bscribe to the Record-Press, the area's best source for local news, call (800) 300-9321 WESTFIELD SCOTCH PLAINS FANWOOD Vol, 12, No. 50 Friday, December 19, 1997 en pont I Briefs Jury still out on judicial appointment ByTINAQUAWNO Councilman Mntt Albano, James Wright, Sr. Gechtman. He said Judge Hobbie as municipal judge. He Keep hydrants RECORDPRESS Gruba — both Republicans — Mr. Brennan pleaded with Gechtman is the "quintessential and Democrats Jack Walsh and .also added, the council's vote council members to vote their court judge." He added that doesn't matter because if the free of snow WESTFIELD—Two judges Mayor Jardim to find a perma- conscience and not their parties. Judge Gechtman has served in were judged by the Town Council nent replacement. council never approves an WESTFIELD — Paul "I think you owe it to the tax- 18 of Union County's 21 munici- appointment, Judge Gechtman Tuesday, but council members The councilmen reviewed four payers of this town to let us know palities. Battiloro, Chief of the couldn't reach a verdict. resumes in committee meetings, could remain as ncting municipal Westfield Fire Department, why you are voting agninst Judge But resident Martin Schadt judge. urges all Westfield resi- Mayor Tom Jardim presented including Judge Gechtman's and Gechtman because none of you said he felt Judge Gechtman was Judge Jeffrey Gechtman as his the former judge's, Ed Hobbie. can argue with his qualifica- "aloof" and "not in touch" with Mayor Jardim said Judge dents to clear snow from Gechtman is not only "tough but fire hydrants near their appointee for municipal judge to The Democratic mayor's effort tions," Mr. Brennan said. the people of Westfield after he fill out the remaining two years to disregard party polities and Councilman Matthew Albano appeared before the judge recent- fair" and "treats everyone in his homes and businesses. of a three year term vacated in courtroom with dignity and Westfield has almost appoint Judge Gechtman, a pointed out that one of the crite- ly. He said he "wasn't happy with September by Judge Marion Republican, was , blocked. ria established by the bi-pni'tisnn the results of his proceedings." res poet." 900 hydrants within its Mogielnicki. boundaries, and the Fire According to state law, the posi- committee before reviewing But Mr. Shndt's experience Mayor Jardim said some havo Department shovels snow Judge Gechtman, currently tion of municipal judge is a mny- resumes was that the judge live wasn't enough to eliminate Judge advised him to renppoinl Judge around all the hydrants, serving as municipal judge in oral appointment subject to the in town. Gechtman as a candidate. Hobbie, but he said he can't . b;ut the process is very,time Garwood and Winfield Park, has advice and approval of council, While Mr, Hobbie is a "Personally I don't rate judges because he feels Judge Gechtman consuming and it is impor- been working in Westfield since Two members of the public Westfield resident, Judge on dissatisfied litigants," Mr. is more qualified. tant to clear the snow away Ms. Mogielnicki's resignation. spoke out on behalf of Judge Gechtman currently lives in Wnlsh said. "They said I'm going to have a quickly. Residents who help During that time, the mayor Gechtman's nomination — resi- Fanwood. Councilman Norman Greco tough year and 1 suppose I am," established a bi-partisan com- dent Bill Brennan and Winfield Mayor Wright commended said Mayor Jardim made it polit- by clearing a nearby mittee of the council made up of Mayor Jardim said. "But I need hydrant may aid in saving Township Mayor David P. Mayor Jardim's choice of Judge ical when he removed Judge to do what I think is right." a, life or preventing a neighbor's home from suf- fering damage. The Fire Department Fire has started a hydrant marker system. These markers have been placed in selected areas. In the future, markers will be placed on all the hydrants svithin the municipality during the winter months. home College Club ByTMAQUARINO scholarships HKCOMM'HEHS WESTFIELD—A fire broke SCOTCH PLAINS — out inside a First Street home The College Club of Tuesday, leaving the property Fanwood-Scotch Plains will owner homeless for the holidays. be offering scholarships to About 15 firefighters respond- young women residing in ed to the fire at 539 First Street Scotch Plains or Fanwood which was called in 3:09 p.m. and graduating from high characterized by Deputy Chief school in June and plan- John Castellano as "severe" with ning to attend or are cur- "extensive damage." rently attending a four- "A neighbor noticed the smoke year university. and heard the alarms nnd Applications for high informed the owner of the house school seniors will be avail- (Lawrence Smith) who was out- able from the Scotch side," Deputy Chief Dennis Plains-Fanwood High GEORGE PACCIELLO/THE RECORD-PRESS Burke said. "He went to that School Guidance Office this neighbors house and called it in week. to the fire department." For students currently A visit from an angel When firefighters arrived on enrolled in college, the Irlna Dvoroenke of the American Ballet Theater hands an autographed picture to one of the young fans she made at the Children's the scene they found n fire in the applications can be Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center In Fanwood, Monday. Dancers Irom the ballet group demonstrated steps and costumes for the cen- basement which extended up to obtained from the ter's patients during a special appearance. the first floor. Deputy Chief. Scholarship Committee Burke said the damage was Chairman at 889-6326. heavy to the luiHement, moderate^ Completed applications, on the first and second floors and < including pertinent creden- light in the attic. The total dollar - tials, must be returned to vnlue of damage has not yet been i the Scholarship Committee Residents object to street plan determined. at 10 Brandywine Court, Deputy Chief Burke-said the, Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076, ByTINAQUAMNO required to sell the land to a is to increase the permitted den- lived on Myrtle Avenue since fire wns brought under control • within 15 minutes and all units', by March 1, 1998. KECOKD-I'REHS developer who will provide sity of dwelling units from eight 1934, spoke out nnout the reper- affordable housing. In a survey per acre to 16. If the developer cusBions closing Grandview iefl the scene at 6:30 p.m. ; of all the vacant land in town, a owned all three acres he could Avenue would have to their Mr. Smith was home at the Players Theater WESTFIELD—About 100 court appointed planning expert build a total of about 34 units; neighborhood. They expressed time, but not inside the single raffle tickets determined residents waited ultimately designated the Myrtle seven of which would be afford- concerns about increased traffic, family 2 1/2 story home when the ' : three hours in council chambers Avenue nrea as the most suitable able housing and 19 would be flooding, pedestrian safety and fire started. • WESTFIELD — The Tuesday to voice their outrage site. Ten sites were targeted ini- market rate, drops in property value, "We are happy that no one was . Westfield Community over the proposal to block off tially, but the number was great- The wooded area between Residents suggested the town injured fighting the fire or from , Players are holding a raffle Grandview Avenue. ly reduced because of wet land Myrtle Avenue and Grove Street explore the option of selling its the home, fortunately the owner to raise funds for the the- The proposal to close and analysis. was zoned for affordable housing Mt, Laurel obligation to neigh- wns not in the house at the time," ater. vacate Grandview Avenue Town Attorney Charles in 1991 as a result of litigation boring municipalities. Mayor Deputy Chief Castellano said. Tickets for the raffle will between Myrtle Avenue and Brandt snid the area was rezoned the town was involved in for Jardim snid a forum will bo held Officials said the house is be sold at the group's three Grove Street is actually one of for that development in 1991. about six years regarding Mt. to specifically hoar the concerns uninhabitable at this time and remaining production this three request put forth to the Mr. Kervick owns 1,6 acres of Laurel housing in Westfielcl - the of the residents, the cause of the fire is under season — "Out of Sight, town by land owner and develop- land in the area and wants to town was sued for not providing Mr. Brandt said nothing investigation. Out of Murder," "I'm Not er David Kervtck. purchase the adjacent 1.3 acres enough affordable housing. regarding development has been One firefighter sprained, his Rappaport" and "Romance, ankle during clean up operations, Romance." Under court order, the town is from the town. His third request Residents, one of whom has decided yet. The winners of the raffle drawing — to be held at the Players' annual meeting in May — will receive two Westfield council planning winter getaway orchestra-seat tickets to an upcoming production at the ByTWACUAWNO real planning and to stick with into the budget process, reported discussion on matters of impor- set out to do it, then we will be Papermill Playhouse and a RECORD-PRESS the plan." there is not enough long term tance, it can only be good," serving the people of the town $100 gift certificate for the He said the goal of the meet- thinking by the council. Councilman Jim Gruba said. more effectively. F.M. Kirby Carriage House WESTFIELD-The Town ing is to get out on the table what The mayor said the purpose of "It is n great idea and I think Fourth Ward Conncilwoman- Restaurant at the Council has planned a retreat to everybody would like to accom- the retreat is to accomplish n we accomplished some .