The^festfield Record :V0l. 9, No. 14 Thursday, April 4, 1996 A Forbes Newspaper 50 cent$ I Briefs Candidates Night Boothe won't seek third term Westfiekiers will have a chance to meet and question contenders Tor seats on the Greco to run for GOP; Dems will find hopeful Board of Education at Candi- By KIVIM COLUOAW U lost to Mr. Boothe by less than 600 votes in occupied by 1st Ward Councilwoman Gail Ver- 1994. But he told The Record he wants to spend nick, 2nd Ward Councilman James Gruba, 3rd dates Night, sponsored by the THE RECORD Westfield Parent-Teacher Coun- more time with his two young children. Ward Councilman Gary Jenkins and 4th Ward cil and the WesUield Area Two-term Westfield Mayor Garland "Bud" "There are possible candidates, but we are Councilman Janis Weinstein are up for grabs. League of Women Voters, 7:45 Boothe announced last week he will not seek still in discussion," said Mr. Goldman. "We will While Mr. Boothe said it is too soon to tell pjn. Monday in the auditorium re-election. be filing petitions the early part of next week." what his future in Westfield politics holds, he at Edison Intermediate School. "I think it is an appropriate time for someone As of press time, no candidate for mayor or would probably volunteer in town activities else," he said. Town Council had officially filed with the town "subject to my own personal plans and personal With Mr. Boothe out of the running, the Re- clerk. The filing deadline is 4 pm Thursday, life." Leaf pickup publican mayoral torch will be handed to 1st April 11. In the prepared statement announcing his The Westfield Public Works Ward Councilman Norman Greco. Mr. Greco said his "lifelong ambition" has departure, Mr. Boothe said the decision not to department will continue to "I have the nomination from the Republican been to wield the mayor's gavel. run again was made with mixed emotions. And pick up leaves in clear plastic party," said Mr. Greco Tuesday. "1V« lived here all my life," he said. "I have he asked Westfielders to support the current bags until Tuesday, April 30. Westfield Democratic Chairman Lawrence the passion to see Westfield remains a strong council. Bags are available 8:30 a.m.-4:3O Goldman stopped short of naming his party's and viable community." "I am confident they will bring to conclusions pan. Mondays-Fridays at the nominee for mayor. But he promised the Dem- Asked what his campaign platform would be, programs and projects I consider of great im- Public Works Center, 959 North ocrats would field candidates for mayor and Mr. Greco said, "I really havent thought about portance to the Westfield community which will Ave. Once bags are placed curb- council in the June 4 primary. It I don't know. It's too early for me to make not be completed in my tenure," he wrote. side, residents should call 789- One prominent Democrat who will not be that statement" The mayor also warned against "fractious dis- 4100 for pickup. running for mayor is Tony LaPorta. Mr. LaPor- In addition to the mayor's chair, council seats (Please turn to page A-2) GARLAND "BUD" BOOTHE Egg hunt Video Video, 184 Elm St., will host an Easter egg hunt 11 a.m.-l p.m. Saturday. Free pho- Board aiming tos will also be available with the Easter Bunny 1-5 p.m. Fri- day and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Satur- day. Call Coleen or Jack at 654- 9900 for information. to find school Benefit concert , Rev. Alphonse Stephenson, conductor and music director of the Orchestra of St Peter by chief by July the Sea, will perform in the Youth and Family Counseling By LVNNJLPOUV • June 3: Dr. Attea will present a Service's sixth annual benefit slate of about six candidates to the concert 8 p.m. Saturday, April RECORD CORRESPONDENT school board. 30 at the Church of St Helen, The Board of Education began • June 4-6: The Board of Educa- Railway Avenue and Lamberts planning its search for a new su- tion will conduct its first interviews Mill Road. perintendent of schools Tuesday with the candidates, each lasting night about two hours. Working with search consultant • June 17, 19, 20: The school Musical club Dr. William Attea or Hazard, Young board will invite its three top picks The Musical Club meets in it Associates Ltd., the board set a to spend a day in the district so the sanctuary of First Baptist tentative timetable that will see a they can visit the schools and meet Church, 170 Elm St., Westfldd superintendent hired in early July. with principals, teachers, and } pjn. Wednesday. Several mu- Some key dates in the selection members of the public. The Board atetans will perform. process are: of Education will also conduct an- • April 17: The school board will other extensive interview at this law-fat salads Tht> WtotftoM Chat* Ctub, whWtr tlpmiWHw •••torn dM^Qfwt jrWM efetmplOfltJito laat time. The Westfield Adult School month, cam* within a draw of •taring the nation* crown. The team JhaJutfaaY—oay Nartwte, in national trad* Journals. • June 34-28: The school board Hat scheduled a thxee-aeasjon Jaton Cohan, Robin Cunningham (eeatetf), Todd Lima and Jany • April 24-25: The consultant will visit the candidates in their course on low-fat salads 7:*0- firm will Interview members of the present work environments and Westfield community, including conduct interviews with key people §30 pan. Mondays April 8. 15 at those sites. and 29. The course will be past and present school board members, administrators, teachers, • July 1-5: The selection of a taught at Classic Recipes Inc. Chess dub misses new superintendent will be an- Cooking School, 401 W. Broad parents, and past and present rep- resentatives of the town govern- nounced. St. by owner David Martone. ment, to develop a leadership pro- • Aug. 1-15: The new top admin- Call the adult school registrar at file that will establish criteria nec- istrator will begin work. 232-4050 for information. by single, late-night maneuver essary for a successful candidate. School board member Tom • April 24: Questionnaires, Madaras expressed his concern Storytime By M1MN COLUMN team played against four players on an opposing team which will be sent to all residents about the tight schedule for finding simultaneously. Registration for Toddler Time THE RECORD to find out their concerns and pri- a superintendent to start work at Stories at the Westfleld Memo- The long-distance logistics did more than tire run- orities, will be due. The school the beginning of the 1996-1997 rial Library begins 10:30 a.m. The Westfield Chess Club won this year's U.S. Ama- ners and please AT&T. It more than doubled the board expects to moil the question- school year. Thursday, April 18. Children teur East Championship — and came within a draw of length of the games, naire as soon as possible. Dr. Attea, however, said it is must be 2V4 years old, be regis- sharing the national crown. "In the real world, a game would take a maximum • May 2: Dr. Attea will present a common to find an appropriate tered in person and be West- The five-member team, consisting of Robin Cun- of three hours," Todd said. "Our first match took verbal and written report to the candidate in the time frame that has been established. But if the field library members. ningham, Todd Luna, Jason Cohen, Jerry Berkowitz seven hours. It was very nerve-wracking for the play- Board of Education that will detail and Yaacov Norowitz, bested a field of 260 competi- the results of the interviews and school board finds that it needs ers." questionaires, and will identify more time later on, he recorn- Family history tors from as far afield as Maine and North Carolina to The elongated games may have also been a factor necessary criteria for a future su- mends an intrrim superintendent Stephen Conte, producer and win the eastern title last month. The group then en- in the Westfield team's second-place finish, Todd said. perintendent. (Please turn to page A-3) host of cable television's Family tered the playoffs to face off against the Midwest and As soon as it dispatched the West team 2V4-1V4 in a Historian, will present a pro- West champions March 23-24. grueling seven-hour match, the Westfield club had to gram on researching Walden- "The playoff games were long and hard-fought," do battle with a rested Midwest team. sian family history 1 p.m. said Todd. "Some games went into move 60." "Unfortunately, we were supposed to start the sec- Lions will host Bunny '.Thursday, April 11 at the meet- Making the match-ups even more difficult in the ond game at 7 p.m. with an hour to an hour-and-a- ing of the Genealogical Society playoffs was the way the games were played — via half rest," Todd said. "We wound up starting at 8:30 of the West Fields in the West- long-distance telephone. at 61st Easter egg hunt field Memorial Library. "There were telephone operators and four runners and "laying uniil 2:30 a.m. - that's kind of late to be The lions Gub of Westfield will tributed to the children. between the telephone operators and the (four) chess playing chess." In the end. the East won one game, had one draw hold its 61st annual Easter Egg The Easter Bunny will be avail- Waste day boards," said Todd.