Happy New Year 2009 Year In Review: Part 2 – June to December Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, December 31, 2009 OUR 119th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 53-2009 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS November 19, 2009 September 10, 2009 June 25, 2009 Courtesy of Albert Paglialunga Michael Pollack for The Westfield Leader Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader PROUD AND THANK YOU...Jefferson School’s Pack 673 Cub Scouts, waving WHAT’S IN A NAME?…The Jolly Trolley in Westfield, long a landmark, has CLASS OF 2009…Members of Westfield High School’s Class of 2009 gather on American Flags and holding handmade signs, were eager to thank the returning been renamed The Office Bar & Grill and is currently undergoing renovations. Monday in the Armory for graduation ceremonies. Principal Peter Renwick troops of the 102nd Cavalry during the parade last Saturday in Westfield. The staff, however, will remain the same. Pictured, from left to right, are: Lauren delivers remarks to the class, center, and retiring English teacher and coach Bianco; Alexandra Gill, general manager; Margaret Carr, the original founder Ronald Barner, who has been teaching in Westfield for 34 years, prepares to say of the restaurant; Aliya Robbins and Heather Pizzella. goodbye at left. June Pembridge as the new Child Care Pro- Westfield gram director. The board of education had heard Christie Wins, Dog Park Rescinded, Goodbye 2009! Garwood residents pleading to save the jobs of an township police chief Thomas O’Brien, ing of vehicles from county roads and side of the Scotch Plains Library, caus- August Nearly 31 months to the day that 25- elementary school teacher and a library charging they had defamed him during facilities. Previously, towers kept all ing damage to the children’s reading Westfield year-old Emily Errico’s emaciated body secretary. that year’s campaign when they “cre- the fees. room. Police are investigating why the Westfield Democratic Mayoral can- was found by police in her family’s The planning board adopted its Coun- ated a false impression” that Mr. Regional vehicle turned from Bartle Avenue onto didate Bill Brennan accused Mayor Second Avenue home in Garwood, a cil on Affordable Housing plan, which LeStrange was a racist and an anti- Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie Forest Road before hitting the library, Andy Skibitsky, a Republican, of “cam- Union County grand jury indicted her provides 230 affordable housing units. Semite. The lawsuit against Mr. O’Brien and incumbent Governor of New Jer- which was open at the time. No one paigning” in a letter that accompanied mother, Ermina Errico, on third-degree Councilman Sal Caruana and the was dismissed earlier. sey Jon Corzine won the race in the inside the library was injured. all Westfield tax bills. neglect charges. town’s Finance Committee adopted a The council voted to preserve a po- gubernatorial primary election. Fanwood The school district has saved Just like Fanwood, Garwood had its two-year capital improvement plan that lice officer’s position instead of pur- Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th) was one It was announced that LaGrande Park $652,000 in utility costs by conserving application for extraordinary aid, in the will spend $1.3 million on road im- chasing a new patrol car. of 208 co-sponsors on legislation, which baseball fields would be closed for two energy. “It’s a real golden star in how amount of $300,000, denied by the provements and equipment while pay- The council approved the Scotch calls for an audit of the Federal Re- weeks beginning September 28 for plug we manage our budget,” said Board of DCA. The borough received $250,000 ing back roughly $1.9 million. Plains Management Corp.’s (SPMC) serve. “There really has never been an aeration, topsoil dressing and over-seed- Education President Ginny Leiz. in aid through the program last year. Lincoln School closed for two days operating budget of $67,200 for the audit of the Federal Reserve,” Mr. Lance ing. Westfield High School (WHS) en- Later in the month, having been no- due to students showing flu-like symp- coming year. Property owners within said, adding that half of the $3.6-tril- Mayor Colleen Mahr and the coun- rollment for 2009-2010 is 1,800, a tified that it was not among those mu- toms. the business improvement district will lion proposed federal budget is debt. cil discussed using unspent surplus from change of 14 more students over last nicipalities receiving extraordinary state The town council adopted its 2009 see no increase in their annual $400 Five state residents have died from previous bond measures to fund up- year. aid, the Garwood borough council municipal budget of $40 million, a 4.7- assessment. The budget includes H1N1 influenza, including the first coming capital projects. In an ordinance, the Town of Westfield moved to approve its 2009 municipal percent increase over last year with the $35,000 for a part-time manager the Union County death associated with Mountainside sought to “better define” loading zones budget. The roughly $7-million budget average Westfield homeowner to see a SPMC is seeking to hire. the illness. The board of education focused on and allow for regular parking in those carries an average tax increase of $103 5.5-percent municipal-tax increase. Christopher Marion became the July the resignation of Director of Special zones during off-peak hours. for a home assessed at $103,000. Councilman Sal Caruana said state aid township manager. Mr. Marion was a Westfield Education Mary Humphries. Charles Scotch Plains County plummeted $316,000 this year. business administrator in West Windsor Standard and Poor’s awarded Bryant was hired to replace Ms. A weekly business-news program, Residents asked the Union County The planning board approved, with for five years prior. He assumes his Westfield its highest rating, AAA, for Humphries as interim director. Chief “This Week In Scotch Plains,” debuted Board of Chosen Freeholders to facili- conditions, to subdivide a property at position more than four months after creditworthiness. Likening the honor School Administrator Jeannette Baubles in August on Scotch Plains Television. tate the process of getting area Emer- 254 Seneca Place in an RS-6 zone and the sudden resignation of former man- to a restaurant receiving a four-star said she would explore making the di- Besides two road projects that are gency Medical Services (EMS) units to build two single-family homes. After ager Michael Capabianco. rating in The New York Times, Finance rector part of a shared-services posi- not being financed directly by the town- assist Plainfield because the surround- the board’s denial in 2005, the appli- A truck that overturned off of the Policy Chairman Sal Caruana said the tion. ship, it was announced that the munici- ing towns’ rescue squads are no longer cant, Joseph Buontempo and Jean Hetfield Avenue overpass was sched- AAA rating would “save the town thou- Garwood pal government in Scotch Plains would willing or able to provide mutual aid Genevich, took the board to court and uled to have gone under the Crossway sands of dollars in financing costs.” Residents questioned the mayor and not fund any other major roadway-im- since Muhlenberg Regional Medical won in 2006, with Judge Walter Place underpass in Westfield, but had to The planning board approved the council about roadwork and building provement projects this year due to Center closed last year. Barisonek stating, “the actions of the be rerouted because it was two feet too land-use element of the town’s master projects in the borough. budget constraints. In an effort to increase revenues for planning board were arbitrary and un- high. Police determined the truck and plan. County A split township council voted to pay county government, Union County of- reasonable.” its load were more than double the Democrat candidate Carolyn The Union County Board of Chosen its budget consultant an additional ficials considered the creation of a McKinley School celebrated its 100th weight capacity of the overpass. Klinger-Kueter bowed out of the race Freeholders approved a five-year, $2,280 for services provided in late county court system. birthday with a parade. Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School for a Second Ward council seat, citing $421,000 contract with Illinois-based May and early June, which caused his Regional Westfield High School graduated 468 graduated 375 students at a ceremony concerns about the time commitment Kemper Sports Management to pro- billable time to exceed the original Chris Christie, then-Republican can- students during its ceremony held at held at Tyson Field. required. vide golf-course management at Union $10,000 ceiling agreed to earlier this didate for governor, told a group of Westfield Armory. Fanwood Westfield’s governing body ear- County’s two public courses, Gallop- year. Gregory Fehrenbach assisted the parents gathered in the Westfield High Downtown Westfield Corporation Lee Marks, 56, of Fanwood was sen- marked $50,000 to Conrail for equip- ing Hill in Union and Ashbrook in council in its budget preparations after School library that if elected, he would Director Sherry Cronin said retail oc- tenced to 15 years in jail for multiple ment for a quiet zone at the Rahway Scotch Plains. the February 18 resignation of former work to keep New Jersey college stu- cupancy remained just shy of 94 per- counts of secretly videotaping girls Avenue railway grade crossing to miti- Officials said golf operating losses Township Manager Michael dents in state by working to improve cent.