venial ploy mat miplom* •III • Ml^^Jf ^ ud '• mt$ WMMM or vie for 2W o roJecfof Community Um, mg* o ma» Mtory and aaflfaof eevwr- Sport$tr>ag0 I—i r- lT_j ~ * TT. f.O Vol. 22, Nc Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, April 13,2007 Residents go to polls Tuesday to decide fate of school budgets position to half-time. for a local property tax levy of SP-F ballot jlso includes referendum to create turf fields at high school Some cuts did have to be $65.5 million. If approved, the ties. the board was able to restore a made, though. The budget calls budget would raise school taxes THE RECORD-PRESS In Scotch Plains-Fanwood, the number of programs and posi- for the elimination of one librari- on the average Fanwood home by recent budget season has been tions that had been on the chop- an and one world language $198 and on the average Scotch Residents in Westfield and especially difficult for the local ping block, including the high teacher, as well as some support Plains home by $328. Scotch Plains-Fanwood will go to Board of Education. A new state school choral director's post, the staff, and the district will also put But the 2007-2008 budget is the polls Tuesday, April 17 to law limiting the annual tax levy Air Force ROTC program, sepa- off some facilities upgrades and only one of the questions local elect new members for their local increase to 4 percent forced board rate sports teams at both middle hire fewer new teachers than had residents will be voting on school board s, vote on the pro- member8 to cut nearly $2 million schools and fifth and sixth grade been hoped for to deal with rising Tuesday. Also on the ballot is a posed 2007-2008 budgets and, in from an early draft of the budget German classes. The board was enrollment. separate referendum to authorize one case, make a major decision and resulted in a series of con- also able to avoid reducing the The final product is a $74.3 about spending on athletic facili- tentious meetings. Eventually, substance abuse coordinator million spending plan that calls (Continued on page A-2) A note to our readers The RmcordPnu has long been dated as o Friday publica- tion, but many subscribers and newsstands now receive Ihe paper on Thursday. That will change beginning wHh Ihe first edi- tion of May, when the ftecordlress will D* printed on Thursday and distributed on Friday. The change in publication schedule is being mode as we tran- sition to a new printing press, which wiM allow us to introduce color throughout the newspaper. Wi believe Ihe change may have other benefits, as weH — in particular, it wiM give our reporting staff an opportunity to deliv- er more wide-ranging, comprehensive coverage of local news Af the same time, we remain committed to delivering cover- age of breaking news as it happens. For updates on the latest local events, check our news W»b log at http://blog.ni.com/recordpreMupdalet/dd . Deadline* ror tubmiuion of material from readers wiH remain the same: 5 p.m. Friday for preM releases, and 10 a.m. Monday for letters to the editor. Questions about the change? Contact Editor Greg Marx at (732) 396-4219. Sexual assault suspect is arrested in New York residence on Friday, March 30 and left shortly after the THE RECORD-PRESS assault at around 4 p.m. SCOTCH PLAINS — A The woman was home man suspected of raping a alone at the time of the woman inside her township assault, Donnelly said. home was arrested on April According to Donnelly, it 5 in Central Park, thanks is unclear how or why the Finders keepers to the joint efforts of the New York City resident Scotch Plains and Newshowed up at the woman's York City police depart- door, though he and the vic- ments. tim had had prior contact. Michael S tat his, 21, is After township detec- being held on $200,000 bail tives learned that Stathis while he awaits an extradi- frequented Central Park, tion hearing to determine if they immediately passed he will face first-degree along his photo to the law aggravated sexual assault enforcement authorities in and third-degree burglary New York. An anti-crime charges in New Jersey, cop assigned to the precinct according Lt. Brian saw the photo and recog- Donnelly of Scotch Plains. nized Stathis, whom he had Stathis allegedly forced his way into the victim's (Continued on page A-2) Candidates named for BROOKS CRANDALL/CORRESPONDENT The Ltons Club of Westfield held its annual Easter egg Town Council election hunt In Mindowaskln Park Saturday afternoon, much to the delight of the town's youngest residents. Parents WESTFIELD — Local Republicans currently hold eagerly snapped photos as children up to age 7 political parties this week a 6-2 majority on the coun- searched the graas near the gazebo for more than 1,200 announced their slates for cil, but with a win in plastic eggs, some of which contained notes redeemable this fall's Town Council November local Democrats for prizes from local stores. election. could take control. The Republican candi- In Ward 1, incumbent dates include newcomer Peter Echausse will not be Frank Arena in Ward 1 and seeking re-election. Asked More parking may be created at SPF High School incumbents JoAnn Neylan, about his decision, he said, Mark Ciarrocca and Jim"I just figured seven years STULTZ The proposal is in addition to cur- "I think the Township (of Scotch Foerst in Wards 2, 3 and 4, was enough time and ener- THE RECOHD-PRESS rent plans to add 22 more spaces at Plains) and Borough (of Fanwood) the end of the high school parking lot. would like the school district to put as respectively. gy to serve the community Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of That plan is slated for completion much parking on campus that is aes- They will be opposed by in thiB capacity," said Education Business Administrator before the start of the next school thetically and financially feasible," Democrats Ross Katz Echausse. Anthony Del Sordi has drafted a pro- year. Russo said in a telephone interview (Ward 1), Bruce His replacement in the posal that could provide some relief to Strauss said if the latest plan on Tuesday. Russo said the full school Regenstreich (Ward 2), Republican ranks, Frank the contentious issue of high school moves forward, it would not require board has not yet seen or discussed Matt Sontz (Ward 3) and Arena, has been a Westfield parking, Scotch Plains Councilman special funding that would have to be the proposal. Lenore Scurry (Ward 4). resident since 1994. Arena Jeffrey Strauss told his colleagues approved by voters. "(According to According to Strauss, the group Technically, the leaders has previously managed last week. Del Sordi) there would be enough in also discussed the possibility of of both parties have only the campaign of In his account of a recent Shared the (district's) budget for the project," assigning parking on particular announced their preferred Councilman Sal Caruana, Services meeting, Strauss described said Strauss. However, "the details streets to spread the burden more candidates in the June pri- and he currently serves as Del Sordi's plan to carve out a portion have not yet been resolved," he said. evenly and "cut down on the last- mary. But the primaries the mayor's designee to the of the grassy area in front of the Del Sordi was not available for minute fury in the morning." That •will not be contested, clear- board of the Downtown Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School comment this week. Board of solution was favored by Scotch Plains ing the way for the candi- Westfield Corporation. that would increase the available stu- Education President Thomas Russo Mayor Martin Marks at a meeting dates announced this week When he learned of dent parking by between 20 and 30 said he has also not had the opportu- earlier this year, when the Scotch to face each other in the Echausse's decision not to spaces. Though still in the prelimi- nity to talk to Del Sordi, but that his Plains Township Committee imposed November general election. run again, Arena said, he nary stages, the plan "looks work- initial impression from the Shared At stake is one 4-year coun- able," Strauss said. Services meeting was positive. (Continued on page A-2) cil term in each ward. (Continued on page A-2) REMINDER INDEX The Board of Education election is DON'T FORGET Tuesday, April 17. Polls are open 2-9 Commentary A-6 Obituaries A-5 www.nj.com/recordpress p.m. in Scotch Plains and Fanwood and TO VOTE! 7 a.m.-9 p.m. in Westfield. Community Life B-1 Real Estate C-4 Sports C-1 Police Log A-4 A-2 Am L 13,2bo7 Residents go to polls Tuesday to vote Candidates named for Town (Continued from page A-l) the Fanwood Memorial grade technology course (Continued from pace A-l) work harder and smarter Sontc lives o» Vertum Library; information on the The other additions to the for Weatfield than Ross Terrace with His wife, $2 million in bonds to budget and the referendum budget include fourth and saw an opportunity to Katz, Bruce Regenstreich, Lillian, and their 3-year- replace the high school is also available on the dis- fifth grade social studies continue his commitment Matt SontE and Lenore old son, Tyler.