Defeated Union school board president vows to ask for recount of mail-in ballots By Rebecca Panico Staff Writer Union Board of Education President Ronnie McDowell said he wants an official review of the mail-in ballots after he came up 29 votes short in his bid for re-election, losing to Sharon Higgins. “I will be asking for a recount/recheck of the absentee ballots because I have my suspicions that those voters may have been unduly influenced by people ‘helping’ voters fill out their absentee ballots,” McDowell said in a Nov. 13 statement. The tension was palpable on Nov. 9, as Union County Board of Elections officials counted the provisional ballots at their Elizabeth office for the tight school hoard race. McDowell's seat hung in the balance as he looked on during the count. Higgins had a slight lead of 24 votes for the last of three contested seats from ballots cast on Elec­ tion Day, unofficial results showed Nov. 8. McDowell said he was feeling “not too good,” as he walked downstairs in the county building to watch the count for eligible provisional ballots. His deficit grew once the eligible provisional ballots were tallied by a machine. Jeff Monge, a school board member whose seat was not up for election this year, hugged McDowell after the provi­ sional results were printed and read aloud. The Union BOE race was contentious, with two factions Photo by Rebecca Panico running candidates for three seats this year. Incumbents From left, Jeff Monge and Vito Nufrio look on as the provisional ballots are about to be counted at the Union Vito Nufrio, Nancy Zuena and McDowell ran together and County Board of Elections in Elizabeth on Nov. 9. See CONTENTIOUS, Page 7 Water main break at Cranford intersection quickly repaired By Jenny Goldberg sonal and common to the fluctuation in Staff Writer temperatures, in which freezing and thaw­ A water main break early in the morning ing take place. of Sunday, Nov. 12, flooded the busy inter­ Free told LocalSource that all pipes have section of East North and Elizabeth a life span and as infrastructure ages, avenues in Cranford, but the road was breaks can occur. Additionally, pipes are reopened to traffic in time for the Monday subjected to shifting or settling soil, which morning commute, according to police also causes breaks, she said. Chief Ryan Greco. No one lost water until it had to be shut Greco told LocalSource on Nov. 12 that off to replace the valve. crews worked around the clock to repair "There could have been 160 customers the leak before the Monday rush hour. without water, but they kept the water There was a fissure in a 12-inch valve, going for everybody,” she said. which was replaced with a 16-inch valve, When New Jersey American Water did New Jersey American Water spokeswoman replace the valve, only two out of five com­ Denise Free told LocalSource on Monday, mercial businesses were affected; they were Nov. 13. provided with bottled water. She said it is hard to pinpoint exactly When LocalSource inquired how often Photo Courtesy of Patrick Giblfn why this break occurred, but they typically this happens, Free answered that she can't A water main break Sunday, Nov. 12, at the intersection of East North and happen for variety of reasons that are sea­ See WEEKEND, Page 9 Elizabeth avenues in Cranford disrupted traffic for about 24 hours. 2 — November 16, 2017 — Union County LocalSource Y o u r k n e e . Now without pain. Recover in less time, with less pain, after knee replacements at The Joint Replacement Center. A team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons, nurses and therapists work together to end your pain, while pre- and postoperative classes prepare you for a healing process that begins immediately. Our goal is to get you up and walking the same day, home within two days and back to the activities you love quickly. It's why we’ve maintained the region’s highest discharge to home rate and hear from so many patients that they wish they’d done this sooner. If you’re looking for a joint replacement program in the Rahway area, please call 732.499.6346 or visit rwjbh.org/ortho. RWJBamafeas Health i* the official health cam provider of 0 R P t k . Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital RMsrnabas Union County LocalSource — November 16, 2017 — 3 Westfielder beats field of 200 to win Watchung horse show By Jenny Goldberg talented riders and I am very lucky to be Staff Writer able to ride and compete with such a kind A 16-year-old Westfield resident who and passionate group of individuals." began riding seven years ago claimed the The competition consists of both jump­ top spot at the Watchung Stable 84th Fall ing and flat contests. Troop Horse Show last month. In both, only the rider is judged, Reddy Emmie Reddy, atop Tucker, the horse told LocalSource. She additionally won she rode in the championship, bested a several over fence competitions. field of about 200 riders to claim the first- There is a hunter and pleasure division class or lCT Division at the competition in in the show that private horses can enter, Summit on Oct. 27 and 29. Reddy said. Reddy’s horse, Rookie, was "After the class concluded and we await­ judged in these divisions. ed results, I had no idea who had won," Plenty of preparation is required by Reddy said in a Nov. 10 email. "Hearing my both participants and the stable staff prior name called as champion was very exciting to the show, Reddy told LocalSource. For and rewarding after dedicating so much weeks leading up to the show, one of two time to not only the horse show but horse­ annual troop shows at the facility, Reddy back riding in general." said she and her fellow riders practiced Reddy has been competing since she consistently, and she trained daily in the was 10 years old, and first climbed into the final weeks. saddle a year earlier at Watchung Stable, Being a member of the senior — or most home to nearly 100 county and privately experienced — group of riders at owned horses, four riding rings, a show Watchung, this provided Reddy the oppor­ ring and an outside hunter course located tunity to ride with the troop and, as the in the Watchung Reservation, according to show neared, the lessons became geared the county website. toward event preparation. The stable has been owned and operat­ "The instructors provided us with exer­ ed by the county since 1933, and aims to cises that would help tune our riding and teach riding, enhance equestrian skills or horses up for the show," she said. enhance enjoyment of the natural setting, In addition to lots of practice, riders which includes 26 miles of trails in the must make sure their equipment and uni­ reservation. form is ready and presentable, and that pri­ "I can no longer imagine my life without vate horses are groomed properly, Reddy horseback riding and without beginning said. In addition to readying riders and riding at Watchung Stables,” Reddy said. “I organizing the event, the Watchung Stable probably would never have had the chance staff has other responsibilities, including to undergo the amazing experiences that I making sure the horses’ equipment, or have there." tack, is properly prepared. Despite Reddy's experience, the three- "I am very thankful to the horse, Tuck­ day competition brought on a slow growing er, I rode during the championship and to feeling of fatigue as she entered the ring for my trainer, Katie Stellakis, who has played the final event on the last day. She noted a large role in me becoming the rider I am that the final event is the culmination of today," Reddy said. "I would like to thank much anticipation. the county of Union and Watchung Stable, "The riders in this event are all the high­ all the staff included, specifically for giving CHAMPION — Emmie Reddy, 16, of Westfield was the First Class Trooper est level at the barn," Reddy said. "All of my me the opportunity to participate in a champion at the Watchung Stable 84th annual Fall Troop Horse Show on competitors in this event are amazing and sport I love." Sunday, Oct. 29. 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Staff Writer For McCollum, who has been a member A train dispatcher yelled out to Rich for three years, working with trains is more Laube that he could depart from the Pull­ than just a hobby. man terminal. “To me it's really one of the passions in "East track or west?” Laube asked as he my life,” McCollum said. “People like base­ held a remote to direct his train. ball, I like trains. There's an art to it and “East, please,” the dispatcher yelled there's also a science to it.” back. Members do a lot more than operate the The two weren’t directing actual trains.