Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, January 25, 2007 OUR 117th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 04-2007 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Westfield School Bond Fire Destroys SP Charlie Brown’s By PAUL J. PEYTON and WAYNE BAKER Passes Voters’ Test Specially Written for The Westfield Leader By STEVEN REILLY Ward 4 was the only one to oppose SCOTCH PLAINS – An early Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the bond, with a 577 to 597 (49 per- morning three-alarm fire destroyed WESTFIELD — With 25 percent cent in favor) vote. Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse on North of Westfield registered voters casting The bond will increase property taxes Avenue in Scotch Plains yesterday a ballot, the $9.4-million school bond approximately $80 a year for the aver- morning. The fire resulted in the clo- passed Tuesday’s special board of age residence in town (for a home as- sure of North Avenue. education bond vote by 619 votes. sessed at a value of $200,000, or $.04 Officials said yesterday that con- “It is an impressive showing of com- for every $100 assessed value of a tract workers smelled smoke in the munity support,” BOE President Anne home). There are approximately 10,000 building and called 911. A company Riegel said. “We had a lot of residents homes in Westfield. The property tax representative at the scene yesterday working to explain what this bond meant increase will most likely be imple- told The Westfield Leader the work- for our community. This is a significant mented in the first tax quarter of 2008. ers were doing grouting work on bath- move forward for our schools.” While most voters interviewed at room tiles at the time. The bond, which will create a cen- the polls supported the bond, some Scotch Plains Fire Chief Jonathan tralized kindergarten and a special- voiced concerns regarding the new Ellis told The Leader yesterday at the needs student program, as well as reno- centralized kindergarten classes. scene that the fire call came in at 3:45 vations for existing facilities, passed William Foley, superintendent, said a.m. He said the fire began “in a wall by a vote of 2,763 votes for and 2,144 the centralized kindergarten program behind the bar.” The cause remains against (56 versus 44 percent). would benefit “all of Westfield’s chil- unknown, although Scotch Plains Po- Wards 1, 2 and 3 all voted in favor dren” and provide a unique educa- lice Lieutenant Brian Donnelly said, “It of the bond; voters in those wards tional experience. appears at this point to be accidental.” supported the bond 880 to 469 (65 “The centralized programs will cre- North Avenue was still off-limits percent in favor), 701 to 497 (59 ate a great deal of opportunities for due to safety issues as of press time. percent in favor) and 587 to 533 (52 our students and provide a greater Train service on NJ Transit’s Raritan percent in favor), respectively. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Line was uninterrupted by the fire. Westfield Fire Chief Dan Kelly said Westfield was one of the first mutual aid departments to arrive on the scene. Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader Westfield firefighters were making FULLY ENGULFED…A fire broke out in Charlie Brown’s restaurant around 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. The Scotch holes in the roof for ventilation while Plains Fire Department responded along with many mutual aid units from surrounding towns. The restaurant was completely burned to the ground. See more pictures at goleader.com/photos. Scotch Plains firefighters were on the main floor of the restaurant. “Fire conditions deteriorated rap- idly – the second and third floors were WF Residents Express Concerns [consumed] by flames,” Chief Kelly said. At that point Chief Ellis made the call to evacuate the building. Fire departments from Fanwood, About Memorial Park, Fields Kenilworth, Cranford, Mountainside, By MICHAEL J. POLLACK emergency personnel would have keys to make everyone happy. Now, it goes Garwood, Plainfield and Elizabeth Specially Written for The Westfield Leader to unlock the gates. to the finance policy committee to see also assisted at the scene. Chief Kelly WESTFIELD – Town residents Fourth Ward Councilman Jim Foerst if we can finance it.” said water was pumped from as far as filled the conference room to voice said the plan should be placed on the Mr. Kaufmann estimated that the Dudley Avenue in Westfield to opposition to changes being suggested council’s public safety committee’s plan would cost “$2.5 million, maybe Hetfield Avenue in Scotch Plains. for Memorial Park at Tuesday’s agenda and reviewed in relation to a little more.” He said Union County Mr. Donnelly said no injuries were Westfield council meeting. traffic hot spots. “I’ve talked to pretty would commit $150,000 in Open reported to the workers or firefighters. In October, members of the recre- much all the neighbors and I don’t Space Trust Fund money, which is He noted that the restaurant was a Dad to Plead Not Guilty ation commission delivered a presen- think anyone there would like to see contingent upon the plan’s approval. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 tation highlighting how the proposed that entrance [utilized], contrary to park design would make it possible to perhaps what you think popular opin- In Underage Drinking Case play on all four fields simultaneously ion might be,” he said. By STEVEN REILLY holic containers. by pushing closer to residences bor- Fourth Ward Councilman Tom Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “The police did not have probable dering the field on Scotch Plains Av- Bigosinski echoed Mr. Foerst’s com- MOUNTAINSIDE — The father cause to enter the house,” Mr. Spagnoli enue. Also, the plans would add bath- ments. “Even people just off of North of a Union Catholic High School stu- said. “Any arrest should be over- rooms, 74 parking spaces and a path- Scotch Plains Avenue (who) you’d dent who was arrested for hosting a turned.” way for walkers that would intersect think would be bigger users of the party for underage drinkers in No- Mountainside police sought to with Scotch Plains’ Brookside Park. path wouldn’t mind seeing it go,” he vember plans to enter a not-guilty charge each of the underage individu- In its final presentation to the coun- said. plea in Mountainside Municipal als at the November party with a disor- cil, the recreation commission’s new Second Ward Councilwoman Vicki Court. derly persons complaint. However, the chairman, William Palatucci, said the Kimmins asked, “Wouldn’t they Mountainside resident Stefan charges against the 56 juveniles, a improvements “will make the park (emergency vehicles) most likely Puzyk, 51, is charged with “know- majority of them students at Union better, safer and more usable for thou- travel down West Broad Street any- ingly making his home available for Catholic High School, were dropped sands of Westfield residents.” way and come through the other exit adults under (the age of) 21 to con- after it was determined that they did Recreation Director Bruce instead of coming down South Av- sume alcoholic beverages,” a non- not violate any local or state laws. Kaufmann said the commission made enue and swinging around and trying indictable disorderly persons com- According to police and municipal “several” changes in its latest plan, to get through two gates?” plaint, after police allegedly found officials, there is no local or state including suggesting five tennis courts Jerry Infantino said, “I talk to people more than 50 teenagers drinking al- ordinance that outlaws underage in- (instead of six), placing the “walk from the rescue squad and they say coholic beverages at his Wood Valley dividuals from possessing alcoholic around” behind the tennis courts, in- ‘they’d never drive on that field.’ They Road home in November. beverages on private property. The corporating a fence and buffer zone would never take a chance of getting Mr. Puzyk’s lawyer, Joseph law of possession only pertains to from the corner of the pool wall to the the rescue squad stuck.” Spagnoli, said his client was the vic- public areas and motor vehicles. Since other side of the tennis courts and Concerning the concept of remov- David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader tim of an illegal search and seizure by all of the defendants were on private removing regulation-size basketball ing the existing buffer and pushing ‘BLIZZARD’ OF 2007...Snow arrived briefly to the area early last Friday the Mountainside Police Department. property, they could not be charged courts. the fields closer to residences to maxi- morning, as pictured on Sherman Street in Westfield. The sun melted the snow by “The police officers did not have a with a crime. Resident George Toll of Florence mize usage, Christine Connelly of mid-morning. This year’s weather has been unusually mild, with virtually no sign probable cause to enter the home,” Mountainside Police Captain Ri- Avenue, whose home borders on the North Scotch Plains Avenue said she of winter thus far. Mr. Spagnoli said. “The police offic- chard Osieja said he hopes that a state tennis courts, asked if there “ever was “had expressed concerns several times ers (allegedly) saw juveniles walking lawmaker will initiate legislation to a study that shows that five tennis that were not addressed at all. That around on private property with beer close this loophole in the law. courts are needed.” affects the use and enjoyment of my MS BOE Begins Budget Talks, bottles.