. Price: 500 0792Z nCiO i BERKELEY HEIGHTS LlBKA £-?O PLAINFIELD AVE BFRKELEY HEIGH. NJ 07922 ispat Vll The Berkeley Heights and New Providence edition of the Summit Herald VOLUME 116, No. 2 November 27,2004 teams Board meets with eight candidates jip with grocers |© help liungry to replace Prince; public may attend ' AREA - Concerned residents can assist local emergency By MIKE DeMARCO Dr. Prince resigned in October. Board President Helen Kirsch re- Sincaglia, who introduced a motion Bruno said that each candidate; pantries, senior meal programs, Her term ends in April 2005, at marked that she had not seen so to accept the late application, voted would be given approximately 15 to" •jhelters, low-income day care BERKELEY HEIGHTS — The which time a regular election will many candidates for a single seat on not to make an exception to the 20 minutes for his or her interview ({enters and soup kitchens by sup- township's Board of Education has determine who will occupy her seat the board since she herself first ran deadline. Member Paul Beisser ex- by the members. Mr. Bruno also said porting Check-Out Hunger at scheduled a special meeting, to be- on the school board. for the position more than 20 years pressed concern that making an ex- the board might make its decision, their local supermarkets or at one gin at 7 p.m. at Columbia Middle The remaining board members ago. ception in this case might set an un- during the meeting. ; rf 434 Bank of America banking School on Thursday, Dec. 2, in order announced, during their Nov. 18 However, since one of the appli- wanted precedent. As a result, only Board member Geoffrey Lisk ex-.' .•enters state-wide. to interview candidates to complete regular meeting at Columbia that cants missed the submission dead- eight candidates will appear at the plained that the public is invited to; In every Acme, A&P, Food- Janet Prince's unexpired term on the they had received applications for line of 4 p.m. on Nov. 15, the mem- special meeting. attend the meeting, but will not be' iown, Food Emporium, Kings, board. the position from nine candidates. bers, with the exception of John Board vice president Joseph permitted to participate. pathmark, ShopRite. Wawa, Weg- mans and several independent stores, shoppers will find $1, S3 and $5 donation slips on Check- Lack of interest Out Hunger placards at the Semi-final shutout victory cashier aisle. In many locations, the program will run through the holiday season. postpones city's Thanks to the generosity of the participating supermarkets and Bank of America, 100 percent of First Night gala every donation goes to the Com- munity FoodBank and four small- er affiliated food banks statewide. By LIZ KEILL first First Night in 1992, said, "I'm Donors can be assured their disappointed, but there just weren't contributions will be put to work AREA — Anyone making plans the volunteers this year. We don't providing food for families suf- for New Year's Eve may want to want to force something just be- fering economic hardship or will take note: There will be no First cause we were doing it." help support other FoodBank ini- Night Summit this year. Mr. Steiner said, "The chamber tiatives such as the Kids Division, After more than a decade of at- sponsored it last year, but no one has which provides free dinners, tracting large crowds downtown to come forward this year. Organiza- clothing and school supplies to enjoy musicians, artists, comedians, tions wouldn't step up to the plate." needy children or the Food Ser- entertainers and midnight fireworks, Summit, however, is not alone in vice Training Academy to prepare First Night Summit will take a hia- seeing a decrease in interest in First men and women for self-sustain- tus this year, according to Chamber Night celebrations. "At one time ing jobs. of Commerce President Joseph' there were 17 First Nights in New Even as the economy shows Steiner. Jersey. Currently there are six," Mr. fitful signs of recovery, the U.S. "The thinking is that we should Steiner said. Census Bureau reports an in- take a year off and let's see if any- Nearby options for those still in- crease in the number of Ameri- body misses it," he said. terested in attending a First Night in- cans living in poverty for the third In its heyday, First Night Summit clude Morristown, Montdair and year in a row, due largely to low attracted more- than 5,000 revelers South Orange. wages, high housing costs and the downtown on New Year's Eve. growing number of employers Streets were closed to traffic and 'We did it for 12 years' who don't provide health insur- crowds walked between perfor- ance. Here in New Jersey, the mances at a dozen venues including "We did it for 12 years," Mr. Community FoodBank provides numerous churches, the Middle Steiner said, "and it takes three to food assistance to charities serv- School, YMCA, The Connection for four months to make the arrange- ing more than 500,000 low-in- Women & Families, the Post Office, ments. It's a very expensive pro- come people, many of whom are Fire Headquarters, City Hall and ject." He estimated about $60,000 to DOING IT ALL - Jim Muench set the defensive tone for New Providence's 33-0 shutout children and the frail elderly. more. in NP's semifinal-round State Playoff game last Saturday when his tackle caused a $80,000 is required, with only about fumble on South River's third play from scrimmage, with the Pioneers' recovery "Hunger is a devastating prob- In recent years, First Night Sum- $20,000 garnered from badge sales. launching their first touchdown drive. Muench (38) also spearheaded his team's at- lem," said Kathleen DiChiara of mit added afternoon events for fam- Fireworks cost $5,000 to $7,000; tack, as the senior fullback rushed for 144 yards on 21 carries. (Photo by Larry Mur- Summit, executive director of the ilies with young children. Just as the police presence costs $11,000 or phy) . Community FoodBank of New main events ended with fireworks at $12,000; and every performance Jersey. "It may be hidden on the midnight on the Village Green, the group is paid something. faces of those who suffer, but it is children's program culminated with "Everyone from ice carver to in our midst. Whether it's families its own fireworks display at dusk. clown is paid," Mr. Steiner said. dealing with the personal tragedy But while afternoon attendance That can amount to $30,000 or New Providence physics * of poverty or people needing held steady, interest faded in the $40,000, he estimated. emergency assistance in times of evening entertainment. Even worse, Performers have been calling natural disaster, the FoodBank is according to First Night organizers, Summit in recent weeks, seeking students are building bridges always here to help." there was a lack of volunteers will- commitments to perform on New Bank of America, which ing to work year-round to plan the Year's Eve. NEW PROVIDENCE — On novice category. wire ties and Elmer's glue. merged with Fleet earlier this event. But when the phone rings at the Thursday, Nov. 18, the New Provi- A team of six New Providence The goal of the competition was. year, is sponsoring the Check-Out The emphasis was on an alcohol- Chamber of Commerce office, they dence High School Physics Club, High School 11th graders finished at to build the strongest bridge possi- Hunger campaign. At each of free celebration. "Now people have are told they will need to find other under the direction of teacher and 12th place in the competition; a ble, using the least number of Bank of America's 434 banking alternatives, such as designated dri- locations this year: advisor Ed Schwebere, made its first team of five New Providence High pieces. The strength of the bridge centers across New Jersey, cus- vers. More and more people are go- Meanwhile, Mr. Steiner said the appearance at the Union County School 12th graders finished in 18th was tested as weights were added to tomers can make donations at the ing back to what they want to do," chamber will continue to pay its na- College Bridge Building Competi- place; and a team of four New Prov- the structure. , teller window. speculated Mr. Steiner. tional First Night membership dues tion in Cranford. idence High School ninth graders The bridge that was the last to, "Bank of America supports Mayor Jordan Glatt who, with of approximately $200, and will The New Providence team was finished in 19th place. collapse as weights were added Check-Out Hunger to help people current Common Councilwoman wait to see what the interest level is one of 24 teams representing 11 Teens built their bridges using could still lose if it had been con- in need throughout the communi- Cindy Martin, chaired Summit's next year. Union County high schools in the tongue depressors, dowel sticks, structed of too many pieces. ties we serve," said Ann M. Lim- berg, president of Bank of Ameri- ca New Jersey. "Our sponsorship also assists the Community Food- Hamilton Terrace School cited as a 'star' Bank's 10 Kids Cafes providing nutritious meals to low-income children, and its job training pro- gram providing unemployed adults with marketable work State Board of Education honors township school skills. We support all of these im- portant programs because of our strong tradition of community in- BERKELEY HEIGHTS — Dur- dards.