Mark Logrippo Replaces Mark Ciarrocca on Westfield
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, July 14, 2011 OUR 121st YEAR – ISSUE NO. 28-2011 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield Okays Demolitions; Residents Address Crossing Signal By LAUREN S. BARR require that all homes have a garage, lowing the town to enter into an agree- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader wouldn’t the council’s approval of ment with Union County for the pav- WESTFIELD – For its only July the demolitions cause the properties ing of East Broad Street from Central meeting, the Westfield Town Council to be non-compliant. Avenue to Mountain Avenue. The held back-to-back conference and Town Planner Bill Drew said that town will be paving the majority of public sessions on Tuesday night, other residents had needed to tear the downtown area, and Union passing a multitude of resolutions down garages for safety reasons, and County will be paving Central Av- and heard from the public regarding if the homeowners are not replacing enue. Through this agreement, the the Central Avenue pedestrian cross- the garages they would have to apply county will pave the small portion of ing signal. for a variance if they wanted to make East Broad Street when they pave The council passed four resolu- any other home improvements. Town Central Avenue and the town will tions allowing for the demolition of Administrator James Gildea said that reimburse the county. detached garages at 514 Kimball the town will notify homeowners that During the citizen discussion por- Avenue, 536 St. Marks Avenue, 634 make applications to tear down de- tion of the evening, Boulevard resi- Carlton Road and 814 Highland Av- tached garages that they will be non- dent Joan Sanborn said she has diffi- enue. At the conference session Fourth conforming with the zoning ordi- culty finding handicapped parking in Ward Councilman James Foerst ques- nance. the downtown. Ms. Sanborn said she tioned that if the zoning ordinances A resolution was also passed al- thinks the pedestrian crossing signal on Central Avenue is a bad idea, say- ing “move the light to Clover or get rid of it.” Adina Enculescu, on whose prop- erty the pedestrian light was placed, asked for newly sworn-in Third Ward Councilman Mark LoGrippo to give his opinion of the light. Mayor Andy Skibitsky told Ms. Enculescu to ad- dress her questions to him and that Lauren S. Barr for The Westfield Leader this was a time for comment by the WELCOME ABOARD…Newly appointed Councilman Mark LoGrippo was sworn in by Mayor Andy Skibitsky at Tuesday public not to question individual night’s Town Council meeting. He was appointed to the Third Ward Council seat vacated by Mark Ciarrocca, who resigned council members. following his appointment as a Superior Court judge. Mr. LoGrippo was joined on the dais by his mother, Rose LoGrippo, Despite the mayor’s comments, his wife, Maria LoGrippo, and children, Francesco “Checco” and Gemma. Councilman LoGrippo responded to Ms. Enculescu, saying that as he is new to the council and was not in- volved in the initial decision, he will Mark LoGrippo Replaces Mark have to evaluate all of the informa- tion. He offered to give Ms. Enculescu his personal cell phone number so Ciarrocca on Westfield Council that they could discuss the issue. Betsey Burgdorf for The Westfield Leader Ms. Enculescu said she hopes the By LAUREN S. BARR ignation letter, which stated, “It has Democrat Matt Sontz and Indepen- LOVELY LADY…Ed Menapace and Bill Curtis, owners of The Farmhouse Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Store, hosted an event last Friday night starring two-time Tony Award-winning evaluation of the light that is cur- been my pleasure and honor to serve dent candidate Greg Kasko in the actress Christine Ebersole, above, at which guests had the opportunity to view and rently being conducted by Police WESTFIELD – Westfield’s Third the residents of Westfield.” November election for the third ward purchase pieces from her collection of vintage jewelry. See article page 18. Chief John Parizeau is done objec- Ward residents have Mark LoGrippo As required by state law, Council- council seat. tively. She also questioned what Mr. as their new representative following man LoGrippo was chosen from a list Former Town Attorney Robert Gildea is doing to repair her drive- his swearing-in at Tuesday night’s of three names provided by Westfield Cockren was given a proclamation Westfield Board OKs North way. Mr. Gildea said Ms. Enculescu public council meeting. Republican Committee Chairman Jon by Mayor Skibitsky recognizing his would need to contact the county Mr. LoGrippo was appointed to the Bramnick. The other two names pre- 25 years of service to the town. Mr. who installed the pedestrian light if council following the resignation of sented were William West and Mary Cockren retired earlier this year after Avenue Office Building she has an issue with the condition of Mark Ciarrocca upon Mr. Ciarrocca’s Alice Ryan. Second Ward Council- serving for 14 years as zoning board By THOMAS S. FORTUNATO need” of redevelopment. her driveway. appointment as a Superior Court judge woman JoAnn Neylan nominated Mr. of adjustment attorney and 11 years Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “Our building could be a great re- Central Avenue resident Maria on the Union County bench. Mr. LoGrippo, and Mayor Andy Skibitsky as town attorney. WESTFIELD – During its meet- fresher to the town,” stated architect Carluccio said she was thrilled Coun- Ciarrocca will be sworn in as a judge swore him in. Mr. Cockren “certainly deserves ing Wednesday, July 6, the Westfield Roger Winkle. The building is inter- cilman LoGrippo spoke, as many of on Tuesday, August 2. Town Clerk A Westfield resident for four and a the thanks of the town,” Third Ward Planning Board heard and approved esting from every viewing [angle]” – CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 Claire Grey read Mr. Ciarrocca’s res- half years, Councilman LoGrippo is Councilman Dave Haas said. The two new applications, the latter of noting that the new building will be a business development manager for town is “immensely better for having which was to redevelop the property designed to be as environmentally- Verizon. He holds a Bachelor of Sci- had his service.” at 440 North Avenue, East, currently friendly as possible, constructed with Bruce Underhill Sworn In ence degree from St. John’s Univer- Councilwoman Neylan called Mr. a dilapidated, abandoned restaurant. “green” building materials like re- sity and an MBA from Adelphi Uni- Cockren a “consummate profes- 440 North Avenue East LLC, an cycled roofing and bricks. He said it versity. Councilman LoGrippo and sional.” entity of developer Steve Needle, will have bike racks on the southwest As Garwood Police Chief his wife, Maria, live on Tudor Oval First Ward Councilman Frank seeks to develop the property — a side of the property in addition to a By CHRISTINA M. HINKE to be promoted to lieutenants, and with their two children, Francesco Arena said that Mr. Cockren “always small, metal-plated building that had picnic area. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Patrolmen Mario Morelli and “Checco” and Gemma. Prior to his thought how he could protect been used as a White Diamond diner Former Westfield planning board GARWOOD – Former lieutenant Samuel Rocco are recommended to appointment to the council he served Westfield and the people of several decades ago and then an Ital- member Carol Molnar did not think Bruce Underhill was sworn in as be promoted to sergeants. as a member of the planning board Westfield.” ian restaurant. The building was used the proposed building was a good the new police chief of Garwood at Sergeant Thomas Mericle, Police since 2010. Former Mayor Greg McDermott most recently by the now closed New idea. “The parking problem here is Tuesday night’s borough council Officer Alexander Anderson and Mr. LoGrippo will face off against CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 Norris Chevrolet dealership next door self-imposed,” she stated. “The ap- meeting by Mayor Patricia Captain Lenny DiStefano are retir- to display signage. plicant is proposing a very large struc- Quattrocchi. He replaces retired ing. The application, presented by at- ture for such a small lot. The appli- Police Chief William Legg. The council adopted three torney Joseph Triarsi of Cranford, cant could comply with the ordinance Mr. Underhill’s family was in at- amended ordinances set forth by proposed an office building designed by decreasing the size of the pro- tendance to witness the ceremony. the planning board, and tabled one in a style similar to the building of posed building,” Ms. Molnar stated. Following the swearing in, Chief ordinance. The Best Western Westfield Inn and The ordinance requires one park- Underhill, dressed in full uniform, One ordinance would potentially Chez Catherine French restaurant on ing space for every 200 square feet of shook hands with everyone in at- nullify the litigation between the North Avenue. The building will be building area. tendance and posed for photos with ShopRite and the Borough of cantilevered, designed to have the “You see a lot of these cantilevered his family. Garwood Planning Board and Gold parking lot directly underneath the buildings on Route 1, where the goal Councilman Victor DeFillippo Medal Fitness. ShopRite had filed a building. is to build the largest possible build- said the Police Search Committee lawsuit against the planning board Mr. Triarsi stated the proposed ing on the least amount of space,” recommended police officers to fill and Gold Medal Fitness after the building was “the best design we Ms.