15 Hist. Preserv. Panel Postpones Vote on Walnut Designat
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, November 27, 2014 OUR 124th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 48-2014 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Hist. Preserv. Panel Postpones Happy Thanksgiving Vote on Walnut Designation By DELL SIMEONE mission member Bob Algarin de- 1890. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader manded of the panel, “I want a clari- Ms. Hickey said most of the homes WESTFIELD – The Historic Pres- fication on this point.” The other were Queen Anne Victorians with ervation Commission, on Monday members and the committee’s attor- front porches or Dutch Colonials. evening, held a public hearing on ney were not able to define the situa- The homes, she said, were two-and- designating Walnut Street, between tion vis-à-vis the proposed ordinance. a-half story wood frame houses with Elm Street and Mountain Avenue, as The meeting was then abruptly ad- gables, shingles, and dormers with a historic district. The meeting lasted journed. wrap-around porches. Other homes almost two hours with testimony by The meeting began with a presen- in the area were deemed conforming residents from the 26 homes affected tation by Margaret Hickey, of or harmonious. The Park Edge con- by the proposed change. Connolly and Hickey Historical Ar- dos, built in 1949, are considered Some residents welcomed the des- chitects of Cranford. Ms. Hickey non-contributing. ignation, some did not. Of the 26 outlined the rationale for the area to A section of Kimball Avenue, the homes, 10 are condos in the Park be designated historic. She said that street just north of it, is already desig- Edge development that borders Bi- the homes were on property in the nated a historic district. Commission centennial Park, which used to be Dudley Park section of town, which Chairwoman Kelly Kessler said Wal- called Triangle Park. When one resi- had been owned by John and Helen nut Street should be added as a sepa- dent said, “I want to opt out,” Com- Dudley, and then subdivided around rate district because of the architec- tural styles. A commission member asked if there is a consistency, or level of integrity, to the homes, to which Ms. Hickey replied, “yes.” When she finished her presenta- tion, area residents weighed in on the Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader topic. James White, who said he and COLONIAL FEAST...Miller-Cory House Museum volunteers demonstrate the preparation of an early American Thanks- his brother own 225 Walnut Street, giving dinner during a program last Sunday at the 1740 farmhouse in Westfield. Members of the museum’s Cooking asked, “This came up in 2013, but Committee prepared the feast over an open-hearth fire, using colonial recipes and seasonal ingredients. Visitors also learned was tabled. Why are we here now?” about colonial table manners and other customs. Ms. Kessler replied, “It was never tabled; it is a long process and can be time-consuming.” Mr. White’s brother, R. Thomas DWC Proposes One Event White, said, “Some residents who are here never got the packet. When I came here, I wasn’t sure what would For Girls’ Night Out in ’15 happen tonight.” James White added, “I don’t see the benefit of it. I don’t By DOMINIC A. LAGANO Westfield” events for the holiday sea- Friday and Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Courtesy of the Westfield Historical Society see the need for it.” son. and on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. GIVING THANKS...More than a century ago, this Westfield family gathered to A resident who lives at 303 Walnut WESTFIELD — The Downtown Executive Director Sherry Cronin “Then we get Santa ready and put share their joy in being together and to give thanks for their many blessings. Street asked, “What is the legal av- Westfield Corporation (DWC), the first reported on the most recent Girls him on the fire truck and bring him Happy Thanksgiving everyone, from the staff of The Westfield Leader. enue? Is there a waiting period? What management entity of Westfield’s Night Out, which was held last month. over to the tree (for the annual tree if I wanted to demolish my home?” Special Improvement District (SID), “Girls Night Out was October 18. It lighting located on the lawn next to Ms. Kessler responded, “You’d held its last monthly board of direc- was a successful night. We had about the fire house). He’ll throw the switch WF Passes 2015 Sewer Tax; have to get a permit.” He also asked if tors meeting for 2014 this past Mon- 2,000 (women) who registered. It at 5:30 p.m.…Santa and Mrs. (Claus) property values would go up. Ms. day night. was well done.” also will be roaming around down- Hickey said, “yes.” The board discussed reducing the Ms. Cronin then discussed the pos- town from 10 to 12 in the morning,” Citizens Oppose Pipeline According to the proposed ordi- biannual Girls Night Out from two sibility of making Girls Night Out a Ms. Cronin added. nance, once the area is designated as events a year to one a year and pro- one-time event during the year to Ms. Cronin also promoted the an- By DOMINIC A. LAGANO Notwithstanding that we don’t receive CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 moted the “Welcome Home to enhance its uniqueness. “We need to nual food drive that occurs at this Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the bill from the Rahway Valley Sewer- scale it back…to make it special as a time of year. “We also collect a lot of WESTFIELD — At its regular pub- age Authority until the first quarter of one-time event because April’s food when we do photos with Santa. lic meeting Tuesday evening, the town the following year. Sgt. Luedecker Advanced; (event) was far better in terms of We have a food drive that goes to the council passed a resolution authorizing “In the past we have charged a fixed, entertainment value, kinds of special Holy Trinity Food Pantry. Typically, the 2015 sewer tax. flat rate per these categories. So rather events, trunk shows, things like that. my van is packed three times over Created in 2012, Westfield’s sewer than limit ourselves to a flat number Vacant Prop. Code Introduced “Next year, we’d like to propose which we drop off for this event.” tax accounts for approximately half of that may or may not coincide with the By CHRISTINA M. HINKE Zoning Officer Robert Hudak was that we only have it once and just see More information and a full sched- the revenue owed to the Rahway Valley actual cost that we will learn about next Specially Written for The Westfield Leader appointed the Fair Housing Officer in if it works better as a result of making ule of events may be found at the Sewerage Authority (RVSA) by the year, you’ll notice that the ordinance CRANFORD — An amendment to an effort by the township to affirma- it a little bit more special…I’m not DWC’s website, located at municipality. The town is responsible now provides for a not to exceed num- an ordinance that specifies a new prop- tively further fair housing. As part of saying we shouldn’t do that again WestfieldToday.com. for the payment of the other half of the ber.” erty maintenance code – The Interna- the grant agreement with the New Jer- (having two Girls Night Out events a The board next approved a grant bill. Mr. Della Fera continued, “Another tional Property Maintenance Code – sey Department of Community Affairs year). I just think for next year we for Brownie Points Bakery, a “classic Revenue is collected from taxpayers change is we eliminated reference to was passed unanimously on first read- for facilities reconstruction projects in scale it back one time and see what American desserts” shop that will be through a fixed rate that is applied to the the year 2015. So it’s that this ordi- ing Tuesday at the township committee the township, the township is required happens,” Ms. Cronin stated. located at 339 South Avenue, West. type of structure for which the taxpayer nance can remain in place, we don’t official meeting. The purpose of the to further fair housing. The Fair Hous- The board next discussed the “Wel- The board also discussed the new is responsible. Last year, those struc- necessarily continue to do this year code is to regulate the care, mainte- ing Officer provides fair housing advi- come Home to Westfield” events that smart phone application for paying tures were divided into four categories: after year, and will remain in place until nance, security and upkeep of the exte- sory services and assistance and refer- are scheduled during the holiday sea- for parking in downtown Westfield. single-family dwellings, apartments, we need to change it.” rior of vacant and abandoned residen- ral advice to persons requesting such son. The application allows residents to townhouses/condos and commercial Mr. Della Fera next spoke about the tial properties that are under foreclo- assistance, according to the resolution.- The events will begin the weekend either initially pay for a parking spot buildings. categories of structures and how the sure. Kenilworth resident Eugene Peppy, of following Thanksgiving, Ms. Cronin or continue to pay for a parking spot Council Finance Committee Chair- rates will change. “We did review data The International Property Mainte- Locust Drive, said a property across the stated.