ttBB . www.nj.cofn/iwcoffdprvss Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, April 14, 2006 50 cents Parties pick candidates for council election for 14 years with his wife, Pani; they have THE RECORD-PRESS four children, Billy, Sean, Meghan, and Rossi won't be on Republican ticket Ryan. SCOTCH PLAINS — November's gen- in November is Prank Rossi, a seven-year in replacing me on our party's ballot." Joining Duthie on the Republican tick- eral election for Township Council is still a Republican veteran of the Township The candidate the Republicans have et will be incumbents Nancy Malool and long way off, but the early battle lines Council who earlier ———_______ _____-_——_—-—__- picked to take Rossi's Carolyn Sorge. Malool, who now serves as have been drawn, as the local Republican served on the Board seat is Rich Duthie. deputy mayor, was elected to the council in and Democratic parties this week of Adjustment. Rossi Inside An insurance spe- 2002. An attorney with a practice in announced their slates. is not seeking re- cialist, Outhie now Scotch Plains and a candidate for the New Six candidates — three from each of election this year. There's no municipal election in serves on the Board Jersey Assembly last year, she has served the major parties — filed before the end of "After a combined Westfield this year, but there wilt of Adjustment, the on the Planning Board and in several the day Monday, the deadline to be listed 10 consecutive years be one in Fanwood. To learn who YMCA board of other civic positions. Malool has lived in on the ballot in the June primary. With of service and with trustees and the Scotch Plains for 11 years with her hus- three terms up for election, that meang the increasing work the Borough Council candidates Scotch Plains- band Paul, and they have two children, primaries will be uncontested. responsibilities, I will be, see the story on PageA-3. Fanwood Youth Amanda and Emily. Independent candidates have until the thought it was the •————~~——~~—-———- 1 Soccer Association, Also seeking re-election is Carolyn day of the primary to file to be on the bal- right time to step aside," Rossi wrote in an and he has been a long-serving officer in Sorge, who served as deputy mayor in lot for the general election. email. "I also was pleased that there were the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Youth Baseball One person who won't be on the ballot very good candidates who were interested Association. He has lived in Scotch Plains (Continued on page A-2) TheCranford Cougars hosted the BOARD OF ED Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders at Municipal Memorial Field Monday for the first ELECTIONS meeting between the conference rivals this spring, Cranford had Temple-bound Rob Chamra on the tax hike mound, while the Raiders tapped John Mineo for his first varsity Westfield start. The game took several unex- set at $73 pected turns as Chamra and Mineo mowed down batters and exhibited tax hike excellent control. For more on the THE RECORD-PRESS contest, see Sports, Page C-1. SCOTCH PLAINS — At their meeting Tuesday night, township is 3.85% officials introduced a $22 million WESTFIELD — On Tuesday, 2006 municipal budget, which local residents will go to the polls represents an increase of 4.8 per- to vote on the proposed 2006- cent over the 2005 spending plan. 2007 school budget and to choose "Substantial cuts were made," three members of the Board of said Councilman Frank Rossi, Education. Polling stations will who said that $700,000 in man- be open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. dated expenses amounts to about While there is a contest for the 75 percent of the budget increase. board seats, with four candidates "It's a fairly frugal spending plan for three spots, the big question given the mandates we have of the day will be whether voters here." will approve the spending plan. With state aid yet again Last April, the budget was nar- remaining flat, the impact of the rowly defeated, the first time in proposed budget on an average years it had been rejected. home in Scotch Plains would be a YMCA The local tax levy proposed by tax increase of about $73, said the board's 2006-2007 budget is Rossi. celebrates $68.2 million, which amounts to The average assessed home in a tax increase of about $252 on the township is at $121,000, Healthy the average Westfield home. The which translates to a market district's total budget comes to Scotch Plains resident Walter Trosin value of about $450,000 to Kids Day about $79.5 million, but that fig- was one of the Wardlaw-Hartridge $500,000, according to Township ure includes federal and state students to get his hands dirty at a Manager Tom Atkins. On that grants and debt service. Habitat for Humanity site in Plainfield average home, the municipal tax The proposed budget would recently. For more on that story, see rate of $1.39 per $100 of assessed raise the school portion of the tax Community Life, Page 8-1. value would result in $1,682 to be levy by 14 tax points per $100 of paid in support of local govern- assessed value. That's the same ment this year. That equates to a amount by which the budget tax increase of 4.5 percent, town- increased last year, after the ship officials said. Town Council made hundreds of thousands of dollars in cuts fol- Council members said despite lowing voters' rejection of the flat state aid and rising costs, spending plan. they were pleased with the fact the increase would likely again Though state aid remained be below the county average. flat this year yet again, the board Atkins said reductions in the was able to keep the tax increase amount of $25,000 were made to 3.85 percent, better than sev- since the last budget meeting on eral neighboring districts. March 30, in areas including (Continued on page A-2) legal services, streets and roads, and salaries and wages. The largest increases are determined by state mandates On Saturday, both the Westfield SPF seeks and fixed costs, officials said. "A and Fanwood-Scotch Plains lions and bunnies? substantial majority is the result YMCAs celebrated Healthy Kids of mandatory increases," Rossi Day, a national event that aims must be Easter said, citing the township's assess- to promote healthy behavior 17 new The Westfield Lions Club will host its ment from the Rahway Valley and physical fitness in children. 71st annual Easter egg hunt Saturday Sewerage Authority, which will At the Westfield Y's main facili- increase by $194,414 this year. ty on Clark Street, the offerings afternoon at Mindowaskin Park. For featured videocycles, a unique teachers more on that event, plus a look at Holy Police, firefighter and public employee pension fund payments hybrid of videogames and fit- SCOTCH PLAINS — In Week services at local-churches, see ness cycles. Kids also had a PageA-8. also amounts to a large mandat- Tuesday's Board of Education ed expense, adding up to an chance to try their hand on the election, six candidates are com- rock climbing wall and even to increase of more than $200,000. get some technical tips. The peting against each other for "It is my strong feeling that programs also featured safety three 3-year spots on the board. the financial plan represents a initiatives such as a car seat But all six candidates will be solid document to provide the check in Westfteld and ambu- rooting for one thing — voter services that our taxpayers really lance tours in Scotch Plains- approval for the proposed 2006- 2007 budget. Fanwood. BROOKS CRANDALL/CORRESPONDENT (Continued on page A-2) With state aid again remain- at me Horary ing flat, the tax impact of the Young readers can enjoy a fun and spending plan on the average informal discussion of Roald Dahl's home in Scotch Plains will be an classic, The BFG, (mm 7-7:45p.m. After survival, a lifetime dedicated to service increase of 5.25 percent, or $306. Tuesday at the Westfield Memorial In Fanwood, the increase will ber Library. For more on the library's By ANNA BOGOANOWtCZ try, "thanks to the American dream." 5.54 percent, or $279. • programs, call (908) 789-4090 or THE RECORD-PRESS A deacon and community director at her The total budget runs to $71.4 visit www.wmlnj.org. church, Praise Korean Presbyterian Church million, and voters will be asked WESTFIELD — Yong Sim Kim is certainly jn Somerset, Kim and her husband are active to approve a property tax levy of no stranger to the terrible ramifications volunteers who work to spread Korean cul- $62.1 million. At a spending caused by cultural ignorance. ture and promote understanding, apprecia- increase of 4.42 percent, the> A survivor of three wars, she has pledged tion and unity among people of all ethnicities. budget is still $1.5 million under; her life to volunteering and promoting unity Lnst month, Kim was honored with a the state-imposed cap, according through cultural diversity, in the hope that Somerset County Outstanding Woman Award to district administrators. Commentary A-6 others will be spared the horrors she has for her volunteerism. Seventeen new teachers are endured. Despite her countless hours of service, Kim being proposed, as the district Community Life B-1 "In diversity, strength," is Kim's motto. was shocked at the honor. "1 said to them, Tou grapples with rising enrollment Today, Kim, a Westfield resident since 1972, is must have gotten the wrong name'," she and parental pressure for small- Sports C-1 proud to call herself a Korenn-American.