Vittvtb Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, May 7,2004 50 cents Westfield-based Guard troops headed to Iraq More than 1,200 members of the New statement released Tuesday by the part of the third round of rotations of been and continue to be deployed to Jersey Army National Guard, including National Guard. Guard and Reserve units called up in sup- Afghanistan and the naval base in troops based out of the armory in Guard members based at port of Operation Iraqi Freedom." Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Westfield, will soon be headed to Iraq in Lawrenceville, Somerset, Teaneck, Jersey The latest mobilization, which will The mobilization had ' long been support of U.S. military efforts there. City, Cherry Hill and West Trenton are occur during the month of May, will rumored, and was reported locally several The Guard troops that make up the also subject to the deployment. approximately double the number of Army weeks ago in the Westfield Leader. But Headquarters and Headquarters According to the statement, "The Jersey and Air National Guard troops from New Tuesday's announcement marks the first Company of the 250th Signal Battalion, Guard troops are expected to deploy to Jersey who have been deployed for extend- time Guard officials have officially con- headquartered in Westfield, have been Southwest Asia to provide logistical and ed active duty as part of America's current firmed the action. told they were be called to "extended aviation support in the Southwest Asia military operations. The announcement about the deploy- active duty service.,, in support of theater of operations. The deployment is In addition to the war in Iraq, New Operation Iraqi Freedom," according to a expected to last up to 18 months and is Jersey National Guard members have (Continued on page A-2) Game-winner Project Library Westfield's Mike Streaman dives into home with the game-winning run in the sixth inning of the opponents Westfield High baseball team's 11-8 in need win over Plainfield in the first round of the Union County Tournament present The Devils host Rosette Catholic in of costly the quarterfinals 2 p.m. tomorrow. For the story see Sports, Page C-1. petition upgrades By MAD BISHOP RECORD PRESS WESTFIELD — Residents THE RECORD-PRESS opposed to the town's proposed SCOTCH PLAINS — Library redevelopment projects present- Director Meg Kolya made her ed Mayor Greg McDermott and pitch to the Township Council the Town Council with a petition Tuesday night for more than a containing more than 1,200 sig- half-million dollars in capital natures Tuesday night. funding to make badly-needed Robert Nehring, a representa- improvements to the library tive for WECARE, a group building on Bartle Avenue. opposed to the redevelopment The request comes while the project, gave the document to the council is also considering facility council at its regular public meet- upgrades at the municipal build- ing. ing on Park Avenue and at the A geetf skate "I'm proud to announce that recreation building. The Westfield High School Ice more than 1,200 taxpaying resi- Armed with an extensive pho- Hockey Association held a Family dents have affixed their signa- tographic display, Kolya recount- Skate Night fundraiser at the tures to this document," Nehring There's ed the numerous problems at the National Guard Armory Friday night. said. The signatures were collect- building, which is now nearly 40 For pictures from the event, turn to ed by members of WECARE over years old and suffered a roof fire Page B-1. the course of five weeks, he something in February 2003. claimed. The biggest problem, she said, Members of the group is with the roof, which has been obtained signatures at an infor- fishy here the subject of numerous patches mation booth during the Spring and stop-gap measures but still Fling, solicited signatures at var- The WestffcW PBA'btM Its leaks with regularity. Much of the ious downtown locations, and annual fishing darby for local current roof consists not of roof- have also gone door-to-door in youngsters at Mindowaskln ing material but of metal panel- their quest to compel the council Park Saturday aflamoon. ing better suited as the exterior Above, everyone la smiling wall for a shed, and even the pan- to abandon a redevelopment proj- except the fish dangling from ect they say will change the char- eling has not been sealed proper- the hook. At right, 5-year-old ly. Thus, with every rain or snow- acter of the town forever. Chriatopher Ng watches his The petition opposes a plan "to storm water seeps through the Una Intently, waiting for a ceiling tiles and into the build- build two large parking struc- bits- ing's wood and brick elements. JOHN FEI/CORRESPONDENT (Continued on page A-2) The library staff covers some sec- tions of the building with tarp every evening to protect them from damage, Kolya said. There is also standing water Redevelopment committee begins work on the roof at all times. And the Colleen Mahr, who announced Constanzi, Greg Cummings, Jim encompasses about one square lack of gutters in the rear of the THE RECORD-PRESS the formation of the committee at Dozier, April Dunleavy, Pat mile and is 98 percent "built out," building means water is deposit- a press conference in March. Hoynes-O'Connor and Charles collects 90 percent of its tax rev- ed on the back lawn, where it FANWOOD — An advisory "This is a well-rounded, bipar- Mancuso, with Michael Brennan enues from residential property flows underground and into the committee formed to advise bor- tisan commission that will ade- serving as council liaison. owners and needs more commer- basement men's room. ough officials in their plans for quately represent the citizens of Higgens said the nine mem- cial viability to offset the proper- "I bought 12 matching buckets redevelopment met for the first Fanwood during the community bers of the committee are ty tax burden on homeowners. — at least it looks nice," Kolya Students learn time last week, and its leader outreach process," Mahr said last approaching their task with an But the specific redevelopment joked about the regular leaks. says the group's mission is to month. The committee consists of open mind, and said it was too plan pursued by a Republican Kolya said she and the bring residents into the redevel- members of the Fanwood early in the process to draw any majority on the Borough Council library's board of trustees are a tree's value opment process. Business and Professional conclusions or speculate about has been put on hold following a convinced the metal roof must be For Arbor Day, members of the pre- Joseph Higgens, who also sits Association, Planning Board, what kind of redevelopment, if Democratic victory in last replaced, which is likely to cost kindergarten class at Brunner School on the Planning Board, was property and business owners, any, Fanwood needs. November's election. between $250,000-300,000. in Scotch Plains participated in a les- named chairman of the and other residents. Proponents of redevelopment Fanwood has received a Other items in the capital pro- son about the importance of trees to Downtown Redevelopment Members of the committee in the borough argue that the environment. For more on the Advisory Committee by Mayor include Peter Chemidlin, Frank Fanwood, a borough which (Continued on page A-2) (Continued on page A-2) day, see Page B-6. BOE picks Board Nelson as reviews Sidewalk art shew president enrollment SCOTCH PLAINS — Linda By BRAP BISHOP set for Saturday Nelson was named president of THE RECORD-PRESS The Westfield Art Association's annual the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board art show and sale returns to downtown of Education at the board's reor- WESTFIELD — Although sidewalks 10a.rn.-5p.m. Saturday; in ganization meeting last week. total enrollment in elementary the event of rain it will be pushed pack Nelson replaces Lance Porter, schools is declining, school offi- to May 15. For more, call (908) 233- who stepped down from the post cials are considering different 3021 or turn to Prime Time, Page B-2. but will remain a member of the management strategies to main- board. Only one board member, tain low class sizes across the Edward Saridaki, voted against district. Nelson's selection. At its regular meeting Nelson had previously served Tuesday night, the Board of as the board's vice-president, a Education was presented with role that will now be filled by 2004-2005 enrollment projections Thomas Russo. by Superintendent William Foley. Also at the meeting, Porter, His Figures indicate the district Commentary A-4 Craig Nowlin, and Rob O'Connor will probably be able to meet is were sworn in as members of the class size policies, which call for a Community Life B-1 board. Porter and Nowlin were re- range of 18 to 25 students in each elected to the board from Scotch classroom. Sports C-1 Plains; O'Connor was elected from But to achieve that range, offi- Fanwood in a successful write-in cials may need to add a trailer at Prime Time... B-2 campaign after candidate Seamus NICOLE DIMELLA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Wilson Elementary School and Dolan withdrew his candidacy for allow some kindergarten stu- Obituaries B-5 the seat at the last minute. African crafts on sale at All Saints dents to attend schools outside The board's next open agenda All Saints Episcopal Church In Scotch Plains hosted a show and sale of African crafts on Sunday their designated districts. Real Estate ...C-5 meeting will be held 8 p.m.