Page 4 Thursday, September 3, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader THE TIMES POPCORN™ of Scotch Plains – Fanwood How Stella Got Her Groove Back: — Established 1890 — — Established 1959— The Official Newspaper of the Town of Westfield Official Newspaper of the Borough of Fanwood Welcome to Fantasy Island and the County of Union and the Township of Scotch Plains Member of: Member of: By Michael S. Goldberger New Jersey Press Association New Jersey Press Association DETENTE National Newspaper Association National Newspaper Association One Popcorn, Poor • Two Popcorns, Fair • Three Popcorns, Good • Four Popcorns, Excellent Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce Scotch Plains Business & Professional Association In 1955, when tensions were high 2 popcorns Periodicals – Postage Paid at Westfield, New Jersey Periodicals – Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, New Jersey archetype, a superior example of the between the communist block nations When sinewy Taye Diggs removes his species. That’s her assigned role — her and the western democracies, President P.O. Box 250 • 50 Elm Street P. O. Box 368 shirt or takes a shower in How Stella Got appeal. Heck — she doesn’t look any- Dwight Eisenhower suggested a detente Westfield, N.J. 07091 Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 Her Groove Back, the ladies in the audi- where near 40, and she attracted a man between East and West. This French Tele: (908) 232-4407 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.goleader.com • Fax: (908) 232-0473 ence gleefully issue admiring oohs and half her age, didn’t she? Just what kind word had been adopted and brought into common usage earlier by European dip- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the offices of the newspapers at ahs, as if to give this glossy May-Septem- of courageous heroine would she be if ber romance their hearty stamp of ap- these difficulties that vex mere mortals lomats. P. O. Box 250, Westfield, New Jersey 07091 proval. As a soft-core dalliance packaged stood in the way of the romantic des- The word detente originally described in picture-perfect tones, and only on that tiny that will ultimately complete her? several mechanical devices including PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. “the catch, or part of a crossbow that level, this fantasy love story works. If If novelist Terry McMillan and co- Gail S. Corbin Paul J. Peyton stops or releases movement of a mis- Horace R. Corbin you’re looking for meaning, message and writer Ron Bass really wanted to add sile.” The political sense of detente is “a PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER MANAGING EDITOR reality, rent Brief Encounter (1945). dramatic conflict befitting their fea- relaxing or easing of tensions between Suzette F. Stalker Jeanne Whitney David B. Corbin The convivial yet mediocre romance ture-length myth, they might have ar- nations.” Its origin is the Latin word ASSISTANT EDITOR REPORTER SPORTS saga about a 40-year-old stockbroker ranged some formidable intervention destendre, which literally means “to re- Joanna B. Marsh Richard P. Murray Karen M. Hinds (Angela Bassett) and the 20-year-old from Mount Olympus. Just how does lease.” beach god (Mr. Diggs as Winston MARKETING DIRECTOR MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE MANAGER Stella get her groove back? I doubt she Detente becomes especially meaning- Shakespeare) she meets whilst on va- ever really lost it. ful when one considers it in the context SUBSCRIPTION PRICE cation in Jamaica has an occasional * * * * * of the untold destruction made possible One-year subscription in county – $20 • Out-of-county – $24 • One-year college (September to May) – $16 moment of genuiness, but the film How Stella Got Her Groove Back, by today’s high-technology warfare. makes no bones about its seductive rated R, is a 20th Century Fox release There can be no more lofty a meaning for ambitions. Time was, a strong femi- directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan and detente than “to relax tensions” between Serving on Rescue Squad Can Be Rewarding nine libido could only be justified stars Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs and nations and, thereby, to prevent the un- when tied to some elaborate tale of Whoopi Goldberg. Running time: 99 thinkable: the release of atomic missiles undying love. How Stella Got Her minutes. by nations against each other. Regardless of Whether Incentives Are Offered Groove Back is in the bold business of delivering vicarious, albeit polite, sen- SPECIAL GUEST COLUMN Our local region has been made a better place to live dollars would be prohibitive. suality with little pretense and even thanks to the dedication of folks from the communi- Neighboring towns face similar situations. West- less plot. Reliance on Property Taxes Wrapped in pretty travelogue tones, ties we serve. Residents frequently participate in field presently has sufficient volunteers to handle director Kevin Rodney Sullivan’s first Continues to Be Unfair System everything from events sponsored by the Parent- calls during daytime hours but, like other communi- film tells its tale in simple terms. Based Teacher Associations to clubs and organizations such ties, can always use extra manpower. Scotch Plains on novelist Terry McMillan’s semi-auto- By Bud Boothe as the Rotary and historical associations, as well as senior citizens have helped beef up their township’s biographical experience, the follow up to her Waiting To Exhale continues its so- donating time to their local volunteer rescue squads squad, while Clark and Springfield have been forced The Westfield Leader has undertaken These realities, not cost of living figures, ciological survey of high-achieving, an ambitious project – explaining prop- lead to budgets and taxes. and fire departments. to hire paid personnel to ensure their squads have middle class black women. A mover and erty taxes and related budgets to its Governments do not buy much food or In the age of the two-parent working families, time available personnel. shaker in San Francisco’s version of Wall readers. other principal CPI (Consumer Price In- has become a premium. One area that has suffered the As a community with a large senior citizen popula- Street, Miss Bassett’s Stella is a super- All too frequently these complex, con- dex) components. mom as well as a devoted athlete. But tentious and unpleasant subjects emerge The amount of each budget — town, most from lack of expendable hours is volunteerism. tion, Mountainside has traditionally relied on volun- details of why her marriage failed are only in a cascade of political charges, school and county — that has to be raised This is especially evident when it comes to emergency teers from a number of surrounding communities few, and the suddenly uncharacteristic which attempt to reduce the most diffi- by property taxes is divided by the total services, which brings us to the situation in such as Westfield and Springfield to serve on its impulse to leave her workaholic torment cult of subjects to a single paragraph or ratables. The results are three rates, ex- for a few days in paradise is never quite 10 second bullet points. pressed on the tax bill as dollars per $100 Mountainside, where the borough is working fever- squad. Maybe this time borough residents will come explained. I hope the summertime publication of of assessed valuation, currently .63, 2.53 ishly to find volunteers to fill its nearly depleted forward to help their community. In any case, she goes, she sees, and she these articles gets the readership the and .80 dollars respectively, totaling daytime squad. The borough’s fire department, although also need- is enamored of the young beefcake (or is topics deserve. $3.98 per $100, or $3,980 for a Westfield The articles are very timely. A guber- house assessed at $100,000 (and prob- At an emergency Borough Council meeting Mon- ing extra volunteers, currently has sufficient cover- he still calfcake?) who immediately claims her attention. At first uncertain natorial commission has been studying ably having a market value of around the property tax and had hearings around day night, officials looked at a number of incentives age. The municipality also receives assistance from how to react to Mr. Shakespeare’s amo- $150,000). to attract volunteers, such as granting $35-per-call Westfield, which has a paid department. the state; preliminary statements are out In other words, the need for property rous advances, she consults Delilah, her and a full report is due this fall. Having tax funds, the bottom line of the budget stipends to emergency service workers when they give It is our hope that members of our communities will best friend and traveling companion. lived with the budget and taxing process process, is the budget variable divided by 12 hours or more per week to the squad. come forward to offer their time to these invaluable Played by Whoopi Goldberg, whose char- for almost two decades, I am moved to a relatively constant total valuation. State legislators are considering a number of ways services. Perhaps local college students, self-em- acterizations rarely mince words, Delilah add a few comments that may be of Spending (and available other income) tells her girlfriend exactly what to do in importance or interest. decisions drive the tax rate, not the other to encourage more people to volunteer, including ployed workers and senior citizens can spare a few no uncertain terms. Her two-word an- First off, the big bullet is school taxes. way around. offering tax breaks, exemptions from jury duty, and a hours during the week. While incentives might attract swer alone could easily account for the You made the point that about two-thirds Every municipality has its own history pension fund for those who put in 10 or more years on individuals to inquire about volunteering, there is no movie’s R-rating. of Westfield taxes (ditto Scotch Plains- of assessing — Newark for example last Minor bickering accompanies the Fanwood and most like suburban com- did a revaluation over 40 years ago, so a squad. monetary figure that can match the feeling volunteers whirlwind romance, yet it’s obvious the munities) go to support the school sys- how low are the assessed values on its Regarding the option of a fully-paid service to get when they save a life or comfort a family member screenwriters are merely trying to manu- tem. books? Thus, comparing tax rates among cover the municipality, the Borough Council deter- during an emergency. We hope this call for volunteers facture legitimacy for the romantic chi- More important perhaps, area resi- municipalities is meaningless without dents pay almost 90 per cent of the cost mined that the annual cost of a quarter of a million mera by sprinkling it with a dash of resort to a county-level process, equal- does not go unanswered. realistic adversity. A visit to Winston’s of running these systems - federal and ization, which evens out valuations for parents, well-to-do island Brahmins, state aid is minimal these days. the purpose of sharing fairly the cost of By contrast, local taxes pay a fraction county government. Deadlines ratchets up the tension a tad when Mom Shakespeare’s hoity-toity cattiness of school cost, in the 30 “impacted dis- Returning to budgeting, at the town General News - Friday 4pm tricts” we read about in stories about causes Stella to second-guess her cradle level, there are many “no choices” items. Letters to the Editor Weekend Sports - Monday 12pm Jersey’s urban schools. And if you go to For example, the library enjoys a unique Classifieds - Tuesday 2pm robbing ways. But she survives it. And a low school population area, like shore status — by law the council must appro- SPFEA Questions School Board’s since Winston isn’t exactly sure if he’s communities, the school system cost is priate a formula-driven amount — around How To Reach Us going to follow in his doctor dad’s voca- the smallest part of the tax bill, not the $1.1 million currently. E-Mail - [email protected] tional footsteps, taking off with Stella to largest. For the library. No other town function Spending on Litigation Expenses Phone - (908) 232-4407 live in her posh Bay Area home seems a This ties into my most frequent com- has this status — police, fire and public On January 11, 1996 the Scotch Plains- which reinstated the arbitrator’s original Mail-PO Box 250, Westfield 07091 good idea. plaint while serving as mayor — the works could be cut to nothing under the Fanwood Superintendent of Schools or- award. PO Box 368, Scotch Plains 07076 Once happily ensconced there, where rhetoric “Westfield is a wealthy commu- law. Not the library. I am proud of our dered all schools and offices to have a Barbara McGuane, President of the In Person - 50 Elm St., Westfield of course Winston gets along phenom- nity, therefore...” The invariable predi- library and love to read too, but...And is this delayed opening. Association, said at the time, “The board Drop-Box - at Nuts n’ Plenty enally well with Stella’s sweet son, cate - reduced or no state aid. in line with our famous traditional “home Despite the Superintendent’s direction, attempts to take advantage of employees, 407 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains Quincy (Michael J. Pagan), the writers Sure, Westfield has many “wealthy” rule” decision-making in New Jersey? the Director of Special Services ordered and then spends thousands of dollars in try to roll another barrel at the title or at least well-off residents, but also lots Every year Town Hall opens up a bill that the five secretaries in the Office of attorney fees,” when a settlement to the Submittal Formats character’s shins. This time it’s trouble who do not meet that description, and from the state pension system for current denial of aid to our municipality hurts and retired employees, payable immedi- Pupil Services (OPS) report to work at grievance would have cost nothing. Photos - B/W and Color on the job and a resultant career crisis, their regular time on that day. The OPS “After the board lost in the Appellate but again there’s too much artificiality our fixed income residents, pensioners, ately, no arguments, no appeal. The bill No Panoramic or Polaroid etc., whereas people in like financial has gyrated wildly year to year, bouncing secretaries complied in spite of the haz- Court, to be financially prudent, the sec- Typed, not handwritten in the ploy. And then, just to make life ardous driving conditions while all other retaries should have received the 90 min- circumstances in non-“wealthy” com- up and down by six figures. Upper and lower case really unfair, Delilah is hospitalized. employees had a delayed opening. utes they were entitled to, which amount Yet more troubles to test Stella’s wom- munities get the benefit of state (and Yet Westfield’s employee force Need name & daytime phone federal) aid. One of many ways the reli- The Association filed a grievance on to $75 each. As of July, according to the anly mettle. As entertainment, the hog- headcount has been stable and actually ance on property taxes is so unfair. declined over the period. One would behalf of these secretaries, in which it board’s negotiator, the board may spend wash is passable. As drama, it is sec- claimed they were entitled to additional even more money on attorney fees to For our complete editorial policies The tax rate, and comparing the extent think that the bill would be more stable request a copy of our Policy Guide ond rate. of increase or decrease, is important in the and more predicable. I could never get an compensation for having had to report 90 have this matter heard by the Supreme The inherent problem is, Stella is an minutes earlier than all other district Court.” same municipality year to year, absent understandable explanation of this phe- employees. This is only one example of how tax reassessment or revaluation or some other nomenon; I cannot believe corporate An arbitrator found in favor of the dollars are needlessly being spent by the HUNG UP!! extraordinary event. Comparing tax rates America gets pension bills oscillating secretaries and directed that they were Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Educa- HUNG UP!! between municipalities is apples and or- like ours do. entitled to receive 90 minutes of com- tion. Are you being represented by fis- anges, unless the county equalization pro- Pension costs is a major unknowable pensation time. The Board of Education cally responsible members of the Board Giving Silent Treatment cess is used. Boothe, talk English. in the budget process (and our tax bills) went to court and the award of the arbi- of Education? The Westfield tax rate is the total of down to the last minute. trator was vacated. Prolongs Abuse, Stress three quotients. The denominator (on the The reserve for uncollected taxes is a The Association then appealed to the Ginny Ogrodnick bottom) is the total assessed valuation of frequent political football. Lost in the Appellate Division of the Superior Court SPFEA Action Committee By Milt Faith, Executive Director all property in Westfield. This increases pileup is the reality that the town is the modestly each year as new properties are guarantor to pay every penny in the ap- Township Resident Urges People to Attend Youth and Family Counseling Service added to the tax rolls. proved school and county budgets. If, tax The assessed valuation is what all payments falter, the town has to find the An abused adult writes: One person wrote: “These people tell property town-wide was worth when the money - even by short-term borrowing, Bd. of Adj. Meeting on Park Place Diner I am the product of an abusive home it as it is. The trouble with you people in tax assessor last did (1981) a tape mea- which some municipalities have had to ernment level, to get approval for his situation and I want to give a message to the mental health field is that you pussy- sure and clipboard inspection (“revalua- do for various reasons. In recent years, the town officials and tion”) of every property. That was super- residents of Scotch Plains have stressed Drug Fair in our residentially zoned area. your readers. My parents did not fight; foot around confronting someone with As the August 20 Leader article noted, Mr. Fillapatos’ personal gain should my father never beat me nor told me I was the truth. Watch these shows and you’ll seded by the figures when the assessor most of last year’s reserve is applied to the the importance of redeveloping our down- last estimated the value of each property town area. In my opinion, George not outweigh the well-being of our town. no good. No name calling, no angry learn how to make people responsible for current year budget even as a new reserve Let us preserve the residential character outbursts. What he did do was horrible - their decisions. You’re a loser.” based on information in her office (“re- is established in it. And a 3 percent re- Fillapatos, the owner of the Park Place assessment.”) last done in 1986). Diner on the south side of town, wants to of our neighborhoods. he withdrew. I believe that people should be held serve is not a lot in any business or indus- The concern over this issue has be- Whenever he got angry and wanted to responsible for their behavior. Each At present, assessed valuations are try, especially since the town (unlike in- undermine this ongoing effort. around two-thirds of what real-sales mar- Mr. Fillapatos seems to feel his need come so great that it is now necessary for punish me, he would stop talking to me. person and situation should be evalu- dustry) does not set up and fund reserves the Scotch Plains Board of Adjustment to He would go into another room, watch ated and dealt with individually. Call- ket information indicates property in town to replace or pay for major projects, such to make a profit should outweigh the is worth; right after 1986 sales informa- needs and wants of the surrounding com- hold a special meeting to deal with this TV or read. This would go on for days, ing names, belittling, talking over some- as fire and other trucks, tennis court resur- matter. until I went to him and apologized. He one, mocking one out and not permit- tion circulated to the Council showed facing and the like. munity. His plan would be for a Drug most valuations were darn close to actual Fair to be constructed on his property. I urge you to please come to the Special made me feel that I had done something ting the person to express his/her feel- Fortunately the Mayors of Westfield Hearing of the Board of Adjustment on wrong, that I was bad. As the saying ings are disrespectful, hostile and con- market transactions. have always been able to appoint a council Although a large segment of the south The three numerators are what elected side community has already voiced their Thursday, September 24, at the Scotch goes, if looks could kill, I would be trolling. member with extensive financial experi- Plains Municipal Building. government officials decide to spend, ence to chair the Budget Committee — objection to this plan, Mr. Fillapatos has dead. I feel my professional opinions are less all sources of revenue other than pursued many avenues at our local gov- Maura Berger willing to make the Alice-in-Wonderland So tell your readers that if they ever appropriate and correct. You are doing property taxes. Town government, the Scotch Plains get angry at a child, don’t withdraw the same thing your idols are doing by transition to understanding governmental school board and the county freeholders rules and put in the hours necessary to Town Residents Returning to Georgia angrily; it’s the worst kind of abuse. Try calling me names and condemning an have to live with “caps” or limits on oversee our budgeting and investing. to sit down with the child and talk things entire profession. I hope the day comes spending increases. I worked with four and herewith ap- out, listen, don’t prejudge, and never (soon) when the public realizes that sen- They have to decide what must be plaud the two still living in town, Jubb Take Fond Memories of Garden State walk away from an unresolved situation. sationalism and quick answers often hurt spent and then what would be desirable Corbet and Jim Gruba. That hurts and hurts for a lifetime. I the people they supposedly “help.” or nice to spend. And they must evaluate ***** I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Eleven began to think about what we would and should know, I’m still trying to survive. A daughter writes: years ago, my wife and I moved our would not miss about New Jersey. what their respective electorates will Garland “Bud” Boothe served as Answer: We always focus on the act- My father has always said that it is tolerate before voting them out office. Mayor of Westfield from 1992-1996. family to Westfield. Many of our Geor- We’ll miss the diners. The menus and not so important how bright you are as it most of the architecture are all the same, ing out (rageful) behavior of the abusive gia friends “warned” us about New Jer- parent who beats upon another family is important how you use your intelli- sey. Their perception was that all of New but the people who own and run them make each one unique. member. Too often we overlook those gence. Consequently, since he feels I’m Jersey looked like that strip between very bright, and feels I could accom- Exits 13 and 15 on the Turnpike, and that We’ll miss Jersey-style pizza. situations in which an individual uses a the people were somehow different. We’ll miss trying to explain to some- “velvet glove” to abuse another (subtly). plish more than I’m doing – I’m a school Ironically, the woman we bought one how you make a left-hand turn from Those are the persons who punish teacher — he calls me a goof-off and a our house from in Westfield was wor- the right-hand lane, and exactly what a quietly and create feelings of guilt, inad- loser. “You’ll never be financially se- ried about moving to Florida because jug handle is. equacy and insecurity within the indi- cure and you will always be dependent the people down there were so “dif- We’ll miss being near the Big Apple. vidual. Giving someone the silent treat- on a man to support you.” I’m 26, and ferent.” There’s nothing quite as exciting as see- ment, indefinitely, only prolongs the I’m ready to move out of the house and Well, the truth is that people are people. ing that skyline as we wind our way down abuse and stress. get an apartment, but I’m scared. How There really is no significant difference the helix, or seeing it in the rear view Please do not use these tactics and shall I handle him? between New Jerseyans and Georgians. mirror as we head home after a tiring day always try to externalize your feelings by Answer: Your father is verbally abu- And, as those of us who live here of fun. (appropriately) talking over the situation sive and sexist and seems rageful in his know, New Jersey is a nice place to live. We’ll miss being within an hour’s so that it does not build into a destructive view of you and your accomplishments. It doesn’t look anything like that strip on drive of both the mountains or the shore. and anxiety-ridden environment. Teaching is a wonderful and fulfilling the Turnpike. In Westfield, we have all We’ll miss the thrill of driving into a Readers: I received 11 letters regard- profession and he has no right to judge the charm and advantages of living in a circle where, according to state law, the ing a letter I had received in which I made you (so harshly). You are not a loser and small town, but without being in a rural right-of-way is decided by local custom. reference to Dr. Laura, Ed Koch and you are not a goof-off! Gather your setting — something that would have The things we won’t miss are few. We Judge Judy. I was told in no uncertain strengths and move out. been hard to do in Georgia. won’t miss the toll roads, toll bridges and terms (in 9 of these letters) that I was an The peace of mind you will obtain will Now, my wife and I are about to re- toll beaches. Nor will we miss the high anti-democratic and anti-liberal because be invaluable. And in regard to intelli- verse course and return to Atlanta. Our taxes and crushing insurance rates. But, no I criticized Mr. Koch, I was immoral gence, what one does with what one has daughters are young adults now, and place is perfect. Although we return to my because I questioned Dr. Laura’s moral is extremely important, but you seem to they’ve decided to stay. In a sense, we first home, we’ll miss our adopted one. stance on everything, and I was too pas- be doing fine. Just remember the saying: are both leaving and returning home. Gregory O. Berry sive because I criticized Judge Judy’s “Genius is one percent inspiration and As we talked about our move, we Westfield behavior. 99 percent perspiration.”