p X X? > ^ ^ WHf\j ,•« 2r to t> 3 v " J J A t— »■£ *> UJ -> O O H « °s/ H \ <> Aj Zb~i- Serving Linden and Roselle 0 v (/' * 1 U) I TWO SECTIONS) UNDEN, N.J., VOL 85 NO. 21 THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2002 O' Q o High turnout Project Gradual for borough provides fun, saieiy 5K event By Andrew Harris Correspondent By Brian Gooney More than seven hours of fun, food and entertainment await Linden High Managing Editor School graduates after their commencement on June 21. Sponsored by the Lin­ Approximately 230 participants den High School Parent Teacher Association, the Project Graduation “Bash," raced through downtown Roselle provides safe, substance-free post-graduation activities at no expense w Sunday evening during the third annual Roselle 21st Century 5K. smdents. This year's Bash begins at 9:30 p.m. Students report to Gregorio Center on Henry Correa, 41, of Elizabeth, Helen Street after commencement with a boarding pass and are given a Bash won the 5K with a time of 16:14. -shirt to be worn the entire night as another form of identification, said Alex Filides, 26, of Westfield came 5ichard Koziol, event coordinator at the Linden High School PTA and a mem­ in second with a time of 16:25, and ber of the Board of Education. third-place winner Jose Guzman, s* 43, of Carteret finished in 17:15. Buses will be lined up awaiting students to transport them to Inman Sports Indira Stotmayor, 30, of New Club in Edison, with the last bus running at approximately 11 p.m. York City was the top female run­ Detective Bill Knapp, president of the Linden Police Benevolent Association ner with a time of 21:01. Megan Local 42, said several officers volunteer to provide security for the event. While Hathaway, 29, of Summit, came in Project Graduation has always gone smoothly, Knapp said the students are thor­ second among women in 21:11. oughly checked for alcohol and drugs before being admitted to the club. Fire Chief Robert Hill, one of the “They are all searched," said Knapp, with a K-9 unit sniffing for drugs. event organizers, said the turnout' Students can use all the facility’s features, such as the swimming pool, tennis for the main race was up over the courts, volleyball, miniature golf, driving range and basketball court. Also 160 runners in 2001. included are an all-night disc jockey, huge inflatable party games, prizes, con­ “It was up over last year,” said tests, and more. Once at the sports club, students will be treated to a barbecue, Hill. Photo By Brian Gooney sub sandwiches and ice cream. Approximately 75 children and Approximately 85 to 90 percent of graduating seniors are expected to partake Roselle Mayor Joseph Croteau sounds an airhorn Sunday to start the One-Mile Fun adults participated in the One-Mile in this year's Bash, a figure that translates into 340 to 350 students, Run/Walk. Approximately 75 children and adults participated in the first race before the Fun Run/Walk, which began Koziol said more than 100 volunteers donate their time to make the Bash a around 5:30 p.m., shortly before the 5K run, m success, whether it be through soliciting sponsors, decorating, preparing the 5K. The hot and muggy temperatures the borough was growing in tury 5K" white shirts and stretched sports club or chaperoning. Hill believes the Roselle event is Sunday were beginning to drop by popularity. their muscles while disc jockeys “It keeps the kids safe," said Koziol “In the past 13 years, there has not been gaining prominence among ama­ the start of the evening races. Typi­ played pop music. ime substance-related incident." teur runners in the area. More resi­ cally, runs are only sponsored in the “It gets better each year," said Croteau. “It shows that we’re mov­ Through the help of donations, grants and volunteers, the Linden High dents are also turning out to watch evenings or mornings, according to Awards in the 5K were presented the race and enjoy the other enter­ ing in the right direction, with the School PTA aims to keep it that way. DARE officers, City Council members, Hill, since mid-day weather in late to the top overall male and female, school board members, parents, and teachers are some officials who have vol­ tainment, he added. spring would be too hot for the people coming out." top three men and women in each unteered in the past. Interested volunteers are encouraged to contact Koziol at “We've gotten comments from Runners gathered outside Bor­ participants. age group, first firefighter, first 908-862-7308. people,” said Hill. “It’s got a good Mayor Joseph Croteau sounded ough Hall for the start of the 5K, a police officer and first teams. Age reputation. It seems that more and The Linden Municipal Alliance Committee provides a grant to subsidize a the airhorn to begin the Fun Run/ 3.1-mile race. They registered, groups range from 14 and younger portion of the $20,000 to $25,000 estimated cost. Community and parent dona­ more people are getting into it." Walk. He said the racing festival in received special "Roselle 21st Cen- to 70 and older. tions also contribute to making the Bash free to all students. Knapp to continue advocacy role following PBA re-election By Brian Gooney The increase in the number of rfIm fte a sho- "These are first-responder units,” said The PBA agreed to a new contract after a He disagreed with the consultant’^ findings Managing Editor pliftings and vehicle break-ins Knapp. While municipal garage mechanics prolonged negotiation, Knapp said Linden that the department did not need an increase in Linden Police Detective Bill Knapp, who major shopping center near Linden Municipal work hard on these vehicles, there is only so police officers still make substantially less police captains or superior officers. has been elected for a second term as presi­ Airport has led to plans for a satellite police much they can do to maintain the engines and than officers in other municipalities in Union Police matters woe tense during early dent of the Police Benevolent Association station near Routes 1 &9 to allow for improve- other parts of these old cars, he added. County. Linden is one o f the largest towns in 2001, when the council held up the promo­ Local 42, said he will continue to push for d response time. Other police departments lease patrol cars the county, and its police are among the tions o f two sergeants to full lieutenants. Sergeants Mark McCue and Donald Tempals- increased manpower and equipment. Knapp said he would ideally like 20 new with the option to buy them after a few years. busiest lused on (he anmber of calls. ky had been serving as acting lieutenants for Knapp completed his first two-year term, uniformed officers added to the department. The union president said he would like Linden The State Police Uniform Crime Report for several months before their full promotions and was re-elected for a new term late last "Every bureau needs it,” he said, “Patrol officials to look into this method to improve 2000, which was released last year, states that were questioned by council members. month. Knapp previously served as PBA vice has the most need." A dozen new officers the motor pool. • .-, the number of reported crimes in Linden rose 'from 1,622 in 1999 to 1,706 in 2000. Most o K Tempalsky’s promotion was approve,! in president for 16 years before assuming the top could bolster the ranks of the Patrol Division. post in the police officers’ union. He has been Knapp said he understood that it is not fis­ .La-:the !’ .•«-increase ..I. ‘was ",1.;-. »_in non-violent-11 - * ■:—*—crimes. - - Aik.City < FebruaryPohmartr OAAt2001, ttifttls*while CrttSgt. Johnf/Vftn Ban*Fine ninewas a member of the Linden Police Department Knapp also wants to address the lack of cally realistic to approve such a substantial officials said they anticipated an increase in promoted to lieutenant after Gregorio increase in new officers, vehicles and equip­ for 28 years — his entire law enforcement superior officer positions and promotions. shoplifting and vehicle burglaries after the removed McCue’s name from consideration. The department has only three captains and no ment. He regularly attends City Council meet­ career. new shopping centers and chain department McCue retired from the department a few ings and discusses the department’s needs The 129-member PBA is in the first year of deputy chief. There were previously five stores opened along Routes 1&-9. months later, s during public portions. a three-year contract which expires in 2004, police captains, but two positions were phased The council authorized the hiring of a con­ Knapp, other city,police officers and sup­ out after retirements. so Knapp said the union officials will not have According to the 2002 salary ordinance sultant to study the Police Department in porters packed council meetings in early to go back to the bargaining table anytime The Fire Department, on the other hand, approved in the fall by the municipal govern­ March 2001 following a highly purged dis­ 2001, They criticized the council for passing soon. has six deputy chiefs, which is the equivalent ing body, the police chief cams $114,200 per pute over lieutenant pftrmbtions. over two qualified candidates for superior "Hopefully, I’ll be around to do the next of police captains. year. He is one of several Linden department Professional Law Enforcement Evaluators officer positions.