A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES Thursday, March 26, 2015 Page 5 BOE Should Be More Concerned With Books Than Lighting Kehler Letters to the Editor A school district should be con- battle of Waterloo was won!” True cerning itself with supplying the stu- perhaps. But without the education Exxon Deal Not So Bad After All Political Corruption: dents with books and not with lights of science and history and technol- for a playing field! ogy the famous battle that brought With Exxon Cleanup Obligation Why ? The Westfield School Board has final defeat to Napoleon would not A lot has been said lately both in lengthy and, above, all, uncertain. By Sal Caruana before it a proposal to light Kehler have been won! the media and in Trenton about the Settlement, in contrast, buys certainty Former Westfield Councilman Field. The debate rages. There is another Waterloo! The Christie administration’s recent deal and ends delay. But what should rage is how many Waterloo of defeat. The Waterloo that with Exxon to settle environmental To this very point, back in 2008, New Jersey is a late-night punch line 2005 when he wanted Democratic Act- books by Plato, Aristotle, and Dickens comes about when a country is not pollution claims at the Bayway Re- according to press reports, then Gov- for jokes involving political corruption. ing Governor ’s seat in should be bought? How much poetry prepared either intellectually or oth- With Democratic U.S. Senator Robert finery in Linden and the former Exxon ernor demanded that Trenton. In a matter of a few days of Wordsworth and Longfellow? How erwise to meet the challenges that Terminal in Bayonne (Democrats Rip Exxon pay over $500 million to settle Menendez reportedly about to face fed- Corzine wrote out five checks for the eral charges, the memory of two other many compositions by Mozart and befall it! Settlement With Exxon Mobil, the case. Exxon refused to pay even legal limit of $37,000 to five county Haydn and Chopin? How many art Lighting Kehler Field? How about disgraced Democratic senators has re- Democratic organizations, including Westfield Leader, March 12, 2015). It that much (much less the billions surfaced: Robert Torricelli and Harrison Union and Bergen counties. In fact, he books of Rembrandt and Monet? lightning the classroom with more is easy to criticize this deal when sought in the lawsuit), and the state Williams the (first U.S. Senator to go to gave a total of $342,000 to 16 county There is controversy about the Shakespeare, Milton, Jefferson, focusing, as the Governor’s critics ended up with no money at the time prison in 80 years). Malfeasance at organizations in 17 days leading up to lights as there should be, but what Tchaikovsky, Michelangelo, Pasteur, invariably do, on the gap between the and seven more years of litigation. other levels of New Jersey government the conventions. Corzine also convinced controversy would there be about and Einstein? $225 million Exxon has agreed to It is also important to keep in mind is not uncommon either, and led to over an 89 year old retired school teacher in such Plato, Wordsworth, Mozart, How about less disputation about pay the State of New Jersey and the that the $225 million is in addition to 130 convictions of public officials from Oak Park to give the maximum Rembrandt? Who would turn out lighted playing fields and more dis- $8.9 billion the state originally sought Exxon’s uncapped obligation to clean both parties in the seven year time frame $37,000 to the Bergen county machine for a public meeting on their be- putation about education? in its lawsuit against Exxon. The gap up the sites. By resolving this law- that was U.S. Attorney also, which led the fight for his nomina- half? What headlines would be How about vast public gatherings between $225 million and $8.9 bil- suit, therefore, the State of New Jer- (2002-2008). Given our state’s long his- tion. Her name? Mom. Too bad Corzine broadcast? What money equal to about improving math, science, En- lion is huge indeed, but that does not sey traded in years of uncertainty and tory of political corruption, you have to wasn’t this attentive to money in 2011, the expenditure for these lights glish, history, and art appreciation tell the whole story. delay for the certainty of a $225 mil- wonder: Why New Jersey? The answer when 1.6 billion dollars of customer would be spent? education? The $8.9 billion is merely what the lion payment in addition to Exxon’s can be found in a handful of contribut- funds went missing while he was CEO ing factors (to be continued next week), Yes, of course, sports are impor- For the world will not end - the sun State of New Jersey was seeking in a unlimited clean up obligation – an of now bankrupt MF Global and he tant - an integral part of a complete will not grow dark, the moon not stop but the biggest one is clear. barely escaped criminal indictment. lawsuit. That is a far cry from actu- obligation the State of New Jersey When you are living in New Jersey, In some nomination races if you have education. But let’s put first things in its orbit, the Rockies not collapse ally recovering that amount. In fact, must aggressively and relentlessly you are also living in a time machine. private wealth like Corzine or former first. Reading, writing, and arith- into a heap of sand and dust if the this lawsuit has been dragging on for enforce. When put in the proper con- You are living in one of the few states Democratic Senator , metic! Knowledge of science! And students who wish to play sports do years and years and could have text, therefore, while far from per- left in America where the political boss- and are politically generous with it, that economics! And history and interna- not have lighted playing fields! dragged on for many more with hear- fect, it doesn’t look like such a bad ism of the 1850s is as alive and well now helps. If you do not, but can bring other tional relations! And civics as in how But disaster awaits a country that is ings, appeals and other proceedings. deal after all. as it was then. The center of all political people’s money to the county machine, to be a good and decent citizen! more focused on how well and how And, at the end of it all, any recovery Andrew Wasserman power in New Jersey is at the county that can help too. Sometimes all you Yes, of course, sports but students much its students play sports while would likely have been far less than Westfield level and it gets exercised this way: in need to bring is star power, like former practicing into the late hours of the focusing relatively less attention on

the $8.9 billion the state was seeking For Good You every election cycle the party organiza- Democratic Senator (no night when they should be home formal education! and may very well have been, after tion in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties prior record) or current Democratic studying? Aristotle more than 2,000 years many more years of delay, less even, stages a convention or a “screening” to Senator (an undistin- For when the last game is played, ago advised and warned, “All who than the $225 million the Christie determine which candidate in each con- guished one), for the bosses are also test will get the coveted party line on the the last practice held, the students have meditated on the art of govern- administration has now settled for. very adept at leveraging your public must still compete in an increasingly ing mankind have been convinced ballot. All too often the bosses have That is the very essence of litigation Reading Is popularity into cash for their machines competitive world and our beloved that the fate of empires depends on heavily influenced the outcome in ad- using local fundraisers (if you don’t and settlement: litigation is costly, vance (which was charged as recently as mind rubber chicken for dinner three country must still compete in an in- the education of youth.” three weeks ago in Union County when nights a week). creasingly competitive world where Let’s hope that the school board Home Financing By Democratic Fanwood Mayor Colleen Many county organizations do pur- success is more and more measured and as well the public have not lost Mahr was passed over for a run at As- sue high standards of integrity in their by academic achievement! sight of Aristotle! semblywoman Linda Stender’s seat). In candidate process. Since backroom deals The Duke of Wellington and Stephen Schoeman return for the county endorsement, the are meant to stay in the backroom, it is George Orwell both said that it was Westfield OWEN BRAND winning candidates at every elected level almost impossible to know how many on the playing fields of Eton that “the NMLS# 222999 take office beholden to their patrons, the do not; however, the public corruption party bosses, and also beholden to pre- statistics are telling us all that we really The Law Offices Of serving the county governments the need to know: for decades in New bosses feed off. In Westfield 23% of our Jersey an alarming number of bad char- real estate taxes go to Union County acters have found find their way into Lisa M. Black, LLC where under one party rule the Demo- elected and appointed positions while SM cratic bosses are free to reward cronies the political bosses and their value sys- 223 Elmer Street, Westfield, NJ 07090 with jobs and public pensions; free to tem have been the gatekeepers. Ending buy union votes with generous employ- county government would do many good 908-233-1803 Local: ment agreements; and free to spend un- 908-789-2730 things for New Jersey, not the least of [email protected] limited sums of taxpayer money on bo- which would be to end the patronage Cell: 908-337-7282 gus media campaigns, patronage agen- machine, weaken bossism, allow more Specializing in all aspects of Family Law, Adoptions, Member das and music fests to help keep their [email protected] FDIC candidates to emerge and improve our Estate Planning, Real Estate Sales and Purchases political machine afloat. political culture. Will New Jersey ever PNC is a registered service mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”). PNC Mortgage is a division of PNC Bank, If you are a candidate competing elect a governor and legislature with the Call for a free consultation National Association, a subsidiary of PNC. All loans are provided by PNC Bank, National Association and are subject to credit against others in your party for the ballot political courage to tear down the very approval and property appraisal. 2014 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. line some county bosses are not at all architecture that brought them into of- shy about taking your cash to improve fice? Until we do, you can expect the your chances. Former Democratic U.S. county bosses to be laughing the loudest Sunrise Cellars is the Wine Department at... Senator Jon Corzine found this out in whenever those NJ corruption jokes roll. ShopRite Wines ShopRite Wines Located inside the The Family Law Department of Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski & Spirits of & Spirits of ShopRite of Presents •Westfield •Caldwell •Parsippany 333 South Ave. 478 Bloomfield Ave. 808 Route 46 West (908) 232-8700 (973) 226-8400 (973) 335-2625

We are proud to offer a diverse selection of wines The Finest Selections for... from eight different countries. With many styles of wine from Traditional Concord to world class Napa Valley Cabernets, you can find

Back row: Richard A. Outhwaite, Esq., Jennifer L. Young, Esq. & Mario C. Gurrieri, Esq. (Chair) the perfect selection for Front row: Eva Uhrik, Esq. and Kristin M. Capalbo, Esq. the Holiday Season. 5 Lawyers, 5 Levels of Experience, 4 Hourly Rates All designed to serve your interests in all aspects of divorce including custody, parenting time, relocation, distribution of assets, alimony, child support, college costs, prenuptial agreements, mediation, domestic violence, palimony, post-divorce changes in financial circumstances, and civil unions •ALL BOTTLES Mention this ad to receive a complimentary conference % •ALL SIZES Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski, P.C. 340 North Avenue •NO LIMIT! Cranford, New Jersey 07016 20 OFF (908) 272-0200 (Excludes advertised and www.dughihewit.com in-store sale tagged items.) All Kosher Wines In Stock SPECIAL OFFER ENDS APRIL 18, 2015

APRIL 2015 EVENTS AT THE WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY 550 East Broad Street, Westfield 908.789.4090 www.wmlnj.org Save on these Kosher Wines and many more! Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30 am - 9:00 pm Friday & Saturday 9:30 am - 5:00 pm Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 pm Closed April 3 for Good Friday and April 5 for Easter Barkan Baron Herzog Baron Herzog Bartenura Friends Book Sale April 29 to May 2 Check website for all info Classics • CABERNET SAUVIGNON White • CHARDONNAY • MERLOT Moscato PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS (Check website for sign up information) ALL TYPES Zinfandel 4/6 2:00 and Foreign Film: “Ida”—Polish On On 99 On On 6:30 pm 80 minutes-Best Foreign Film 2015 99 Sale! 99 Sale! 99 Sale! 10 750 ML Sale! 750 ML 10 750 ML 4/8 7:00 pm Fiction Book Club: The Mockingbird Next 9 6 750 ML Door by Marja Mills 4/10 1:30 pm TGIF! Travel—China’s Forbidden City (video) Tulip Winery Carmel Selected Altoona Hills Cantina Gabrielle 750 ML 4/11 1:30 pm Learn the Basics of Backyard Gardening • “JUST” CABERNET • CABERNET SAUVIGNON ALL TYPES SAUVIGNON • SAUVIGNON BLANC • PINOT 99 4/16 7:00 pm Yoga for Gardeners by Lorraine Harwelik • “JUST” MERLOT GRIGIO 9 On 99 4/17 1:30 pm TGIF! Classic Movie: “Notorious” • MONTEPULCIANO 99 On On 99 Sale! 750 ML 6 On D’ABRUZZO 9 99 Sale! 4/18 10:30 am Poet Richard Morgan Presents Poetry and Sale! 7 750 ML Sale! Poetry Publishing Workshop 19 750 ML

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN (Check website for sign up information) Sunrise Cellars Coupon Sunrise Cellars Coupon 4/1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30 am Time for 3’s Storytime Present This Coupon at Time of Purchase Order Pickup or Delivery to Receive Discount Present This Coupon at Time of Purchase Order Pickup or Delivery to Receive Discount 4/2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30 am 2’s on Thursday Storytime Baron Herzog Save 99 Manischewitz 99 4/7, 14, 21, 28 1:00 pm Afternoon Fun for 4’s & 5’s $ 1.00 750 750 White Zinfandel 5 ML Concord Grape ML 3 4/10 & 4/17 10:00 am Playgroup for Babies (0-23 months) With this coupon. Good at ShopRite Wines & Spirits of Westfield, Caldwell With this coupon. Good at ShopRite Wines & Spirits of Westfield, Caldwell 4/10 3:45 pm Chess Club for Kids-no age limit, and Parsippany only. Effective Thurs., March 26 thru Sat., April 18, 2015. and Parsippany only. Effective Thurs., March 26 thru Sat., April 18, 2015. must know how to move the pieces Prices established by ShopRite Wines & Spirits of Caldwell, NJ. All sizes are 750 ML unless otherwise noted. Prices and products featured are available only at participating ShopRite Wines & Spirits stores listed above. Not responsible for 4/14 6:30 pm LEGO Club (grades 1-5) typographical errors. In the event of errors the lowest price allowed by N.J. State Law will apply. Prices do not include sales tax. None sold to other retailers or wholesalers. Artwork does not necessarily represent items on sale. It is for display purposes only. Effective Thurs., March 26 thru Sat., April 18, 2015.