Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, January 27, 2011 OUR 121th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 04-2011 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SEVENTY FIVE CENTS Westfield Board of Education Begins Process Of Naming Field For Bob Brewster, Sr. By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL board’s facilities committee an- of the founding members of the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader nounced that they supported mem- Westfield Athletic Hall of Fame. WESTFIELD – Unanimously, bers of the community who wanted Many of Mr. Brewster’s family members of the Westfield Board of to name the high school baseball field members were in attendance at the Education approved a new school-, after the late Bob Brewster, Sr., not- meeting, including his son, Daryl facility- and program-naming policy ing that Mr. Brewster had been part of Brewster, who had thanked members introduced by board member Ginny the Westfield community for over 50 of the Facilities Committee for their Leiz. This new policy gives permis- years. It also was reported that he had consideration. sion to board members to name school spent over 25 years in the Westfield Jane Clancy, a member of the Fa- buildings, separate school facilities football program and almost as many cilities Committee, noted that all both on school grounds and within in the basketball program. Addition- members of the committee were in school buildings and programs by a ally, it was noted that he had served support of the naming of the high- formal action. The policy also states for 10 years on the recreation com- school field and had all approved the that the board does welcome sugges- mission and spent 40 years in the action. tions from members of the commu- Athletic Boosters Club. It also was In other business, Superintendent nity in the naming of school build- reported that Mr. Brewster and his of Schools Margaret Dolan an- ings, facilities and programs. wife gave annually to a high-school nounced that the district currently is In late November, members of the scholarship and that he had been one accepting applications for the 2011- 2012 Preschool Program located at the Lincoln School Early Childhood Center. She stated that the program is made up of general education stu- dents and students who have been found eligible for special education. She revealed that general education students will be selected for the pro- gram by a lottery system. Applicants must reside in Westfield and be 3 or 4 years of age on or before October 1, Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader 2011. She noted that all applications A JOB WELL DONE…Mayor Andy Skibitsky presents an award to Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad Captain Lynn must be returned to the Lincoln School Feldman at the squad’s 75th Anniversary dinner-dance at The Grand Summit Hotel Saturday night. Looking on is squad no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, president Reid Edles. February 17. The lottery drawing will be held at the Lincoln School on Friday, February 18, at 2 p.m. Council Discusses Pool Fees In other business, Board President Julia Walker announced that any Westfield resident interested in be- coming a candidate for the Westfield Ordinance For WHPC Certificates Board of Education can obtain a nomi- By LAUREN S. BARR should anyone require a printed approve the place-to-place transfer nating petition at Board Secretary Specially Written for The Westfield Leader version from the town, there will be of the liquor license belonging to Robert Berman’s office at 302 Elm WESTFIELD – At Tuesday a $25 fee for the entire plan and a Cool Vines, which is moving from Street. She said petitions need to be night’s Westfield Town Council $10 fee for the housing section. Elm Street to Central Avenue. signed and delivered to Mr. Berman conference session, governing body The committee also is proposing At the close of the meeting, the by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8. members discussed a resolution an ordinance to create a $50 fee for council went into closed session to Photo courtesy of Ken and Terry Wooster Board of Education members are setting the rates for 2011 Memorial residents to receive what Council- discuss the builders remedy lawsuit of SNOW IS FOR THE BIRDS...A Westfield resident on Scotch Plains Avenue was volunteers who are elected by the Pool memberships. man Foerst called a “certificate of Sunnyside versus Town of Westfield startled to see this hugh turkey perched on the rail of their deck. This is the second appearance for the fowl this month. It stayed around for about an public during the annual school elec- If the council passes the resolu- appropriateness” from the Westfield and contract negotiations pertaining hour. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 tion at its public meeting next week, Historic Preservation Commission to the Communication Workers of resident families of five or more will for their homes. America, Teamsters, Policemen’s Be- pay $450; families of four or less, Should all the paperwork be in nevolent Association and Firemen’s $360; husband/wife or parent/child order by next week’s meeting, the Mutual Benevolent Association with Consultant to Be Hired For (under 18), $270; individual, $180; council will vote on a resolution to Labor Attorney Frederick Danser, III. senior citizen, $90; family with childcare (five or more), $630, and Cranford Talks Narrowing family with childcare (four or less), Feasibility Study of New Rink $540. Membership fees for non-resi- By PAUL J. PEYTON The county has budgeted $6 mil- “One of [the things] the feasibility dents, who make up just 11 percent Budget Gap, Mayor Reports Specially Written for The Westfield Leader lion for the Oak Ridge Park Master [study] is going to say is, ‘is it going of the pool’s total membership, also By FRED T. ROSSI between projected revenues and pro- ELIZABETH – The Union County Plan in its capital budget, $5 million to be financially worth it [to build a will be set through the resolution. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Board of Chosen Freeholders are set of which was included in the 2010 new rink?],” Mr. Zuber added, saying Additional catagories are being added jected expenditures was “showing to vote on awarding a consulting ser- capital budget, with $500,000 in both there are other rinks in Edison, Union, depending on the number of children CRANFORD - Mayor Daniel some signs of improving.” The com- vices contract tonight for the devel- the 2011 and 2012 capital spending Montclair and Morristown. in the household. Aschenbach said on Tuesday that the mittee will hold another special bud- opment of an ice-skating rink feasi- plans. At a freeholder meeting last Plans for Oak Ridge also include a Fourth Ward Councilman James township committee is “deep in the get meeting on Tuesday, February 1 bility study. The county is looking to October, where the county’s overall water park, skate park, tennis courts, Foerst provided a report on the Code budget process,” and reported that a during which health insurance will construct a new rink at Oak Ridge parks master plan was discussed, restrooms and concessions facilities Review/Town Property Committee review of the 2011 budget this month be a main topic, the mayor said. Park in Clark to replace the Warinanco Freeholder Dan Sullivan said the and an open lawn, as well as separate meeting held earlier in the evening. has reduced what was a $3-million In other business, the committee Rink in Roselle as part of its master Warinanco rink is in need of $5 to $10 pedestrian and vehicular lanes. Oak According to Councilman Foerst, gap at the outset to a level he said was approved a number of appointments, plan for the park. million in renovations in order to Ridge is being converted from a golf his committee is proposing an ordi- now “closer to $1.7 million.” several of them on party line votes. Bids for development of the Oak keep it as an ice skating rink. Plans course to a park. Sixty-nine of the nance creating a fee for copies of At the committee’s regular meet- Daniel McCarthy was formally ap- Ridge rink study were to be unsealed are to convert Warinanco into an in- 168 acres of the former course will be the town’s Master Plan. ing this week, the mayor called the pointed to a one-year term as town- last Friday morning and are to be door multi-use sports facility. converted to active and passive uses. The Master Plan is available for budget “a challenge,” given the vari- ship attorney. The two Republicans made public as part of tonight’s regu- Armando Sanchez, director of the In other business, the board is ex- free on the town’s website, but ety of non-discretionary costs that on the five-member committee - Mark are increasing this year, especially Dugan and David Robinson - voted lar freeholder meeting agenda, ac- county’s golf operations, said the fea- pected to vote tonight on the intro- Westfield Home News cording to Department of Parks and sibility study would take into consid- duction of an ordinance to increase the steep increase in fees to be paid to against the appointment, citing what Community Renewal Deputy Direc- eration “surrounding facilities in the greens fees at its two remaining golf Closes After 46 Years the Rahway Valley Sewerage Author- they said was a skirting of the com- ity (RVSA). But, he said, the gap CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 tor Ron Zuber.