WHS Graduates 468 During Ceremony at Westfield Armory
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Congratulations Class of 2009 Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, June 25, 2009 OUR 119th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 26-2009 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS WHS Graduates 468 During Ceremony at Westfield Armory By BRIGITTA GREENE Following the senior WHS Con- heritage he has to leave.’” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader cert Choir’s performance of “Fields He went described, with the clear WESTFIELD — Perhaps it was of Gold,” Mr. Renwick introduced style of Hemingway himself — not to the ominous weather, the heat under Ronald Barner as the commencement mention the help of a Dixon those blue and white robes or the speaker. A standing ovation met Mr. Ticonderoga and a ceramic garden prospect of thousands of eyes focused Barner —one of the most recognized turtle — a few of the “simple things” on stage, but it was with nervous faces in Westfield academics and ath- he has learned in life. anticipation that the 468 members of letics — as he approached to podium. “Don’t just get a life,” he con- Westfield High School’s class of 2009 “The truest sentence that I ever cluded. “Get a good life.” filed into the National Guard Armory read,” he began, “was written by Mr. Barner, whose son graduated on Monday evening. Ernest Hemingway: ‘There are some Monday evening as well, will retire Yet from the passionate address of things that cannot be learned quickly. this year after 34 years with the Student Council President Daniel And time, which is all we have, must Westfield school system. Dickstein to the fond speech of Prin- be paid heavily for their acquiring. Students also recognized Dan Liu, cipal Peter Renwick, a lighthearted Because it takes a man’s life to know a former member of the class of 2009 spirit soon turned any anxious smiles them, the little new that a man gets who passed away exactly a year prior into broad grins. from life is very costly and the only to the graduation ceremony. “Dan Liu was a free spirit who added a variety of unique qualities to the Westfield High School commu- nity,” Daniel Dickstein said. Class President Danielle Zamarelli read Helen Steiner Rice’s poem “Your Loved One Lives in Your Heart,” in Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader his honor before presenting the Liu CLASS OF 2009…Members of Westfield High School’s Class of 2009 gather on Monday in the Armory for graduation family with a framed copy of Dan’s ceremonies. Principal Peter Renwick delivers remarks to the class, center, and retiring English teacher and coach Ronald senior portrait, a photo of WHS and Barner, who has been teaching in Westfield for 34 years, prepares to say goodbye at left. the poem. Graduates also pinned blue and white ribbons to their robes in his remembrance. Although it did not rain heavily, the Westfield Master Plan Review ceremony was held inside the Ar- mory due to the threat of inclement weather. “We’ve had so much rain in this To Continue Over Summer lovely month of June … we didn’t By MICHAEL J. POLLACK ning board as well as recommenda- maximum of 32 feet in smaller zones even want to chance it,” said WHS Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tions of the Land Use Task Force, an to 35 feet in larger ones. Assistant Principal Lynn Muir, who WESTFIELD – During a light con- entity first created in 2006 to combat The recommendations also lower Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader helped organize and direct the cer- ference meeting, Tuesday, Town At- overdevelopment. the number of allowable stories from TIME TO READ...Arne Duncan, the United States Secretary of Education, visits emony. She added that the field was torney Robert Cockren outlined a ten- The taskforce’s final report recom- three to 2.5, with a half-story consti- the Fanwood Library on Monday afternoon, June 22, and is greeted by a host of saturated to the point where chairs tative schedule under which master- mended implementing a “sliding- tuting that portion of any structure state and local dignitaries, including Governor Jon Corzine, Congressman Leonard sank into the mud. plan recommendations will be made. scale model” to determine maximum located under a pitched roof. Lance, Asw. Linda Stender and Mayor Collen Mahr. The secretary's visit Administrators received special The product of between five and building heights relative to the size of The recommendations also seek to promotes President Barack Obama's volunteer initiatives along with local library permission from the state govern- seven years of hearings, committee the side yard. The ordinance will simplify the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), needs. ment to use the armory both Friday considerations and taskforce recom- mandate that homes range from a CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 and Monday, despite the building mendations, the omnibus ordinance being closed in accordance with state to reexamine and amend the town’s Garwood Votes to Suspend furlough days, Ms. Muir said. master plan will be heard this sum- Overturned Truck 74 Tons She said close to 3,000 people were mer. expected to attend the ceremonies. Mr. Cockren on Tuesday explained Firefighter For 90 Days The class of 2009 included six na- that to comply with state law, the Over Limit for Hetfield By RAYNOR DENITZIO sponse to complaints raised to him by tional merit semifinalists and final- town’s planning board must first con- By PAUL J. PEYTON the County of Union and Scotch Plains Specially Written for The Westfield Leader residents. ists, two students who received na- sider amending the town’s land use Specially Written for The Westfield Leader said it was their understanding that GARWOOD – The Garwood Coun- “I’ve had a number of residents tional merit scholarships, 38 Edward element. The planning board will SCOTCH PLAINS – A truck that NJ Transit was responsible for the cil voted at its meeting Tuesday night come and approach me, and I felt that Bloustein distinguished scholars, 121 consider the matter at its July 6 meet- overturned off of the Hetfield Avenue bridge. to suspend volunteer firefighter Allan the least I could do is address their members of the National Honor Soci- ing. The council could then conduct overpass in Scotch Plains last week The truck and its load, weighing Tweedle for a period of 90 days. opinion,” Mr. Sytko said. “People can ety, 205 recipients of the President’s first reading on the ordinance the was scheduled to have gone under the 259,000 pounds/130 tons, was headed Officials passed a resolution sup- go to the meeting and express their Education award and nine students following day, Tuesday, July 7, and Crossway Place underpass in from Port Elizabeth to General Elec- porting the suspension by a 4-to-1 concern. I just felt this would be an with perfect 4.0 academic averages. adopt the ordinance at its only August Westfield but had to be rerouted be- tric in Schenectady, N.Y. Sergeant vote. The sole no vote was cast by amplification for them and their The Westfield College Women’s public meeting before summer recess cause it was two feet higher than the Hernandez said Scotch Plains sees Councilman Stephen Napolitano, thoughts.” Club honored Eriene-Heidi Sidhom begins until September. underpass, Scotch Plains police said about one oversized load per month with Councilwoman Kathleen Both Council President Keith Sluka with their annual scholarship while Changes that have been discussed this week. In addition, police have coming from Port Elizabeth. A fol- Villaggio abstaining. The suspension and Councilman Jonathan Linken the college men’s club presented a for several years will be culled with determined the truck and its load were low-up by Scotch Plains police, upon is effective as of Saturday, June 27. stated they did not agree with the scholarship to Ezra Margolin. suggestions of the master plan re- more than double the weight capacity questioning by The Leader, deter- Testimony in the hearing began resolution, saying they had not heard CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 examination committee of the plan- of the Hetfield overpass. mined the truck and its load were during an executive session at the similar complaints from residents and Scotch Plains Police Sergeant double the weight limit of the bridge. council’s May 26 meeting and con- did not feel the resolution served a Ernesto Hernandez told The Westfield “The weight limit is 56 tons/ tinued on June 9. Following the meet- purpose. DWC Preps For Westfield Leader on Monday that the truck was 112,000 pounds. As far as we were ing, Mr. Tweedle said that he had no “I appreciate that people are upset owned by Turbo Trucking out of told, there is no length/width restric- comment on the matter at this time. about it,” Mr. Linken said. “It seems Kingwood, Tex., and leased to ATF tions; it is up to the escort vehicle to During the public portion of the to be more of an opinion to me, and In Bloom, South Ave. Work Specialized, Inc. of St. Cloud, Minn. determine if the truck can safely make meeting, resident Bruce Paterson I’m not of that opinion.” By WAYNE BAKER appeared to be both in order and be- “All the paperwork was in order. But the turn and if it can safely handle the spoke regarding the hearing, saying Mr. Paterson commented on the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader low the budgeted amount. He said the there was some confusion with the pitch,” Scotch Plains Police Chief he felt it was part of a larger issue resolution, thanking Mr.