Page 4 Thursday, February 19, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

POPCORN™ The Replacement Killers: TheThe WestfieldWestfield LLeadereader Killer With a Conscience TheTheThe Official NewspaperWestfieldWestfield of the Town of Westfield andLL the Countyeadereader of Union — Established 1890 — By Michael S. Goldberger Member of the New Jersey Press Association • Member of the National Newspaper Association • ATLANTIC One Popcorn, Poor • Two Popcorns, Fair • Three Popcorns, Good • Four Popcorns, Excellent Periodicals – Postage Paid at Westfield, New Jersey He’s Got The World 1 & 1/2 popcorns services of Meg Coburn, passport forger THE TIMES Bloodthirsty moviegoers, rejoice! If par excellence played, in a strange career On His Shoulders Official Newspaper of the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood you’re the type who requires a regular fix move, by Mira Sorvino. Now guilty by There is very strong evidence to sup- — Established 1959 — of senseless slayings, right this way. association, Meg too incurs the wrath of port the theory that Atlas, “a mythologi- Mr. Wei’s minions. A former street waif cal Greek god and leader of the Titans,” Periodicals – Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, New Jersey This one’s for you. Violence doesn’t come much more with a rap sheet that matured as she did, was the source of our word Atlantic. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the offices of the newspapers at gratuitous than the buffet of murder and she soon has no choice but to ally herself There is another explosive story that he P. O. Box 250, Westfield, New Jersey 07091 mayhem served up in The Replacement to Mr. Lee. Happily for this film’s lim- was also the source of the name for the Killers. Lucky you. Life is good. There’s ited purposes, Meg knows her way around Lost Island of Atlantis. not even much of a plot to obfuscate the all manner of assault weapons. The sce- Atlas came from a Greek word mean- THE LEADER THE TIMES nario set, let the serious killing begin. P.O. Box 250 P. O. Box 368 production line slaughter in director ing “to uphold,” which he did quite well. Antoine Fuqua’s first feature film. But in fact, the homicidal rampage For, you see, it was Atlas who was con- 50 Elm Street, Westfield, N.J. 07091 Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 started before the opening credits. Even demned by Zeus to hold up the heavens (908) 232-4407 • Fax: (908) 232-0473 (908) 232-4407 • Fax: (908) 232- For the rest of us, it isn’t all that simple. No thinking person can witness in its exposition, Mr. Fuqua’s non-stop and especially earth for having attempted E-mail: [email protected] 0473 this incessant butchery without wonder- massacre manages to bump off the requi- to storm heaven. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ing what it is about such nihilistic non- site number of victims. If the film de- Atlantikos, incidentally, was the Greek sense that regularly gains it an audience. serves any credit, it is for raising the ante adjective for Atlas. Legend has it that Horace R. Corbin Gail S. Corbin Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange in multimedia assaults on the senses. about 1450 B.C., a volcano erupted on PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER (1971), with its theories about The choreography of mass murder, in the island of Thera (currently Santorini) “ultraviolence,” managed a novel thesis meter sharply sympathetic with the mu- which destroyed Knossos and perhaps Paul J. Peyton Suzette F. Stalker Joanna B. Marsh or two concerning rage among the so- sic applied by Harry Gregson-Williams, the fabled Atlantis. MANAGING EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR MARKETING DIRECTOR cially disenfranchised – the need for doesn’t miss a beat. The rat-tat-tat and Much later, a mountain in North West vicarious violence. But sitting in the ricochet bullet sounds assume a percus- Africa was named Mount Atlas, and the Karen M. Hinds David B. Corbin Debbie Geraci sion instrument counterpoint to the back- ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE movie theater, bombarded with the ki- sea that lay at its feet was called OFFICE MANAGER SPORTS netic charge of audio-visual carnage that ground score. The visuals — some may Atlantikos, later Anglicized to Atlantic. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE The Replacement Killers spews so effec- call it acting — serve as little more than In the latter part of the 16th century, tively, one can’t help but to furtively light-show and shadow accompaniment Atlas was depicted holding the world on THE WESTFIELD LEADER & THE TIMES glance the audience. to the symphony of devastation. Exciting his back on the frontispiece of a book of One-year subscription in county $20 They don’t all look so alienated, hun- at first, these repetitious guilty thrills maps published by Flemish geographer One-year subscription out-of-county $24 gry for cinema savagery to assuage their soon evaporate into a numbing nothing- Gerhardus Mercator. As a result, any One-year college (September to May) $16 isolation. Some do. But not all. ness. collection of maps published since then Under the tutelage of Hong Kong ac- It is difficult to discern just what the has been called an Atlas. tion filmmaker John Woo (Face Off, filmmakers hoped to achieve when they We hope that Atlas continues to hold Broken Arrow), first-time director teamed Sorvino and Chow. The chemis- up his end. What a let down if he “drops Work Underway to Trim Municipal Antoine Fuqua tries to establish an inter- try is nil. Whereas John Lee as the killer the ball.” national aura for his gratuitous violence, extraordinaire is, gasp, really just a fam- taking the artistic pretense route for the ily man at heart, Meg Coburn is a little bit Budgets to Reduce Impact on Taxes first quarter of the movie. Some of the more of a challenge to type. While not Please See film frosh’s fancy footwork shows prom- particularly sexy, Miss Sorvino’s pur- In the past few weeks the governing bodies in West- as of now shows an increase of $44 per household. The ise, if not originality. But sadly, predict- veyor of passports nonetheless makes Another Column field, Scotch Plains and Fanwood have begun the task of average home in Scotch Plains is assessed at $115,000 ably, the highly-stylized balderdash is her fashion statement by insisting on a developing municipal budgets for 1998. Elected offi- with a market value $230,000. Based on $93,000 in painfully self-conscious. Boasting the black bra as her only top. If the erstwhile On Page 5 cials are currently working with department heads to spending per tax point, the budget represents an increase youthful arrogance of an extended music CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 video (Mr. Fuqua’s previous area of vo- find areas which can be cut without reducing services to of 3.8 tax points. cation), the sophomoric stabs at symbol- residents. Two-thirds of Scotch Plains property tax bills go ism play like bad poetry. "COMMENTING ON UNION COUNTY" Last week Westfield Town Administrator Edward A. towards the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school budget with The plot is even less ambitious. In an Gottko presented a budget proposal of $22.7 million the remaining third divided between the Union County unnamed North American city, hit man Freeholders Spearheading Multiple which, as it stands now, represents an increase of and local municipal budgets. John Lee (Chow Yun-Fat) is in the em- ploy of Mr. Wei (Kenneth Tsang), a Economic and Educational Programs $433,000 over last year. In 1997, Mr. Gottko presented The municipal tax rate in the township has risen 11 Chinese warlord for the ’90s. When the a $22.47 million budget with an incline of $667,000 cents per $100 of assessed valuation since 1990, an Oriental bigwig’s gangster son is killed By DANIAL P. SULLIVAN over 1996, due largely to an increase in state pension increase for the average property in town of $241, equal by nice cop Stan Zedkov (Michael Chairwoman – Union County Board of Freeholders funds. The final budget was trimmed by some $200,000, to 21 tax points, in the seven-year span. Last year the Rooker), John gets the call to even the score: execute the offending flatfoot and but still represented an increase of four tax points, or average township property owner paid $1,035 in mu- Union County is the gateway to the global economy; seeing to it that our his eight-year-old son. The usual orga- transportation infrastructure is up to date, $428,799, over the 1996 adopted spending plan. The nicipal taxes, an increase of $34 from 1996. nized crime lore, replete with eye-for- New Jersey/New York Metropolitan Area, the world’s center of commerce, clean and efficient; that people will have 1998 proposed budget is $16,000 below the state man- In Fanwood, the Borough Council is hoping to deliver an-eye prescripts about “family,” sur- a modern retail center, not only in which round the assignment. But it won’t be finance and communications. dated cap of 2.5 percent. another budget with a 0 percent increase in the amount It is imperative that our interdepen- to shop, but one that will provide em- This year the Westfield council has the option of using business as usual for Mr. Chow’s can-do ployment opportunities and learning ex- to be raised through property taxes, or as close to that killer this go-round. The police detective dent region of exciting urban areas, sub- funds as part of surplus which stands at $2,560,000 — goal as possible. Last year’s $5.5 million budget, which urbs and businesses, ranging from “mom periences, and that our children receive in his cross-hairs, John Lee, can’t pull the utmost in education in order to meet up $407,000 from last year. Last year, the governing represented no municipal tax increase, was achieved the trigger. Heretofore, his victims have and pop” stores to major industries, con- tinues to play a major role in the growing the challenges of the future in order to body chose to utilize $1,960,000, or 91 percent, of the through receipt of $254,000 state grant for work com- all been murderers; this target is a good keep us moving forward. guy. international economy. available surplus funds which totaled $2,150,000. Also, pleted by the borough on two of its streets. That’s why the county is moving To this end, the board and I enthusias- But the sudden display of morality has tically welcome our new members: Lewis the town has another $662,000 in the Cap Bank — The council is currently evaluating a number of capital its consequence. By not carrying out the quickly to meet the challenges and op- representing the difference between what could have projects as renovations to the Carriage House on Watson portunities of the coming millennium Mingo, Jr. of Plainfield and Mary P. hit, John instantly becomes the omnipo- Ruotolo of Westfield. They share our tent Mr. Wei’s enemy. And thus, re- through innovative programs and ser- been appropriated and what was actually spent over the Road, improvements to the downtown business district, vices — initiatives designed to improve commitments to the people of the county past two years. The Town Council must decide on infrastructure repairs and a proposed pocket park in placement killers are called in, not only and are already using their energies to to carry out the original assassinations, the quality of life for every man, woman whether to use the $230,000 left in the Cap Bank from Fanwood. and child who reside within our 102.93 provide the services and programs our but to dispatch our contract killer with a citizens want and deserve. 1996 as a revenue source in this year’s budget, or else it Property taxes in this region will, of course, depend on conscience as well. square miles. Your Freeholder Board is working in In keeping with our priority of ensur- will be lost under state law. the impact from the Union County and local school Aiming to hightail it out of the coun- ing continued economic development, try, the reluctant hit man seeks out the several areas, including taking action to Some of the areas of interest in the spending plan board portions of tax bills. The county is hoping to secure Union County’s position in the we are reaching out to businesses lo- include $994,000, as required under state statute, for the deliver another decline in the overall tax levy, but that cally, nationally and internationally. We Westfield Municipal Library budget. The library board number does not necessarily mean a decrease for local are, to borrow from a popular saying, has requested an appropriation of $1,117,000. The taxpayers as a lot depends on property valuations. FROM THE DESK OF JOAN PAPEN “acting and thinking locally and glo- bally.” board’s request is $43,000 over last year. Local municipal governments are responsible for col- Township’s Stand on FAA’s 260 Route Freeholders Donald Goncalves and Among the increases in the Westfield municipal spend- lecting moneys owed to both the county and local school Linda d. Stender, as well as Deputy ing plan are $100,000 for employee group insurance and boards. Westfield, for instance, did not collect some $1 Was Made Following Detailed Study County Manager George Devanney, re- $306,000 in employee salaries and wages. The town million in taxes which were owed in 1997. As per state cently returned from Luxembourg, where – MAYOR OF SCOTCH PLAINS – they met with government officials, busi- workforce is down 6 percent since 1992. A new position law, town budgets must include a non-spendable appro- ness leaders and American companies will be added in the Public Works Department to enforce priation entitled “reserve for uncollected taxes.” In Enough is enough. Many letters have Contrary to reports by the above men- doing business in the European country. the exterior maintenance code and shade tree ordinance Scotch Plains, Mr. Atkins has proposed $1,350,000 for been appearing in the “Letters to the tioned groups, the study did not say that A continuation of the process begun — both of which were passed by the council in Decem- that line item this year. Editor” section of several newspapers Scotch Plains must be part of a regional last December when a Luxembourg del- ber. We urge our local governments to do everything condemning the Scotch Plains Township plan to solve this problem. The firm told egation visited Union County to witness Council because we have not met the us that the FAA has deep pockets and an our far-reaching commercial opportuni- Westfield has seen increases in parking meter rev- possible to refrain from raising taxes. It is important for “demands” of the New Jersey Coalition effective strategy would be too expen- ties; this trade mission reinforced the enues and building permits, the latter of which has been government to look for new, inventive ways to raise Against Aircraft Noise (NJCAAN) and sive for a single community to bear. many advantages of doing business here. on the rise the past four years. revenues — such as investments and grants — while the Scotch Plains/Fanwood Citizens Most important, all communities af- We continued multi-level efforts to The Scotch Plains Township’s $15,330,851 prelimi- achieving services and projects which improve the qual- Against Aircraft Noise, “Inc.” to oppose fected would have to pay for the litigation ensure that our residents have the first the Federal Aviation Administration’s which could run for years — and they job opportunities when the Jersey Gar- nary budget shows an increase of $355,143, or 2.3 ity of life for all residents. (FAA) Route 260 Plan. would all have to agree on the same plan. dens mall opens in Elizabeth next year percent, over last year’s $15.3 million spending plan. The Cap Bank, created several years ago, along with Let’s set the record straight. We give Over the years, Scotch Plains has al- and, at the same time, address several The increase in the budget as presented by Township the concept of increasing surplus funds, can be used to more than lip service. We are the only ways supported the efforts of our legisla- social concerns. Manager Thomas E. Atkins is down from last year’s hold down increases in local taxes. municipality which actually did our own tors to rectify the jet noise situation. The The Workforce Consortium — com- draft spending plan, which showed a hike of 3.5 percent, We will be watching and reporting on the outcome of investigation. In 1991, we commissioned 1989 Expanded East Coast Plan severely prising local, county and state officials, Cutler & Stanfield, the nationally recog- affected many areas of Scotch Plains. We in addition to the mall’s developer — has or $522,922, over 1996. budget discussions which are now underway at the nized experts in the field of aircraft noise have understood the concerns of our resi- been working to put together a compre- The impact on Scotch Plains property taxes this year county, school board and municipal levels. litigation. dents affected by the noise and have hensive plan to deal with job training, always investigated any proposals. day care and transportation. On September 23, 1997, this council An important outgrowth of the alli- was one of the first municipal govern- ance will be the establishment of an on- Proper Priority for Budget Items ments to pass the latest request for a site, 3,000-square-foot Retail Skills Cen- Letters to the Editor resolution in support of SR-102 and A- ter to identify local job seekers, assess Would Avoid Need for Tax Increase 3151. Sponsored by our local legislators, their skills and match them with the Last week, the Town Council was pre- without any impact on your 1998 tax bill. this legislation is aimed at aircraft noise approximately 5,000 jobs and 200 ten- Neighbors of Woman’s Club Urged sented with a municipal budget that in- The citizens of Westfield cannot af- reduction and air pollution sources. At ants at the mall through specific training cludes a $433,000 increase in municipal ford yearly tax increases. This is espe- the time, both these bills were very im- and internship programs. To Oppose Subdivision at Meeting spending for 1998. Having reviewed the cially true for senior citizens living on a portant to these citizen groups. An efficient transportation system is budget as presented, I want to make clear fixed income and our many young fami- When this council refused to pass a crucial to bring people to and from Jersey On behalf of many of us who are mission cited in 1991 as a possible “des- that I see no need for a municipal prop- resolution opposing the FAA’s plan to Gardens, as well as Newark Interna- lies who are squeezed by ever-rising test the 260 degree departure procedure, neighbors of the Woman’s Club of West- ignated historic landmark area.” erty tax increase this year. taxes and a rising cost of living. tional Airport and other points through- field, located on the corner of South Again, please attend the March 2 Plan- After my own line-by-line review of which is planned for March, I was called out the county. Over the next month, I will be working “Fair Share Papen” and accused, along The proposed Union County Light Rail Euclid and Tremont Avenues, I wish to ning Board meeting at the Municipal the proposed budget, I believe that this with the Town Council to identify areas thank everyone for the outpouring of Building, to show that we are a collective with the council, of taking the classic Transit System (LRT) would do just that. budget’s priorities are in the wrong place. of the budget to trim. I am hopeful that NIMBY approach. Not quite sure of how I am pleased to report that LRT is a step support shown in the interest of preserv- group who is apprehensive about the Spending can and should be focused on ing the property as it now stands. future of this magnificent structure, and we can reach an agreement on a fiscally I could do both. closer to operation, having recently priority capital items such as road pav- sound budget, but I want to make clear This council was elected by the people cleared a crucial hurdle in the state De- Many of you made a special effort to feels that there could be a more positive ing, sidewalk repair incentives, and park come to the last one or two Planning and creative solution than subdividing that I will not support a budget that of Scotch Plains to look out for the inter- partment of Transportation. Board meetings, only to be disappointed an estate which is situated among some and field improvements. would result in any municipal tax in- est of our Scotch Plains residents, and This Freeholder Board will work in not having the subject addressed. of the finest privately-owned properties Due to increased municipal revenues crease. that is what we intend to do. We will not closely with local, state and Port Author- The reasons cannot be directed to any in Westfield. and savings over the past year, and through Thomas C. Jardim be intimidated. Common sense tells you ity officials to garner final approval for one cause, but were because of coinci- Carolyn Klinger-Kueter prioritized spending, I believe that we Mayor of Westfield these planes do not drop out of space to this important project. dence and variance technicalities. Westfield can meet these goals over the next year fly over Scotch Plains, they do have to fly All our economic development ef- Now we ask you to come once again to over other communities to get here. forts would be meaningless, however, if the regularly-scheduled date of the next Please See Demands have been made on some of we did not effectively prepare our chil- Planning Board meeting, which is Mon- Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School our federal and state legislators to tell dren for the 21st century. That is the day, March 2, at 8 p.m. More Letters this council to oppose the Route 260 basis of “Access 2000,” a program I Since it was learned that the inten- Pops Concert ‘Experience of Lifetime’ plan. These callers are being informed have introduced that would put a com- tions of the members of the Woman’s On Page 5 that democracy does not work this way. puter and sophisticated software (in- Editor’s Note: The Following letter the larger wind, concert and symphonic Unfortunately, some aircraft noise cluding Internet access) in every class- Club were to put the estate up for sale in bands were just outstanding. a manner which could allow it to come was sent to Dr. Terry Riegel, Principal at groups refuse to support testing any plan room in the county. Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, The high school has many groups (aca- that does not go over the ocean. We have The opportunity we offer to our mu- into the hands of a developer — who demic and athletic) to be proud of, but I could raze the building and subdivide the with a copy mailed to The Times. POLICY ON LETTERS done our own research and have secured nicipalities is this: for every computer * * * * * have to say that the music program stands a map from the Port Authority of New you put in a classroom, we will match it land into three small parcels — we have out at the highest level of accomplish- TO THE EDITOR had backing from many concerned par- I have been attending concerts at All letters to the Editor must bear York and New Jersey with a sample with another. We urge towns to take Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School for ment. testing by the FAA of the Route 260 plan. advantage of this unique program for the ties, who wish to see the building and The leadership of Vincent Turturiello, a signature, a street address and a grounds remain in a manner which re- the past four years and, after the recent This map is not the same as the sample in sake of our children, for our future’s Pop’s Concert, I find myself inspired to Joseph Reo and Durant Thomas needs to daytime telephone number so au- the newspapers and the one being re- sake. flects the ambiance of the neighborhood. be recognized and applauded. The hard The fact that we happened to hear about write this letter. thors may be verified. Letters that ferred to by some of the citizen groups. Union County is taking advantage of All three of our children have come up work and long hours of preparation by are E-mailed to the Editor also must Therefore, I have invited Frank another exciting possibility: the profes- such plans quite accidentally, and only a the students certainly paid off and made very short time before the private bidding through the ranks of Evergreen Elemen- contain a daytime telephone num- Hatfield, Air Traffic Manager of the East- sional MetroStars soccer team relocat- tary and Park Middle Schools. I have it a truly wonderful and enchanting ber. Our E-mail address is ern Region of the FAA, to attend our ing to Elizabeth. In addition to sponsor- on the property was to take place, added evening. more to our anxiety over the situation. always been impressed with what the “[email protected].” Tuesday, February 24, Township Coun- ing a resolution, Freeholder Goncalves’ music department has been able to ac- It included some of the finest music Letters may be no longer than cil public meeting to make a presentation campaign has included meeting with lo- The Woman’s Club has been a “land- ever to be heard in a high school audito- mark” in so many of our hearts over the complish with such large numbers of one-and-a- half pages, typewritten to our council and our residents regard- cal, state and MetroStars’ officials to students. rium. My only disappointment was that ing the Route 260 plan. show why Union County and the profes- years. Built around the turn on the cen- the entire towns of Scotch Plains and and double-spaced. Letters must be tury and affectionately known as “The I honestly feel that last night’s perfor- typed upper and lower case. All let- Our meeting starts at 8 p.m. in the sional soccer club would be a perfect mance was the musical experience of a Fanwood weren’t there to enjoy it. Municipal Building and is televised live match. Little White House,” it once was the A standing ovation to all those in- ters are subject to editing due to home of two Westfield mayors. lifetime. One group followed another space limitations and style. in the communities of Scotch Plains, As with our other initiatives, the and the performances were of the highest volved, and a sincere thank you to all Fanwood, Westfield and Mountainside. MetroStars and a new stadium would be Besides being an exquisite example of those who made it happen. The deadline for letters is Friday Colonial Revival architecture, it’s con- caliber. by 4 p.m., if they are to appear in the This council will then make its own a boon to the county’s economy and Philip John Cappio informed decision after hearing the FAA sidered a benchmark in an area which The jazz bands, the brass and clarinet following issue. make it an even better place to live, work the Westfield Historic Preservation Com- ensembles, the percussion ensemble and Scotch Plains presentation. and do business.