Happy Thanksgivingthanksgiving by MEGAN K
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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, November 19, 2015 OUR 125th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 47-2015 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield to Pay More Than $1 Mil. To Settle 2009 False Arrest Case HappyHappy ThanksgivingThanksgiving By MEGAN K. SCOTT set to go to trial on December 15. clients feel they are finally completely Specially Written for The Westfield Leader The $1-million settlement releases vindicated because they can allow the WESTFIELD — The Town of Westfield, the Westfield Police Depart- world to know that this should not have Westfield will pay more than $1.1 mil- ment, and the named police officers happened.” lion to settle a lawsuit stemming from from any and all claims, “relating to Westfield Town Administrator James a 2009 incident between the Westfield unlawful entry into the Rolnicks’ home, Gildea told The Westfield Leader in an Police Department and primarily Aus- false arrest, maliciously making com- e-mail that the municipality had no tin Rolnick and his parents, Kimberly ments to the press, which caused sig- comment. Sorrentino and Lawrence Rolnick. nificant damage to their reputation and The settlement stems from an inci- Westfield will pay $1 million to Kim- good name, among others,” the attor- dent two days before Christmas when berly Sorrentino and Lawrence ney for Ms. Sorrentino and Lawrence Westfield police responded to the 500 Rolnick; $100,000 to Austin Rolnick Rolnick, Donald DiGioia of Moun- block of Boulevard on a report of pos- and $55,000 to Austin Rolnick’s friend, tainside, wrote in an e-mail. sibly intoxicated young adults exiting a Ramon Martinez. The claims of Austin “It was a hard long fight for our chartered bus from a holiday party in Rolnick and Mr. Martinez were settled clients to pursue their constitutional New York City. in mediation on October 19. Ms. rights,” Mr. DiGioia said. “They were When officers arrived and demanded Sorrentino’s and Lawrence Rolnick’s vigilant. They pursued this. I pursued the crowd disperse, Austin Rolnick, case was settled last week before U.S. this and here we are. then 20, shouted obscenities and said, Magistrate Leda Wettre. Their case was “So now with this settlement, our “This is my (expletive) house,” an of- ficer previously testified. His mother came up to the property’s gate and encouraged her son to come inside. Austin Rolnick went inside but Courtesy of the Westfield Historical Society allegedly continued to verbally assault GIVING THANKS...More than a century ago, this Westfield family gathered to share their joy in being together and to give the officers, according to the report. He thanks for their many blessings. Happy Thanksgiving everyone from the staff of The Westfield Leader. was told he was being placed under arrest for disorderly conduct. Officers then pushed the door open. Austin Rolnick continued to evade Four-Story, 300-Unit Project police and had to be physically re- moved from the property. His mother had to be “restrained from interfering” and was seriously injured, tearing the Proposed For Casale-Petro Site meniscus in her knee, when an officer fell on her. She was later charged with By MEGAN K. SCOTT input. The move was the latest step in square feet, and takes into account “af- hindering arrest. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the town’s long-sought redevelopment fordable housing”, designating between Lawrence Rolnick, who was awak- GARWOOD — Planning board of the hulking obsolete eyesore. 10 and 15 percent of the units. ened by the ruckus and allegedly joined members got a glimpse of a prelimi- “We kind of mimic the Pointe but Garwood officials have estimated in, was arrested at the police station nary vision for the largely abandoned even better,” said Mr. Vinegra, refer- that the town is deficient about 60 units while inquiring about his son. Casale/Petro properties on South Av- ring to the mixed-use development on and combined with The Villages senior Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader Mr. Martinez was arrested for alleg- enue, a four-story, 300-plus residen- North Avenue across from the ShopRite development on Second Avenue, would A FULL FORCE…New recruits to the Westfield Fire Department were sworn in edly trying to interfere with his friend’s tial-unit mixed-use development, com- supermarket. “We’re picking up the suffice for the borough’s requirement during a ceremony at the Westfield Council meeting last Tuesday. This brings the arrest. plete with a parking deck, pool and game. in the latest Mount Laurel housing Fire Department back to its full force. The charges against the defendants putting green. “We just don’t want apartments. We mandate, Mr. Vinegra said. included interfering or obstructing law Board planner Victor Vinegra on want some retail, and we want a civic Mr. Vinegra said that the apartments enforcement, engaging in tumultuous November 12 unveiled the conceptual component (open space) and we want will be “the premium apartments in all GW BOE Affirms Election behavior, causing injury to police, fail- design by Russo Development of affordability.” of Union County,” with common areas, ure to disperse, among others. Carlstadt, N.J., which has purchased The 5.3-acre redevelopment area club rooms with pool tables and fitness Results, Mum on Open Seat In 2011, the judge dismissed all the Petro property. It is based on a consists of five properties along the rooms. Besides a pool, the site includes CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 board subcommittee’s suggestions and north side of South Avenue and the a putting green atop a parking garage. western side of Center Street. Those The renderings come six months By BRIAN TRUSDELL Stoffer and Ms. Patterson received the include Petro Plastics at the western after the board voted to recommend Specially Written for The Westfield Leader highest number of votes as eligible Twisted Mustache to Roam end of the proposed development site; that borough council declare a 7.1-acre GARWOOD – The board of educa- write-in candidates for Mrs. Lewis’ two Casale properties including both area on both sides of South Avenue “in tion confirmed Amanda Langston’s re- and Mrs. Greet’s seats, but Mr. Stoffer the industrial manufacturing plant and need of redevelopment.” election to the board for another three- declined the position, saying it would Westfield During Holidays an office building; Personal Best Fit- The action was the first step in trans- year term on Tuesday and also ac- conflict with his duties as the police ness and a small parcel of municipally- forming the area. The second step is to knowledged write-in candidate Kat department’s second-highest ranking By DOMINIC A. LAGANO Highlanders Bagpipe Band on Satur- owned land near the railroad tracks devise a plan of what the town would Patterson as the winner of one of two official, borough clerk Christina Specially Written for The Westfield Leader days; we do the New Jersey Workshop along Center Street. like to see in the area followed by the open seats. Ariemma informed Ms. Quigley in an WESTFIELD — The barbershop for the Arts Alphorns on Saturdays; the A 37-page transit-oriented “South selection of a developer to execute it. But schools superintendent Teresa email. quartet “Twisted Mustache” will roam New Jersey Workshop for the Arts Brass Avenue Redevelopment Plan” submit- Mr. Vinegra stressed that the designs Quigley, who consulted with board Ms. Patterson and the yet-to-be an- the downtown as an addition to this Quintet on Sundays, and this year we’ve ted along with architectural renderings put forth based on the subcommittee’s members last week, would not identify nounced board member-elect will be year’s holiday festivities sponsored by added the Twisted Mustache.” suggests a pedestrian friendly “main recommendation does not mean the the names nor the number of candi- seated on Monday, January 4, the date the Downtown Westfield Corporation A full schedule with times and loca- street” environment along South Av- board is obligated to select Russo De- dates she already has submitted to fill set by the school board on Tuesday as (DWC). tions for all the events can be found at enue with a 9,000-square foot pedes- velopment or its concept as a partner the remaining seat. Ms. Quigley sent the date of its annual reorganization The singers will join Santa Claus, the DWC’s website: trian plaza and sufficient parking for for transforming the site. the list to Interim Executive (Union) meeting. carolers, a bagpipe band, and other WestfieldToday.com. residents and retail customers. The plan The proposal will be examined fur- County Superintendent Roger Jinks, Tuesday’s meeting was delayed 13 entertainment as part of the effort to Ms. Cronin reported that the Miracle is expected to be the basis of a recom- ther by the board at a special meeting who will choose the person. minutes because only four members, “fuel the Westfield economy,” DWC on Elm Street Shopping Spree promo- mendation to council for an ordinance on Tuesday, December 1. Ms. Quigley said she expected to one short of a quorum, were present. Executive Director Sherry Cronin on tion also will begin that week. The that will govern the development of the In other matters: The board went hear from Mr. Jinks within a week and Board member Brendan McDermott Monday told the board of directors of promotion is a raffle contest where area. into executive session to discuss Supe- would have the name by the time of the finally arrived, enabling board presi- the management entity of the Special winners will receive either gift cards to It proposes specialty retail and res- rior Court Judge Karen Cassidy’s rul- board’s next meeting on Tuesday, De- dent Christine Guerriero to call the Improvement District (SID).