Special Townwide Edition with This Is Westfield 2007 Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, May 3, 2007 OUR 117th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 18-2007 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Fyffe to Review Student Broadcasts, Sparks Censorship Debate By VICTORIA McCABE sible. Ms. Riegel said the BOE approved Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Miss Angus said that, as research the broadcast curriculum last year – WESTFIELD – Westfield High for her piece, she attended four town “it calls for standards of research School Interim Principal Dennis council meetings and called and e- quality and journalism ethics.” She Fyffe’s decision to invoke his right to mailed council members repeatedly declined to comment on whether she prior review of “Blue Devil News” since mid-January. believed “BDN” journalists violated (“BDN”) television shows on TV-36 She said she believed her piece was those ethics. has sparked censorship debate be- “opinionated but fair.” She said no “There has been a policy in place tween student journalists, teachers council member or BOE member con- that says the principal must review and school and town officials. tacted her personally after the com- student publications in advance,” Mr. Mr. Fyffe’s decision to review each mentary aired; she said Mr. Hynes Foley said. “I don’t think it’s feasible program before student journalists was the first to inform her about “dis- for Mr. Fyffe to review everything submit it to the local-access channel taste” for her piece and that she later that students produce…I’m actually came after a commentary segment in spoke with the principal regarding going to amend the policy to make its the most recent “BDN” broadcast prior review. language more discretionary.” sparked concerns from Westfield Mr. Fyffe said he met with Miss Mr. Fyffe said this is not a First Mayor Andrew Skibitsky and school Angus and a fellow “BDN” reporter. Amendment issue. “I’m not inter- administrators, multiple sources con- “I think they understood my concerns ested in censoring, muzzling or prior firmed. and where I’m coming from,” he said. restraint of content,” he said. “This “BDN,” a collaboration between “Our primary role here is education, isn’t a content issue at all.” WHS’s broadcast journalism and and that’s what this is here.” “We’re not talking about pulling broadcast television production Hi’s Eye, WHS’s weekly non-cen- broadcasts,” Mr. Foley said. “We ex- David Samsky for The Westfield Leader classes, both in their first year of sored newspaper, in an April 20 news pect that when things are presented, DOGGIN’ DOWN…Lew Porziazzo, center, won the Windmill hot dog-eating contest at Sunday’s Spring Fling street fair. existence, has produced and aired 10 article said Mr. Foley was not in favor they would be accurate.” He is now eligible to enter the next Windmill event for $1,000, winner-take-all, in Lake Como on August 11. shows on TV-36 since last October. of prior review, but the superinten- Mr. Hynes, a 14-year journalism In the show’s past two episodes, dent told The Westfield Leader that veteran, defended the integrity of his WHS senior and “BDN” commen- was a “misinterpretation.” students’ work. Kimball Homeowners Appeal tary anchor Kim Angus presented He said he agrees with the “In the three schools I’ve taught at, commentary pieces in which she criti- principal’s decision: “We are teach- this is the first time I’ve seen students cized certain aspects of town-council ing students to be journalists, and attend [four] council meetings. I was To WF Council on Denied Changes proceedings. The second part of the they must meet certain standards. very impressed, and I supported [Miss commentary was a part of the Mostly, I think that teachers can Angus] saying what she felt she had By MICHAEL POLLACK ney Robert Cockren and “tried to give 2006 and has since sold its former program’s 10th episode, which first handle that, but because [the broad- to say,” he said. “From my perspec- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader (the historic preservation commission) residence on Sylvania Place, living aired on April 1, according to Direc- cast journalism program] is new, I tive, I think it’s very important that a WESTFIELD – Kim and Jim a little more teeth in an advisory capac- elsewhere in Westfield for the time tor of Blue Devils TV John Burns. asked if we had clear standards for student doesn’t break (school policy) Peterson, who own a home on Kimball ity,” Code Review and Town Property being. The Petersons want to extend “They did a segment on the council review and asked if, at least right now, laws. This student put in a lot of Avenue, appealed to the town council Committee Chairman Jim Foerst said the porch off the front of the house to that I thought wasn’t fair to some Mr. Fyffe could be involved.” work…and it was very important to Tuesday night following the historic at an April 10 work session. “wrap around” and meet with an ex- council people they interviewed,” Mr. Fyffe said those standards in- allow that to play out.” preservation commission’s rejection At that meeting, Mr. Marsh said the tended kitchen (an eight- to 10-foot Mayor Skibitsky said. He said he clude “accurate facts, tone and use of Former WHS principal Robert Petix of their planned renovations. The amendments would eliminate a clause expansion); in addition, they want to relayed that opinion to then-BOE the English language.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 couple’s home sits in a municipal that “allows (people), after one year make an 18-foot extension on the President Anne Riegel. historic district. having been denied, to do what they other side of the house to create a Upon learning of the concerns, As reported in the April 12 edition of want. That loophole is gone now.” library, mudroom and bathroom. Superintendent of Schools William Mayors, Air Traffic Advisory The Westfield Leader, new Town Plan- Mrs. Peterson told The Leader, They applied to the historic preser- Foley reviewed the episode and said, ner Judith Thornton reviewed the his- through telephone conversations af- vation commission in November 2006 “We didn’t feel that the piece should toric preservation ordinance with Town ter the meeting, that the family bought and met three times – in December, be pulled, but we felt we have stan- Panel Oppose FAA Plan Engineer Ken Marsh and Town Attor- the Kimball Avenue home in July January and February. The Petersons dards for broadcasts that weren’t met.” By JOHN SKOWORONSKI the meeting indicates that the and their architect submitted nine or 10 “I thought the overall broadcast Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Westfield area would see an overall separate plans to a subcommittee com- was fine,” Mr. Foley said. “I thought NEWARK – Local area residents slight decrease in noise, relative to Appeals Court Reverses WF prised of commission members and it was unfair of a student to refer to and representatives attended a Fed- takeoffs and departures, once the Kimball residents. After reviewing the TV-36 as a propaganda machine, es- eral Aviation Administration (FAA) changes take effect. plans, which cost $12,000 to $15,000, pecially as she was on the air. TV-36 meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in New- “The data may show that the sound Woman’s Suit Against County the subcommittee “just told us what is a local access channel, not propa- ark last Wednesday evening, at which levels will be about the same as they By STEVEN REILLY second part of the suit that she was the they didn’t want,” Mrs. Peterson said. ganda.” agency officials discussed proposed are now, but we never find their data Specially Written for The Westfield Leader most qualified candidate. Mr. Peterson said to the council, Miss Angus began her segment by changes in both takeoff and landing to be accurate,” said Dennis Hardie of AREA — A state appeals court has “My client has been vindicated by Tuesday night, “the neighbors are try- saying, “I understand that TV-36 is patterns being considered in an at- the Scotch Plains Aircraft Noise Com- reversed a lower-court decision on a the decision,” Mr. Corrigan said. “Ms. ing to run the council.” He said the the propaganda installment for the tempt to reduce delays, increase ca- mittee, Inc. lawsuit brought by a Westfield woman Todaro is the most qualified person neighbors’ gripes against the construc- town to parade and gloat their accom- pacity and mitigate noise at Newark “Arrivals are not the problem,” said who alleges she did not receive a job for the superintendent position. If the tion, including the position of the pro- plishments. However, here I am on Liberty Airport. Barbara Reedem of Westfield. “Run- promotion because of her political county did the right thing in the first posed kitchen and an allegation of Channel 36 with my true unfiltered The agency proposes a plan that it way 22 (at Newark Liberty Interna- affiliation. place, we would not be here today.” building materials being stored in the opinions about the Town of Westfield says would “combine high-altitude tional Airport) departures are the big David Corrigan, an attorney repre- Although Ms. Todaro won the dis- garage, are “the dumbest things.” and the government that runs it.” She and low-altitude airspace” to allow problem,” referring to the runway that senting Maria Todaro, a county em- crimination case in state superior court On February 26, the commission then enumerated her ideas for im- more flights in the area, while main- would come directly towards the ployee who said she was denied a in Elizabeth, the judge declined to formally denied the application, at proving town-government operations.