrator and counselor. teaching, counseling, inspiring and adminis- Boyea graduated from Potsdam College in trating. WESTFIELD — In the midst of the excit- 1981 with a degree in sociology and psycholo- "Ministry to nie is about teaching in the ing yet somewhat hectic renovations now gy. He then received his master's in educa- best sense of the word," he says. "It is not just underway at the First Congregational tion and administration at East Stroudsburg about imparting information, but about lov- Church of Westfield, Mark Boyea has found a University in Pennsylvania, where he met his ing, guiding, consoling and encouraging those home as the church's new senior minister. wife of more than 20 years, Cindy Seeley in your care." Boyea is the 14th full-time pastor in the Boyea. The couple have two children, Ryan While working as a coach and administra- church's 12/5-year history. and Kelsey, and currently live in Scotch tor, Boyea became interested in the psycho- Sitting in an office surrounded by signs of Plains. logical aspects of human performance. He construction, including the repainting of the Boyea went on to a career in education and pursued his doctorate in psychology at the sanctuary, now windows, ceiling repair, new counseling, serving as a teacher, coach and University of Maryland and earned his Ph.D. pew cushions ami renovations to tho church administrator at several schools including in 1994. offices, Boyea remains calm and confident Thomas College in Waterville, Maine, The But after feeling the desire to Iwcome part Turf Installed at that it will all be worth it in the end. University of Maryland, and Daniel Webster of the church all his life, Boyea finally could Born in upstate New York, Boyea was the College in Nashua, N.H. He also taught at not ignore the urge. He was ordained in June Keillor Stadium eighth of nine children. Faith was always a several private high schools. of this year following a three-year tenure as huge part of his life, and from an early age he "Education helped me. I couldn't think of assistant minister of Union Congregational Work is now underway on the had a "nagging sense" he should become a better thing to have done," he said, pointing installation of a new synthetic turf involved in the church. That desire matured out thnt being a minister involves many of (Continued on page A-2) MARK BOYEA field and track at Kehler Stadium in Westfietd. The project, funded in large part by bond referendum approved last December, is designed to increase use of the Officers can make facility by student-athletes and community groups. For the full story, see Sports, Page C-1. their case in court The incident produced com- 'Hostile environment' plaints from the parents of sever- claims can proceed, al of the vehicle's four occupants, and a lawsuit was later filed but township prevails against the township alleging police violated the passengers' on other counts civil rights. That case, unrelated to this month's decision, eventu- By BRAD BISHOP ally reached a .settlement. THE RECORD-PRESS The four Scotch Plains police officers — Patrolmen Brian SCOTCH PLAINS — A three- Cheney, Matthew Fugett and judge panel has ruled that a Brian Garbinski, and Kevin racial discrimination lawsuit Loncrgan, who has since been brought by township policemen promoted to sergeant — filed suit against the department's former after they wore1 reprimanded by Beating die dram leadership can proceed to trial, at then-Cnpt. Marshall Nelson. least on .some of the officers' Nelson was later promoted to Ier ingenuity charges. chief before retiring in 2004; the Westfield resident Dave Preucil has In a unanimous 3-0 decision four officers remain employed by devised a creative solution to a filed July 5, the Superior Court's the police department. unique problem — how to get the Appellate Division partially The officers complained that best sound out of the decorated reversed retired judge Edward Nelson, who is black, subjected drums used by marching bands. For BeglinVsummary judgment rul- them to a racially hostile work the full story on Preucil's invention, Sidewalk Sales Days ing in favor of the township, like- environment because they are turn to Community Life, Page B-1. ly sending the complex case white. They also alleged that before a jury. then-Chief* Thomas O'Brien a treat in Westfield The appellate court ruled that "aided and abetted" Nelson's Beglin had erred actions. in summarily Ill the text of dismissing "We are delighted with the GO-page claims that for- the decision since it basi- decision. the mer Capt. Appellate Court Marshall Nelson cally (dismissed) the agreed that n created a racial- important claims against suine of Nelson's i ly hostile work comments — the town." environment for which allegedly four white offi- — Doug Hansen included veiled cers, in id that township attorney threats and \ f former Chief coarse racial ref- \ m Thomas O'Brien iTences — - war- aided and abetted Nelson's rant examination by a jury. actions. \1 ^MI^JBBJAJ:.^' "A jury could legitimately BROOKS CRANDALLVCORRESPONDENT The court ruled that Beglin reach a conclusion that these Local residents were treated to special bargains was correct to dismiss several '^SN^B^^^B^B^BSHBVBI and some outdoor entertainment over the week- comments were racially-based i other claims made by the officers, and were sufficiently severe to end, courtesy of the Downtown Westfield including charges of handicap Corporation's Sidewalk Sales Days promotion. warrant relief under the LAD Student Interns In At top, Clown Chips gets a giggle out of Penny discrimination, retaliatory con- I Law Against Discrimination >," Yannlcelli on Sunday afternoon. Above, Grace duct and infliction of emotional the court found. Conine's office r Peralta poses for caricature artist Gina distress. The panel also upheld In the course of Nelson's Minichino. And at left, Robert Peralta finds a new Beglin's rejection of the plain- investigation into the April 2000 In her summer internship for Sen. Jon use for balloons. The DWC's summer events tifTs claims for summary judg- incident, he allegedly told the Corzine, Westfield resident Gwen continue next week with the Sweet Sounds ment regarding the township's plaintiff's they were •gutless and Tobert found that sometimes, politics Downtown jazz festival Tuesday night and the liability in the case. spineless" for drawing weapons. really is about helping people. To read 5K and Pizza Extravaganza Wednesday; for Four white township police He also is accused of saying that about what Tobert did during her more on the race, turn to the Sports section. officers filed the suit in 2000 if his son had been in the car, he summer vacation, turn to Page A-3. after being reprimanded for their would hunt the officers down and actions during a late-night motor "shoot (them) in the head like the vehicle stop in April of that year. dog(s) (they) are." According to court documents, Nelson also allegedly told the Some progress is seen in Lot 5 Scutch Plains and Fanwood four officers that during nn inci- police stopped a red Jeep dent in which he used his night- By ANNA BOGOANOWICZ times numbering over 100, that there before or after movies get Cherokee containing four black stick against a white man earlier Red Cross hosts THE RECORD-PRESS gather there. An incident earlier out, blocking the sidewalk and passengers on Marline Avenue in in his career, he "probably" hit this year left one local teen making some residents "nervous" Fanwood, the man harder and more times WESTFIELD — Increased injured and his father calling for said Cronin. Police were responding to because of the victim's race. babysitting class police efforts appear to have a curfew, though most complaints The issue of controlling these reports of possible gunfire at the In May 2000, Ihe four officers The Westfield/Mountainside chapter reduced the number (if teenagers about the area are not as serious. large groups first came about a Park Avenue overpass near were issued performance notices of the American Red Cross will offer congregating in the municipal "We noticed we created an number of years ago, according Route 22 and were searching for stating they had used excessive a babysitting class for teens from parking lot behind the Rialto attractive environment for them to Cronin. The Downtown a vehicle matching the Jeep's force and were verbally repri- 6:30-9:30p.m. Monday and Tuesday movie theater, Sgt. Scott Rodger to come, but when you have that Westfield Corporation developed description. The vehicle's four manded and given counseling. at the chapter headquarters, 321 Elm said at a Downtown Westfield number of teenagers coming several ideas, such as having occupants were allegedly hand- Nelson was also given a verbal St. in Westfield. A fee will be Corporation (DWC) meeting together, the situation escalated," some sort of community patrol in cuffed and required to lie face reprimand for li Jiving made charged and pre-registration is Monday. said Sherry Cronin, DWC execu- the area or even playing classical down on tin* pavement for an "demeaning and inappropriate required; call (908) 232-7090 or Lot 5, near the intersection of tive director. music. But with several reported extended period of time. But no remarks...during his investiga- email johnsonl@corssnet.