Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, July 9, 2020 OUR 130th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 28-2020 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] ONE DOLLAR BLM Signs Vandalized, Torn Down From Two Westfield Locations By REBECCA MEHORTER On June 8, someone cut the zip ties of partment has been very supportive of Specially Written for The Westfield Leader three or four cloth signs, said Eliza- our efforts,” she said. “We appreciate WESTFIELD – Posters in Westfield beth Wolf, MLK Association of the help they’ve given us.” supporting the Black Lives Matter Westfield president. Volunteers put Banners at Westfield High School movement have been torn down from them back up on June 10. Westfield also were stolen. One stating “Black both the South Avenue traffic circle Police Department spokesman Ser- Lives Matter” and the other saying and Westfield High School (WHS). geant Michael Walsh said officers no- “Teach Black History” were taken. A The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ticed the signs at the traffic circle had Pride flag supporting the LGBTQ com- Association of Westfield put up signs all been taken down around 1 a.m. on munity, hung alongside the two which commemorating Black people killed June 28. Ms. Wolf said the police were removed, was left alone. by police brutality and race-related officers gathered the signs and have The vandalism occurred approxi- violence, such as George Floyd, Tamar kept them as part of their investiga- mately a month after multiple peaceful Rice, Trayvon Martin and Sandra tion. protests in Westfield over the death of Bland, at the traffic circle in late May. “I can say the Westfield Police De- George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers. Approxi- mately 1,000 people protested June 4 in Westfield. Days later, approximately 3,000 people, Mayor Shelley Brindle, Congressman Tom Malinowski (D- 7th, Somerset) and Governor Phil Murphy among them, participated in a June 7 protest, organized by WHS students. “People need to understand that there was someone, well at least one, who thought that making note of these people who have lost their lives due to race-based violence, that they thought Photos courtesy of Sarah McGrail that was not worthy of everyone’s at- VANDALISM...Cloth signs hung on the fence at Westfield High School saying “Teach Black History” and “Black Lives tention,” Ms. Wolf said about the traf- Matter” appear to have been forcibly removed (inset). Only the Pride flag remains on the fence. Signs honoring those killed fic circle posters. “People who may in race-related incidents were also removed from South Avenue. question the need for putting the ban- ners up, well, I would say that answers that question.” Photo courtesy of Devorah Wolf Westfield High School, Edison In- Planning Board Says Historic Pres. REMEMBERING A HERO...Westfield High School will begin its Fall semes- ter enriched with the installation of a large stained glass mural created and termediate School and Roosevelt In- designed by 2020 graduate Ari Wolf. The mural will be visible from the termediate School received official courtyard of the school for all the students and teachers to enjoy. It pays designation as “No Place for Hate” Ordinance in Line with Master Plan tribute to late Principal Dr. Derrick Nelson, who passed away tragically last schools by the Anti-Defamation year after donating bone marrow for a teenager in need. Ari and his father, League in May. A virtual discussion Greg Wolf, are pictured carrying the mural into Westfield High School. See series for students in grades 9 to 12 By REBECCA MEHORTER provision review process for houses commitment of historic preservation, story on Page 10. will “continue our educational jour- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader built before 1930. Mr. Wendel and Ms. and a willingness to work with these ney and dialogues on race, and to WESTFIELD — The Westfield Plan- Boyes both mentioned the increase in homeowners to actually understand the deepen our commitment to the work ning Board passed six ordinances at its demolitions of old homes in recent benefit of historic preservation. And I of anti-racism” on Tuesdays, July 21, Monday meeting, one of them being years — 259 in the past four years. think that’s the assurance we want to Westfield Rec. Commission July 28 and September 1. General Ordinance No. 2183, which “Oftentimes, we don’t even know give people, and I think what this ordi- A phone call to Mayor Brindle was revises the town’s historic preservation they’ve been destroyed until they’re nance does: It reaffirms, publicly, our not returned as of press time. regulations. destroyed, so we’re trying to put a priority of historic preservation to en- Geared Up For Summer The planning board’s job is to rule process up so we can address these able us to find creative solutions that Unofficial Primary whether or not an ordinance is in line homes from being destroyed, if, in fact, create win-wins for property By FRED T. ROSSI able place.” One issue is the number of with Westfield’s Master Plan. If the they are subject to our national litera- homeowners and the community,” the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader no-shows — those who reserve time Election Results board approves the ordinance, it is ture of historic places criteria,” Mr. mayor said. WESTFIELD — Members of the but fail to show up. She estimated there AREA — Due to the unusual mail- kicked back to the town council. His- Wendel said. The council approved five other recreation commission applauded the have been about 40 or 50 no-shows so in ballot with limited in-person vot- toric Preservation Commission repre- Planning Board member Michael La measures as well. Ordinance No. 2178 efforts of the recreation department in far, and said that repeat offenders may ing in the July 7 Primary election, sentatives Robert Wendel and Maria Place said he believed the ordinance regulates and allows street-facing solar getting Memorial Pool opened and in receive “a friendly reminder” to cancel results are unofficial and sparse. The Boyes gave a presentation outlining strongly fits with the Master Plan. “I panels. The goal of the ordinance is to putting together a summer camp pro- in advance if they are unable to get to Union County Clerk announced that how the ordinance aligns with the goals think that nothing we do during this allow residents to more easily capital- gram, both of which were delayed by the pool at their designated time. results would be updated on Thurs- established in the Master Plan. 300th year celebration of the settlement ize on solar energy. Also approved was the coronavirus shutdowns. Several commission members were day, July 9, with an unofficial report The pair highlighted goals such as of this town could be more appropriate Ordinance No. 2180 to amend the sign At the commission’s meeting on effusive in their praise of the recreation being issued on Thursday, July 16. “to promote the conservation of the than to update and make better our ordinance that does not allow mounted Monday, Recreation Director Don department and the pool staff. Ms. Re- Races with a presumptive winner are various historical sites, structures and historic preservation ordinance,” Mr. signs on sides of buildings with no Bogardus said that, “it has been kind of Ferratti said that, “we really have a designated with an *. According to districts in Westfield” from the origi- La Place said. entrances. This ordinance would re- hectic the past month” as local officials great, great staff” which has worked the county clerk’s website, 30,508 nal, 2002 Master Plan. They also took Mayor Shelley Brindle called to at- move that clause to let businesses gain scrambled to prepare the pool for its very hard in admitting families to the ballots were cast out of 353,739 reg- into consideration the 2019 reexamina- tention that, with a few recent excep- more visibility. Ordinance No. 2177 to June 27 opening and put together sum- pool complex in as timely a manner as istered voters, totaling 8.62 percent tion, referencing the goals to “preserve tions, the town has not designated a restrict the zones in which homes can mer camp activities while awaiting guid- possible. voter turnout. the attributes of our unique, hometown home as historic in 20 years. She said take in boarders was approved to regu- ance from the governor’s office. He In other business, commission mem- As of the morning of July 8, the character and community identity” and the rules the town has now are clearly late the density in single-family zones. said that his department normally has ber Brad Rothenberg said that the com- results posted are: to “respect its heritage.” They argued not working, highlighting the number Ordinances No. 2181 and 2182 clari- about four months to prepare for the mission will request the town council US Senate DEM that historic preservation benefits the of demolitions over the past 10 years. fied the definition of an accessory build- pool to open. This year, “we had 10 approve a contract of up to $55,000 for *Cory Booker 21,677 community economically and helps “But what has been working is, for ing and that garage parking spaces are days,” he noted. He said the summer a Hamilton, N.J.-based design firm to Lawrence Hamm 2,661 manage growth. the last two years, is a priority and a CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 camp-in-a-box program and some out- work on the Edison Intermediate School US Senate GOP The current ordinance, No.