New Skating Facility at Oak Ridge to Replace Rink at Warinanco
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, October 21, 2010 OUR 120th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 42-2010 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Digiplex Destination Purchases Rialto and Cranford Theaters By MICHAEL J. POLLACK ing events, concerts and operas, among as well as the media, underneath Rialto’s Specially Written for The Westfield Leader other concepts. landmark marquee. WESTFIELD – Owner Jesse Sayegh As Mr. Mayo’s plan, which he hopes Before introducing the new owner, has sold the Rialto Theatre in Westfield will spawn into a “national circuit,” Mr. Sayegh thanked the community for and the Cranford Theatre to Digital takes shape, Westfield’s theater will its support over the 14 years he has Cinema Destinations Corporation serve as the company’s headquarters, operated local theaters in this region. (Digiplex Destination). Both will con- with Mr. Sayegh continuing as land- “I feel we have done a nice job since tinue to show movies; however, new lord of the property. coming in, keeping both theaters alive operator A. Dale “Bud” Mayo envi- On Tuesday, Westfield welcomed as well as renovating them (Westfield sions the theaters as “interactive enter- Mr. Mayo, who laid out his vision to twice, Cranford once). We have served tainment centers” that could addition- representatives from both towns and the community well in our presence ally offer the ability to view live sport- the Downtown Westfield Corporation, and in our product throughout the years,” Mr. Sayegh told the crowd, as he spoke outside the East Broad Street film house. “As I’m leaving, rest as- sured that I am leaving you in good hands.” Mr. Mayo, a veteran of the industry, was the founder and chief executive officer of Clearview Cinemas in metro- politan New York. After selling Clearview in 2000 to Cablevision, he founded digital-cinema leader Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corporation, which focused on converting theaters from film to digital. “We’re still going to play movies just the way theaters have always done, but Thomas Fortunato for The Westfield Leader we’re going add another dimension – HEATED DISCUSSION..Assemblywoman Linda Stender (LD-22, Fanwood) makes a comment regarding the Access to the because we can,” Mr. Mayo said. “And Region’s Core (ARC) transit tunnel project at Monday’s meeting of the Raritan Valley Line Coalition. She made her that dimension is a choice for consum- comments to James Weinstein, executive director of NJ Transit, who spoke at the meeting on the status of the project. At ers to come to a movie or see a program left is former Westfield Mayor Tom Jardim, who wrote to The Leader regarding the ARC project. Read his letter on page – lecture series, concert, Met Opera – 4 and see ARC article at lower right. all enabled by the digital era. And we’re going to take advantage of that over the coming years.” New Skating Facility at Oak Ridge The new operator said he is “really Michael J. Pollack for The Westfield Leader MAKING HIS WESTFIELD FILM DEBUT...New Jersey movie-theater entrepre- looking forward to being part of this neur A. Dale “Bud” Mayo has purchased the Rialto Theatre in Westfield, pictured as community (Westfield), as well as To Replace Rink at Warinanco the backdrop above, and the Cranford Theatre. On Tuesday morning, he announced Cranford, because it’s a combination. in a press conference his intention to have the theaters serve as the “incubator” for his We see this as a virtual eleven-plex…We By PAUL J. PEYTON would be converted into a multi-pur- million in renovations “if we’re to bring new concept of “out-of-home entertainment.” The theaters will continue to show want to get to know who’s here, and we Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times pose indoor field under the plan. that facility up to snuff.” movies, but once coverted to full digital projection in early next year, the two theaters want to communicate with you.” ELIZABETH – Construction of a Thursday’s presentation, which fo- “The thought was that if we were will also show events such as live sports events, concerts and opera. Westfield Councilwoman JoAnn new ice-skating rink at Oak Ridge Park cused on Warinanco and Oak Ridge going to do that, we were going to Neylan said she is “thrilled” to have in Clark is proposed as part of an up- Parks, did not contain financial esti- create a new facility in Clark, in con- Digiplex in Westfield. dated Union County parks and recre- mates for recommended park upgrades, junction with the park, which would be WF Recommends Upping “We are thrilled you are going to ation master plan, currently in its final although the final document would more centrally located and hopefully, maintain the hometown feel of the be- stages before being submitted to the contain estimates, said Freeholder more people would be able to attend loved Rialto,” she said. Board of Chosen Freeholders. The ex- Chairman Dan Sullivan. He said the events not just for hockey, but for vari- Parking-Permit Fees Cranford Mayor Mark Smith added isting rink at Warinanco Park in Roselle Warinanco rink would need $5 to $10 ous other skating activities,” Mr. By LAUREN S. BARR Ciarrocca, this type of light was “part that Mr. Mayo’s acquisition “sends a Sullivan said. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader of what we originally discussed in pub- very clear message…Downtown According to William Reiner of WESTFIELD – The Westfield Town lic meetings” and was recommended Westfield and Downtown Cranford are Weinstein: Tunnel Project Birdsall Services Group, 69 of the 168 Council was informed of a change to by the town’s traffic expert; however, it alive and well. This will give people acres of the former Oak Ridge golf the Central Avenue corridor project was removed from the project by the additional reasons to stop by.” course would be developed for both and discussed possibly raising parking county. Mr. Mayo said the current formula – Estimates $11 to $14 Billion active and passive activities, with the fees at Tuesday night’s conference ses- Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins ques- whereby Cranford caters to an older By THOMAS FORTUNATO the tunnel would double rail capacity remaining land staying as a wooded sion. tioned if it was the right decision, as audience, and Westfield focuses on Specially Written for The Westfield Leader into New York City for commuters. area, with the exception of the existing Town Engineer Kris McAloon told people might miss seeing the light be- more kid-friendly movies – works, and WESTFIELD — County and mu- NJ Transit Executive Director James archery range. The county closed the the council that Union County is chang- cause they do not expect it. She said he does not anticipate changing that. nicipal officials were given an update Weinstein told officials attending former golf course two years ago. ing the type of light at the pedestrian- that people ran the four-way stop signs “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Cranford Monday on the status of construction Monday’s meeting of the Raritan Val- Plans also include tennis courts, play- crossing location on Central Avenue at South Chestnut Street and Fourth does an excellent job in playing art and of a new transit tunnel. The project, ley Rail Coalition at the Westfield Mu- grounds, a restroom and concessions near Clover Street. Avenue near Gumbert Park when they independent films aimed at a more known as Access to the Region’s Core nicipal Building, “About 40 days building, skate park, picnic grove area, The pedestrian-crossing signal had were first installed, and she stated her adult audience. Here (in Westfield), we (ARC), was cancelled, then put on hold ago…at my recommendation, we sug- and a “central great lawn surrounded recently come under criticism by resi- concern that something similar might have younger families and a younger for two weeks by Governor Chris gested that we go into a 30-day hiatus” by active and passive uses.” A wetlands dents along Central Avenue, including occur. audience,” Mr. Mayo said. Christie due to concerns of high cost on the ARC tunnel construction to study park would also be added, along with a the resident on whose property the light “It’s not a stop sign; this is a red CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 overruns. Proponents of the project say the costs of the project. boardwalk for park visitors to experi- was installed. The light that the county flashing light,” Councilman James Before the project was put on hiatus, ence and be educated about wetlands. initially installed, but has not yet put Foerst told her. he said NJ Transit projected the total In addition, the park contains four into operation, was a standard green- Acting Mayor Ciarrocca announced Westfield BOE Moving cost would be between $8.7 billion and miles of pedestrian walkways, which yellow-red, which would remain green that the Finance Committee and the $10 billion. The study was conducted have been kept separate from roads in unless activated by a pedestrian to stop Public Safety Committee are recom- by the ARC Executive Steering Com- the park. traffic. mending that parking permit fees and Forward With Solar Plan mittee, comprised of Mr. Weinstein “In effect, somebody could park their The new light, which will be in- on-street parking fees be raised for the By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL dressed the audience, stating that these and seven other officials from both NJ car and walk around this entire park Specially Written for The Westfield Leader stalled in the next four to six weeks, first time in five years.