Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 112th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 16-112 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, December 27, 2001 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Sullivan, Weinstein Bid Fond Farewell to Colleagues By NANCY CROSTA LANDALE plaque will be erected at a later sentiments, characterizing Mrs. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader date. Weinstein as a “true leader.” Westfield Town Council members In expressing appreciation on be- First Ward Councilman Peter Neil Sullivan and Janis Weinstein half of all present, Mayor Gregory Echausse complimented Mrs. presided at their final regular gov- McDermott remarked that Mrs. Weinstein for being “a fighter for erning body meetings last Tuesday Weinstein “brought tremendous what she believes in”, and Coun- night, both concluding years of ser- emotion to her job, to the benefit of cilman Salisbury expressed his vice after many and varied accom- the entire town.” gratification that even during dis- plishments for the collective benefit Second Ward Councilman Mat- agreements, Mrs. Weinstein main- of Westfield and its citizens. thew Albano noted Mrs. Weinstein’s tained the utmost honesty and in- Mrs. Weinstein, having lost her reputation as a “strong-willed, emo- tegrity. bid for reelection this fall to Demo- tional person who was a tremendous Mr. Sullivan’s seven-year tenure crat Susan Jacobson, most recently advocate not only to the fourth ward, on the council representing the third served the fourth ward since 1998. but to the entire town.” ward also ended on Tuesday, after having lost his bid for reelection this fall to Democrat Kevin Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader Walsh. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!...Westfield Mayor Gregory S. McDermott cut the ceremonial red ribbon to officially Mr. Sullivan served mark the opening of the broadcasting studio for Westfield Community Television (WCT) also known as TV-36 at the as Acting Mayor this Municipal Building on April 24. Also pictured, left to right, are: TV-36 Advisory Board Chairman Phil Falcone, and past year and held a former Westfield mayors Thomas C. Jardim and Garland “Bud” Boothe. myriad of positions on several council com- mittees, including transportation, park- ing and traffic, which he chaired in 2001; public safety, and fi- nance. Recounting Mr. Sullivan’s many ac- complishments, Mayor McDermott noted Mr. Sullivan’s work to modernize equipment at the fire and police depart- ments; his work on the special improve- From the archives of The Westfield Leader ment district and to FOND FAREWELL…During their earlier years of service to the Town of Westfield, Council- renew the cable tele- woman Janis Fried Weinstein and Neil Sullivan participated in a spirited debate in Council vision franchise con- Chambers. tract; his initiatives to promptly notify citi- She also served on the council in Fourth Ward Councilman zens of tax overpayments and re- 1996. Lawrence Goldman noted that the quire immediate reimbursement; A resolution passed by her council cooperation between he and Mrs. his role as liaison to the Senior colleagues noted that Mrs. Weinstein Weinstein, despite their differing Citizens’ Housing Corporation, and was instrumental in initiating im- political parties, “set an example his efforts regarding placement of provements to the pond at Tamaques for the other council members now telecommunications towers, shade Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader Park as well as the expansion project and in the future.” tree rezoning, and traffic calming. REELIN’ THEM IN…Crowds gathered at Mindowaskin Park in Westfield for the annual Fishing Derby, sponsored by that is about to begin at the Memorial Second Ward Councilman The Mayor remarked that Mr. the Westfield Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Local No. 90. The festivities were held for youngsters ages 14 and Pool complex. She served on several Raphael Betancourt echoed these CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 under. committees, including the personnel and public works. WESTFIELD 2001: A MONTH-TO-MONTH SYNOPSIS THROUGH THE PAGES OF THE LEADER After the terrorist attacks of Sep- tember 11, Mrs. Weinstein suggested that a memorial be erected on town property to honor Westfielders who New Year Rings In New Mayor, Town Attorney; Sealfons Closes; lost their lives in the tragedy. The land is in a small park to the left of an area known as The Plaza, near the First Union Bank where com- Police Begin Initiative to Combat Speeding; Alan Augustine Dies muters exit from the trains at North By PAUL J. PEYTON JANUARY as the new second ward councilman, named town public defender, replac- ation Commission, saying his pri- Avenue and East Broad Street. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Westfield ushered in the new year replacing veteran James Gruba who ing Michael Diamond. mary goal was to improve the quality The area has been electrified in Editor’s Note: The following is a with the changing of mayors and chose not to seek another term. Incumbents Carl Salisbury, first and condition of the town’s playing order to light an American flag that recap of news that was reported in town attorneys. Gregory McDermott Robert Cockren, the former Re- ward; Claire Lazarowitz, third ward, fields. has been hung from an existing pole. the first half of 2001 by The Westfield assumed the mayor’s chair, stressing publican chairman in town and a and Lawrence Goldman, began their Later in the month, the recreation Mrs. Weinstein donated the Ameri- Leader. The second half of the year a bi-partnership working relation- long-time board of adjustment attor- new terms. Peter Echausse was sworn commission approved a plan for a can flag flown from the pole. A will be published next week. ship that “encourages debates but ney, was named town attorney, re- in to replace Mr. McDermott as the four-man dedicated field mainte- respects differences.” placing William Jeremiah who had other first ward councilman. nance crew from the Department of Former town prosecutor Rafael served the previous two years. In Keith Hertell began his new role as Public Works. Betancourt joined the governing body addition, Christine Nugent was chairman of the Westfield Recre- Superintendent of Westfield pub- lic schools, Dr. William Foley, an- nounced that enrollment projections for the 2004-2005 school year put DiFrancesco’s Year As Governor student population around 5,800. After 20 years in town, Sealfons Young World on East Broad Street Ends Distinguished Political Career announced it was going out of busi- ness. By FRED ROSSI The town thought they had their guy in Tony Longo from Las Vegas Specially Written for The Westfield Leader 1991 elections, he was The New Year will ring in a num- as the new executive director for the chosen to serve as Downtown Westfield Corporation, ber of changes, both locally and in Senate President — the state government, but January 1 the managing entity for the special the first of his unprec- improvement district. He would later will also mark the end of the long edented five consecu- political career of Donald T. pull out of consideration following a tive terms in that post. death in his family. DiFrancesco of Scotch Plains, who While in the State has represented the area in the State Sherry Cronin, a member of the Legislature, Mr. DWC’s Board of Directors, was later Legislature for more than a quarter DiFrancesco had a of a century. named to fill the vacancy. Previous hand in enacting sev- Executive Director Michael LaPlace Since late January, Mr. eral pieces of legisla- DiFrancesco, 57, has served as Act- resigned in the fall of 2000 to take tion that foreshad- another position. ing Governor of New Jersey, a post owed similar efforts he assumed after the resignation of The town’s annual tribute to Dr. elsewhere in other Martin Luther King, Jr. was held at Governor Christine Whitman. The states and at the fed- State Constitution mandates that, in St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church eral level as well. He in town. the event of a vacancy in the backed the Cata- governor’s office, the State Senate Vincent Wilt was named chairman strophic Illness in of the board of adjustment. President, a post Mr. DiFrancesco Children Relief Fund, has held since 1992, becomes Acting Westfield and Mountainside’s state the KidCare subsi- Paul J. Peyton for The Westfield Leader senator for the past decade, Donald Governor until the next scheduled dized health insur- MR. ACTING GOVERNOR...Senate President Donald gubernatorial election. T. DiFrancesco of Scotch Plains is flanked by his wife, T. DiFrancesco, prepared to assume ance program and the the office of Acting Governor fol- Mr. DiFrancesco, a lawyer whose New Jersey Family Diane; three daughters, Marci, Marie and Traci family has been active in Scotch DiFrancesco, and son-in-law, Rob Ferris, during a lowing the resignation of Christine Leave Act of 1989. Whitman, who joined the Bush Ad- Plains political, business and civic He was also a major December 22, 2000 press conference in anticipation of affairs for several decades, served in his becoming Acting Governor. ministration as Environmental Pro- supporter of legisla- tection Agency Commissioner. the State Assembly from 1976 until tion restoring the property tax de- Although his tenure as Acting 1979, when he was elected to the FEBRUARY duction on the state income tax. Mr. Governor was a brief one, it was The town council began to hear the Amy Horowitz for The Westfield Leader State Senate. He served as Senate DiFrancesco also sponsored legisla- certainly not a dull 11-month-long Minority Leader from 1982 to 1984, makings of what would become a HAIL TO THE CHIEF…Westfield Police Chief Bernard Tracy, right, accepted tion that dedicated funding to pre- stewardship. Mr.