Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, December 6, 2007 OUR 117th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 49-2007 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Council Says Goodbye to Echausse, Addresses Prospect Street Closing By BETH BUDNICK they have been served by Pete,” he Caruana, who has campaigned and Specially Written for The Westfield Leader said, a message echoed by fellow worked with Mr. Echausse in the first WESTFIELD — The town council council members. ward, spoke in detail of Mr. marked a “very special night” Tues- “I would describe Pete with one Echausse’s “diligence, professional- day night, according to Mayor Andy word: passion,” said Councilman Jim ism and compassion,” saying that “no Skibitsky, as members of the council Foerst. He added, “Pete will be sorely one in recent history has tried harder and town residents bid farewell to be missed by this council.” than Peter” to better local govern- current financial-committee chairman Councilwoman JoAnn Neylan de- ment. This diligence has led to a large and First Ward Councilman, Peter scribed Mr. Echausse with the word time commitment, evident in Mr. Echausse, at his last Caruana’s message for official council meet- Councilman Echausse’s ing after seven years four children, who at- on the governing tended the meeting: body. “Your dad’s going to Mayor Skibitsky have a lot of free time began the meeting by now.” passing an official In addition to the coun- resolution com- cil members, other state memorating Mr. officials spoke on Mr. Echausse’s “selfless Echausse’s behalf. As- service of the needs semblyman Jon of the town” while on Bramnick (LD-21, the council. Mayor Westfield) was the first, Skibitsky detailed the who, in addition to much positions Mr. praise, joked: “The first Echausse held, since ward residents believe he stepped in as the your departure is prema- first-ward councilman ture because they have in 2001 to replace Beth Budnick for The Westfield Leader taken seven years to say former mayor Greg STOP! HAMMERTIME…Mayor Andy Skibitsky presents Council- your last name.” Greg Ryan for The Westfield Leader McDermott. First- man Peter “The Hammer” Echausse with a special parting gift to [“Echausse” is pro- HO, HO, HO…A child sits on Santa Claus’ lap and tells him what she wants for Christmas as carolers sing during Sunday’s ward residents subse- commemorate the end of Mr. Echausse’s seven years of service to the nounced “Eee-shaw.”] holiday celebration in the Westfield northside train station lot. town council. The nickname refers Mr. Echausse’s perseverance. He quently elected Mr. would “pound away at a problem until it was solved,” the mayor said. Former mayor Greg Echausse to a two-year McDermott, with whom term in 2001 and a four-year term in “integrity,” and Councilman Tom Mr. Echausse was a council member, 2003; he has served as finance-com- Bigosinski spoke of Mr. Echausse’s said, “When he saw something wasn’t Rec. Panel OK’s Field Allotments; mittee chairman most of his tenure. “unparalleled devotion to his con- right, he wasn’t afraid to say it.” Following the passage of the reso- stituents.” Councilman-elect Frank Arena, lution — rendering it an official docu- Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins who will take Mr. Echausse’s seat on ment made permanent in the archives added to these statements, calling Mr. the council, also spoke, and said he Soccer Assoc. Upset With Decision — council members in attendance Echausse the “epitome of a had “very big shoes to fill.” By MARIA WOEHR teams will be able to play on these fields and we need every sport repre- each spoke about Mr. Echausse. councilperson.” Other speakers included Recreation Specially Written for The Westfield Leader fields,” said Tom Castellone of the sented on the fields. We sympathize Councilman Mark Ciarrocca was “He fought for what was right and Director Bruce Kaufmann, Town WESTFIELD – The recreation com- Westfield Lacrosse Association. “This with your request, but everything the first to speak. “The people of this spoke his mind,” she said. Administrator Jim Gildea and Sharon mission approved the spring 2008 field will also allow our teams to prepare should be equal.” town really ought to know how well First Ward Councilman Sal Stockwell of WECARE (Westfielders schedule at its meeting Monday night. for the games in March.” “There are 29 nights for lacrosse Concerned About Responsible De- Representatives from the Westfield WSA members argued that because and only 18 for soccer. Our size is velopment). Soccer Association (WSA) were in at- their program has more than 1,000 bigger, and we represent more chil- Weingarten Continues Run Mr. Echausse responded to the tendance at the meeting to discuss cuts participants, extra days should be al- dren from third [grade] through high praise with a short speech of thanks that had been made to their field usage. lotted to them to fulfill there program school. This is not equal,” Mr. Clancy and finished by addressing his fellow “We had asked for two nights and requirements. said. For Congressional Seat council members: “You’ve got a good now we have only received one. This “We will have to change our pro- Mr. Castellone responded, “So you By PAUL J. PEYTON 40), is making phone calls throughout thing going here,” he said. “Don’t loss of a night during the week will gram because you feel that lacrosse is don’t get to practice three times a Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the district to determine the support blow it.” severely affect our program,” Bob a spring sport, while we have more week – maybe you practice twice a AREA – Former state assembly- level his campaign would generate. In addition to the speeches and Clancy, WSA vice president, said. children who are in high school and week. Our kids haven’t gotten to prac- man Joel Weingarten of Millburn an- Mr. Weingarten said the Democratic presentations related to the conclu- The recreation commission has traveling teams that want to partici- tice at all, except on driveways or in nounced last week he is considering National Committee in Washington, sion of Mr. Echausse’s time on the been working since July to give equal pate. We don’t want to be a selective the parks, but not as teams,” Mr. seeking the Republican nomination D.C., is “pouring tons of money” into town council, the council approved time with field constraints to lacrosse, program, and we have been working Castellone said. for the open Seventh-District Con- the campaign of likely Democratic three applications for Community soccer, softball and baseball this with you for these time slots all year At the meeting, two residents re- gressional seat of Rep. Mike nominee Linda Stender, a state assem- Development Block Grants (CDBG). spring, William Palatucci, commis- long,” Mr. Clancy said. quested that the lights at the Tamaques Ferguson, who will not seek re-elec- blywoman serving LD-22. The first application was for $48,000 sion chairman, said. “Soccer is still getting a majority of Park tennis courts be shut down early tion after four terms. As a member of the assembly, Mr. to the Westfield Community Center “We warned everyone that the fu- the fields; a 60/40 percent ratio. What from mid-November through Janu- Mr. Weingarten, who served in the Weingarten represented Kenilworth, for “facility and public improve- ture of these programs may not be the you have to tell us is what [does] this ary due to the cold weather. legislature from 1996 to 2001, previ- Roselle Park, Springfield, Summit ments.” The second CDBG applica- same of the past. Our view is this is the really means to the program?” Rob- “There is no one out there playing ously ran for Congress in 2000 but and Union in Union County, as well tion, also for the Westfield Commu- season for lacrosse, and this is not an ert Smith, a commissioner, asked. in 30-degree weather anyway,” a resi- came in third place behind Mr. as Millburn and seven other Essex nity Cetner, was $17,000 for the se- all-year-round sport. So we decided to WSA representatives said they did dent said. Ferguson and current State Senator County towns. nior citizens program. The third ap- give them some more time because not know what the impact would be to Mr. Kaufmann also requested that Tom Kean, Jr. (LD-21, Westfield). When reached for comment Mon- proved application was to the soccer is a year-round sport,” he added. the program other than an effect on the three people working for the rec- The former three-term legislator day, Kelly Hatfield, a former Summit Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Westfield Lacrosse has more than their three-nights-a-week practice reation commission on field mainte- said he would move to Summit from city councilwoman and board of edu- Corporation, in the amount of 600 children participating in the pro- requirements, but they said the cut nance and for the Department of Pub- Millburn if he enters the campaign. cation member, said she was “seri- $533,000, for the installation of handi- gram in third through eighth grades. would impact them “severely.” lic Works (DPW) be hired as full- Millburn was redistricted out of the ously considering” a run for Con- capped-accessible showers. These “Thank you for the process that “We are not telling you how to run time employees for the recreation Seventh District and into the 10th gress and was “getting closer” to applications will next go to the county took place this year.