HAPPY NEW YEAR! Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, December 27, 2012 OUR 122nd YEAR – ISSUE NO. 52-2012 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader Photo courtesy of Charlie Bowman 12-02-23: MEDIA FRENZY…The media lined area streets early Sunday morn- 12-02-02: YEE HAW…This year, the Washington School Show’s couples’ ing prior to Whitney Houston’s interment at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield. number featured a good old-fashioned hoedown as parents square-danced in Photo courtesy of Dan Kelly, Sr. News trucks arrived by 5:30 a.m. and were broadcasting live feeds starting at blue jeans and checkered shirts to “Turkey in the Straw” during “Roadsters & 12-01-25: MUTUAL AID...The help of surrounding town’s fire departments was approximately 7 a.m. Jokesters,” the school’s 65th annual show. required on Sunday when a six-alarm fire ripped through a row of businesses on South Avenue West in Westfield. The fire, which originated in Clyne & Murphy, completely destroyed the buildings, gutting them and rendering them uninhab- 2012 Year In Review: January Through May itable. JANUARY and a fatal pedestrian accident on ings throughout the county, includ- tax relief in 2012.” Governor Chris Christie signed leg- voted 5 to 2 in favor, with board Westfield North Avenue, which claimed the life ing rooftop installations at the Regarding downtown redevelop- islation making it possible for dis- members Linda Koenig and Chris- A New Year’s tradition, the 30th of Patricia Currie. Cranford Library and Cranford Com- ment, Mayor Mahr urged the plan- tricts to have voters choose board of tine Guerriero dissenting, of moving annual Hangover Run at Tamaques Later in the month, Washington munity Center. ning board at its reorganization meet- education members at the polls in the school board election from April Park, hosted by the Cranford-based Elementary School was the site of a The year’s first partisan flare-up ing to think in terms of mixed-use November. to the November General Election. Central Jersey Road Runners Club, good old-fashioned hoedown, as par- occurred when, at the township zoning and planning and to continue In order to help finance the mu- Borough Administrator/Clerk had a record number of runners on ents square-danced in blue jeans and committee’s first formal meeting of to support a retail, business and resi- nicipal budget for 2012, Finance Christina Ariemma filed a lawsuit January 1. More than 1,000 runners checkered shirts to “Turkey in the 2012, Democratic Commissioner Ed dential zone in the revitalization of Committee Chairman Sam Della Fera against Councilman James Mathieu, from the region participated, with the Straw” during Roadsters and O’Malley called for the resignation Fanwood’s downtown. announced Westfield would need to the mayor and the borough council, lead runner crossing the finish line in Jokesters, the school’s 65th annual of newly named Township Attorney County implement a sewer-utility charge to claiming she had been harassed and just over 15 minutes. show. Phil Morin for what Mr. O’Malley The Union County Board of Cho- residents. He cited a $5-million drop intimidated by Mr. Mathieu and was At the Westfield council’s reorga- Garwood said was a conflict of interest related sen Freeholders welcomed new Free- in non-tax revenue over the last four denied raises the last two years as nization meeting, Mayor Andy The borough council voted 4 to 2 to the appointment. holder Vernell Wright of Union and years, decreases in state aid and the retaliation for being a whistleblower. Skibitsky recounted the many chal- to freeze longevity benefits for non- Scotch Plains named Freeholder Alexander state’s 2-percent cap requirement as The Garwood BOE voted to ap- lenges faced by the town during 2011, bargaining-unit employees. Council- Mayor Nancy Malool said she sup- Mirabella of Fanwood as chairman issues that make the budget process prove a five-year lease agreement from a blizzard and various multi- man Victor DeFilippo and Council- ports – and urged her township coun- and Freeholder Linda Carter of difficult. with the Westfield Area “Y” for use alarm fires to a hurricane and an woman Sara Todisco dissented. Last cil colleagues to do likewise – a study Plainfield as vice-chairwoman for Singer Whitney Houston was bur- of the Washington School. The school earthquake. He said these events year, the council put forth the same to look into the positives and nega- 2012 during the board’s annual reor- ied at Westfield’s Fairview Cemetery, district and the “Y,” a non-profit or- tested the town’s mettle, and the vote, and subsequently Mayor Patricia tives of a full consolidation between ganization meeting. Freeholder next to her father, John Houston, Jr., ganization, have agreed to a 50/50 public’s patience, as everyone en- Quattrocchi vetoed the council vote Scotch Plains and Fanwood. The Wright, a retired school principal who died in 2003. National news split of the net revenues. countered inconveniences. to approve freezing longevity ben- mayor said that after more than three from Union, replaced Nancy Ward of trucks arrived on East Broad Street Scotch Plains During the meeting, re-elected efits. years of efforts to merge various Westfield, who opted not to seek a by 5:30 a.m. February 19 and were The Scotch Plains Management council members were sworn in to Under the measure, the borough municipal departments and services, third term. broadcasting live feeds starting at Corp. (SPMC) sought approval from their new terms; Second Ward Coun- would no longer provide longevity “nothing has really happened.” Freeholder Chris Hudak, who was approximately 7 a.m. the township council of its 2012 bud- cilwoman JoAnn Neylan and Fourth benefits to any present or future non- Later in the month, the township appointed to the board in December Mountainside get, which calls for assessments on Ward Councilman Jim Foerst took bargaining-unit employee. Longev- council passed a resolution express- 2010 to replace Rick Proctor, who Mountainside’s board of education property owners to remain at $400 turns swearing in each other. Appel- ity benefits activate when a borough ing support for consolidating services was elected Rahway mayor in 2010, voted 6 to 1 in favor of moving the annually. It proposed spending late Judge Douglas Fasciale adminis- employee has been employed for five with Fanwood and initiating a study was sworn in for a full three-year school election to the November $85,400 on activities that would fo- tered the oath to First Ward Council- years. commission to look into the pros and term. Freeholder Angel Estrada, who General Election. Doing so effec- cus more on business recruitment man Frank Arena, and Third Ward The Garwood Board of Education cons of an outright merger between was first elected to the board in 1999, tively eliminated a public vote on the and retention than in prior years. Councilman Mark LoGrippo was approved a five-year lease agreement the two towns. took the oath for a fifth term. school budget, assuming it fell within Despite some misgivings about the sworn in by his predecessor, Mark with the Westfield Area “Y” to lease “What’s the harm in looking at it?” Region the state-mandated 2-percent cap. The potential emergence of politics ruin- Ciarrocca, now a Superior Court Washington School. Superintendent asked Mayor Malool. State lawmakers of both political lone dissenter, Board President James ing the “collegial” nature of the board, judge on the Union County bench. of Schools Teresa Quigley said the Fanwood parties fondly remembered state As- Ruban, stated he was not comfort- the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of After seven candidates were pub- “Y” would offer daycare, preschool, Mayor Colleen Mahr and Council- sembly Minority Leader Alex able taking any voting privileges away Education voted 8 to 1 to move its licly interviewed, Gretchan Ohlig was a fitness center, yoga, before- and man Russell Huegel were sworn in to DeCroce, 75, the Republican leader from Mountainside residents. board elections to November. The appointed as the newest member of after-school care, senior programs new terms of office during the of the lower house, after the long- After six months of deliberation, move could save the district at least the board of education in early Janu- and youth programming. The lease is borough’s reorganization meeting, time lawmaker died suddenly in Janu- the Mountainside Planning Board $30,000. Because most Union County ary, filling a seat left vacant by the effective through February 28, 2017. while Councilman Kevin Boris be- ary. voted 6 to 1 to approve the applica- towns voted to move their elections resignation of Julia Walker in No- The United States Department of gan his first term. Mayor Mahr en- Mr. DeCroce died on January 9 tion for the Triboro Sports indoor to November, Scotch Plains would vember 2011. Housing and Urban Development tered her third four-year term, while after collapsing in a bathroom inside sports complex on Sheffield Street. have assumed the sole cost of hold- A six-alarm fire destroyed Clyne (HUD) approved funding for the Mr. Huegel began his second term. the Statehouse, just moments after Cranford ing an April contest; Betty Anne & Murphy Caterers and five other Westfield Senior Housing Corpora- As Democrats, Mr. Huegel’s and Mr. the 214th Legislature held its final Mayor David Robinson announced Woerner remained opposed to the businesses located in a strip of one- tion (WSHC) to build a 72-unit apart- Boris’ victory in the General Election voting session.