nforh hrnntrl* Thursday, February 21, 2002 Around Town ps bust teen booze party students arrested By GREG MARX THE CHRONICLE CRANFORD — Sixteen local teenagers and young adults, including 12 Cranford High School students, were arrested Feb. 14 at a local home for under- age possession and consumption of alcohol. Police responded to the house at 9 Norman Place at 11:13 p.m. Tourney after receiving a call from a neighbor about a loud party. Once at the scene, a police warmup spokesman said, officers Hanif Davis scored 26 points in observed about 50-60 young peo- Cranford's win over ple consuming alcohol inside the Bridgewater Feb. 14. Cranford house and on the porch. will host Scotch Plains in the first round of state tournament The teenagers were scattered play TUesday. See story on C-1. throughout the house when police entered, and about 40 left on foot. But police arrested Funds available Andrew Johnson, 18, the host of for new sidewalks the party; and Cranford residents James Baker, 18; William CRANFORD — The Office Bennet, 18; Mazhar Elwardany, of Community Development is 18; Joseph Caravela, 18; James seeking applicants for its side- Seeman, 19; and Sam Warington, NICOLE DIMELLA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER walk replacement program. 19, and charged them with The home at 9 Norman Place where police found a large number of teenagers and young adults drinking while the home owners were on vaca- Funds from a Community underage possession or consump- tion. Development Block Grant tion of alcohol on private proper- cover 70 percent of the cost for niles, three~ 17-year-old boys, after turning over his driver's ness, police said. An adult rela- The arrests marked the first replacing deteriorated side- ty. three 16-year-old boys, and one license to police. tive responding to the scene use of a municipal ordinance Also arrested were Daniel 17-year-old girl. They were all The Cranford First Aid Squad refused further medical treat- adopted Feb. 27, 2001, allowing walks and driveway aprons. police to enter private property if Homeowners pay the balance. Hemenway, 19, of Linden; arrested on the same charge. responded to the scene to treat ment for the juvenile. Gregory Brown Jr., 20, of Scotch Brown was also charged with one of the arrested juveniles, who The other juveniles were also there is a reasonable suspicion of Income limits, set by the (Continued on page A-?> federal government, are Plains; and seven Cranford juve- resisting- arrest when he left was intoxicated to the point of ill- turned over to adult guardians. • $36,750 for a one-person household up to $69,300 for a family of eight or more. Funds will be allocated on a Pedestrian-friendly plazas 3 face weapon, drug first-come, first-served basis. For more information, phone Elizabeth Zamorski at called the key to downtown distribution counts (908) 709-7294 or visit the Office of Community By GREG MARX Development at 29 South Ave. By GREG MARX regulations. The plan recommends the town- ship emphasize development THE CHRONICLE West. THE CHRONICLE Among public spaces, the report cites Post Office Plaza and that converts existing one-story KENILWORTH — Police arrested three borough residents CRANFORD — The township the railroad station plaza as buildings into two- and three- last week on drug distribution and weapons charges. Parent training should pursue downtown devel- prime candidates for improve- story multi-use buildiags, along Joseph Rufalo, 46, his wife Laurel, 45, and her brother Eric workshops beginning opment that stabilizes the tax ment. Both sites, Pye said, can be the lines of the coming Cranford Schering, 34, were arrested at about 6:45 a.m. Friday when bor- base while creating a more "greened" by installing more Crossings development. ough police raided their 425 Coolidge Drive residence. CRANFORD — The pedestrian-friendly environment, shade trees and even public foun- Were such development to After arresting the sleeping suspects, officers led by Capt. Cranford Municipal Alliance a planning consultant told the tains. Along with the clock tower take place at four cluster areas in Scott Phillips recovered a "substantial" amount of marijuana sponsors two parent training Downtown Management Corp. plaza, he said, the improved the downtown — along North and cocaine, along with materials to package the drugs, police workshops that begin next this week. spaces could provide anchors at and South avenues west of the said. train station, in the Miln Street week. Former township and DMC either end of North Avenue and Also seized were numerous weapons, including a loaded shot- parking lot, and at Springfield The STEP (Systematic employee Christopher Pye pre- help create a more pedestrian- gun kept next to the bed of one suspect; a handgun with an and North avenues — the tax Training for Effective sented a draft copy of the friendly "boulevard" atmosphere. altered serial number; an undisclosed amount of cash; and a revenues could stabilize the tax Parenting) program begins Downtown Vision Plan to the Pictures of improved public vehicle allegedly used to transport the drugs. Tuesday night. An advanced board at its Monday meeting. plazas were among the most pop- base over a six-year period, Pye said. The three were charged with possession of marijuana with program, "Children: The Based on consultants' analyses ular images in a resident survey, intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distrib- Challenge," begins Thursday and resident surveys and funded Pye said, while sites emphasizing But in one important way, the ute, possession of marijuana and cocaine with intent to distrib- morning, Feb. 28. by a Smart Growth Grant from automobile use, such as the cur- development proposed in the ute in a school zone, possession of weapons during a controlled Both programs run for the Department of Community rent intersection of North and report varies from the Crossings dangerous substance offense, possession of a defaced firearm, eight weeks. Fee is $25 with a Affairs, the report makes four Springfield avenues, were among project. One of the controversial and possession of narcotic paraphernalia. elements of that project was the workbook at additional cost. principal recommendations: that the lowest-rated images. Police Chief William Dowd called the arrests "extremely sig- Seating is limited. For regis- the township improve public While the township should replacement of office with resi- dential space; the report recom- nificant" because the house, allegedly the site of drug sales, is tration, phone Karen Murphy spaces, target areas for new "open up" its downtown plazas, (Continued on page A-2) at (908) 276-8091. development, manage downtown Pye said, it should seek to build mends "redevelopment plans... parking and simplify its zoning up underutilized downtown lots. {Continued on page A-2) Cranford teenagers make their case By GREG MARX defense witnesses Nick THE CHRONICLE Zmijeweki (Lee Lenape, a Good New duties Samaritan eyewitness seeking to Kenilworth Police Chief CRANFORD - If Tony dear Petrecca of blame) and Sara William Dowd dons another Spiliotopolous ever does get in Mados (expert Chris Crandon ) hat and reads to children dur- real trouble with the law, at least — practiced their litigating skills ing story hour Saturday at the he'll be prepared. before Judge James Bell in public library. See Page B-1. For the third straight year Cranford's Municipal Court. Spiliotopolous, a senior at With limited forensic evi- Cranford High School, is playing dence, both sides sought to the defendant in the school's undermine the credibility of the mock trial team. This year, he is witnesses. Wischusen and Boyle Inside Pat Petrecca, a reformed ex-con painted a picture of Petrecca as a who stands accused of attempt- convicted criminal driven by a Commentary A-6 ing to run another vehicle off the "vengeful rage" and "reckless dis- highway in a fit of road rage, and regard for human life," and Community Life B-1 killing an innocent woman and Wischusen even baited the sus- her two children in the process. pect into a heated debate about Sports C-1 On a recent Tuesday evening, just how fast is too fast when dri- Tony and hia teammates — pros- ving on 1-295. Prime Time B-5 ecuting attorneys Alison Lasky and Planer, meanwhile, WischuBen and Kuitlyn Boyle; attacked Stone an "a corrupt cop" Obituaries B-2 prosecution witnesses Patrick and Homer as a "convicted liar Bither (shaggy-haired State and criminal." Real Estate B-7 Trooper Sum Stoue), Beth When the dust settled, a jury (,'aai'iano (Petreccu'a turncoat of four students returned a "nut 'Police Log .A-7 friend Ronnie Router) and Murk guilty" verdict — though Bell Hurley (expert wittiest* Kelly voiced the thoughts of many Kendull), defense uttorueytt K*»tu uUervers when he gaid the "vj- UfcOHut I'Ai uliui J)IAt t I'MuKKiHAHHI; r'lauei' mid Juoli 1-jbkv, and IContiuued on page A-2) K*tUyfi Uoyl« «iyu«* ttw c«»» tor Uw pfoetcuttoii *t a Crwitord High School mock trial pc«cUc« Mutton Cranford Chronicle February 21, 2002 Planned new health rules Weapon counts could prove to be costly (Continued from page A-l) only a short distance from By GREG MARX Should the new standards take use of an epidemiologist? Once, Harding School and a park. IIIK CHKON1C1..E effect, Hehl said, a shared-ser- maybe..." Hehl said. "(And) I don't There is no evidence of sales io vices arrangement with other need a public health planner on a juveniles from the house, said Lt. CRANFORD — Proposed municipalities would "probably be daily basis." Richard Dopf. stricter standards for local boards the simplest approach." The proposed standards have Asked whether the raid tar- of health could put an additional Other options, he said, include gone through a public comment geted an isolated offender OT is financial burden on municipali- paying qualified professionals a period, and the comments are now part of a broader investigation, ties, Health Officer Warren Hehl retainer, or more drastically, elim- being reviewed, Hehl said.