ttBB Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, May 14, 2004 SO cents Assault at school leads to 8th-grader's arrest gym class. The second incident is believed into a doorknob. remove his spleen. THE RECORD-PRESS to have caused the uijury. Because of their The nurse determined that the victim's According to published reports else- ages, the names of both students have story was questionable and called the where, the victim is recovering but is not WESTFIELD — An incident between been withheld. boy's mother with the hope of getting to expected to attend school for several two 13-year-old students at Edison After the gym class incident, the victim the bottom of the problem. While on the weeks; school officials said he is currently Intermediate School last month has requested to go to the nurse's office, phone with his mother, the victim began to receiving home instruction. A call to the resulted in the arrest of one student and according to Superintendent William lose consciousness and was placed on a victim's family seeking comment was not emergency surgery for the other. Foley. The boy's attacker, an eighth-grade cot. returned at press time. According to school officials, on April student, also went to the office, claiming After being evaluated by the Westfield Details in the case remain sketchy, 23, one middle school student punched he was sick. Perhaps because of the Rescue Squad, the boy was rushed to though Foley said the incident is not another in the morning at the school cafe- attacker's presence, the victim told the University Hospital in Newark, where teria and again in the locker room during nurse he had injured himself by running doctors performed emergency surgery to (Continued on page A-2) FMng high Lance Thomas won second place in Talks Council the long jump, and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys track team took home first place overall in the continue introduces conference championship meet last week. The Westfield girls squad also took first place as a team. See the story in Sports, Page C-1. on capital ordinance projects for SID THE RECORD-PRESS THE RECORD-PRESS SCOTCH PLAINS — The Township Council introduced an WESTFIELD — The Town ordinance to create a special Council came closer to a decision improvement district (SID) in the on two capital requests at a con- downtown Tuesday night, and ference meeting Tuesday night. the measure is now scheduled for Prospects appear dim for a a public hearing and final vote substantial streetscape improve- later this month. ment project requested by the While the concept has the sup- Downtown Westfield port of members of the mayor Corporation, while the council and council, Mayor Martin appears ready to give a turf field Marks said since the SID is pri- Remembering proposal by the Recreation marily intended to give down- Department the green light. town property owners an inde- Keret's victims The DWC project, which car- pendent mechanism to pursue ries a price tag of about $1.5 mil- their interests, he needs to see For his Eagle Scout project, lion, involves replacing side- support from property owners Westfield High student Kevin walks, planting new trees down- Sidewalk show before casting an affirmative Devaney is planning to erect a town, improving lighting, and vote. memorial to local soldiers killed in installing a telecommunications returns to town There is a general consensus the Korean War. For the story, turn conduit underneath sidewalks to Page 8-1. The WMtf leld Art on this dais that this is the right that would connect parking Association brightened up thing to do, but we need to hear meters and other technology to th« downtown Saturday, from those this will affect direct- the police department. hosting Its annuatajdewalk « ly," Marks said. While members of the council art show and sale. Above, There may still be some hur- support the concept in theory, the paintings of Roy dles to the initiative, as a group some object to the idea of tearing Steinberg burst with color, of property owners in the pro- up downtown sidewalks, particu- meriting a look even from posed district have been circulat- larly during a time when road passers-by in a hurry. At ing a petition expressing their improvements will be taking right, it was not Just the final opposition to the formation of a place at the South Avenue traffic products, but also the tools SID. circle and the council is consider- — such as these brushes — Creation of a SID allows busi- ing a major redevelopment proj- that were on display. nesses in a designated area to ect in the downtown. form a management entity fund- "Right now with everything ed by a special assessment on JOHN PEI/CORRESPONDENT downtown properties. With the (Continued on page A-2) funds raised by the assessment, downtown property owners can hire a downtown manager, pur- sue physical improvements, hire a grant writer, engage in collec- Boro budget will be trimmed, Mahr vows tive negotiation, or otherwise By BRAD BISHOP et timeline is different than that held before the extraordinary aid Over the next several weeks, appropriate funds as they see fit. THE RECORD-PRESS used in recent years. award is announced, so residents the council will hold several spe- While forming a SID allows CSN president Most importantly, borough who want to address the council cial workshop meetings to consid- the creation of a downtown corpo- FANWOOD — Although an officials have to wait for the state about the budget will be com- er cuts to the introduced budget. ration that would oversee the dis- operating budget that now calls budget to gain passage on June menting on a speculative budget. Meetings have been scheduled trict and recommend an assess- wins recognition for a double-digit tax hike will 30 before they will be able to State guidelines require bor- for May 18 and May 24; another ment rate, the Township Council Amy Mansue, president and chief have its public hearing June 1, finalize their budget figures, ough officials to hold another meeting was held Wednesday would have to approve the body's executive officer of Children's Mayor Colleen Mahr insists the meaning there will be no vote at public hearing only if they night, after press time. operating budget annually. Specialized Hospital, was honored borough will not adopt a final the June 1 public hearing. A final increase or decrease budget line Whatever extraordinary aid Nearby towns Westfield, recently by the organization budget that includes such a high vote by the council will likely items by more than 10 percent or money the borough receives will Cranford, and Summit have Executive Women of New Jersey. For tax increase. take place in July. add large appropriations. be directly applied to property established SIDs in recent years, more on the honor, see Page B-5. "There's no way we're going to Mahr said the extraordinary Mahr said that doesn't mean tax relief, according to the state and more than 70 municipalities adopt an 11 percent increase," aid application, the borough's the budget process will be closed guidelines. Mahr said the aid in New Jersey have created the said Mahr. first, will ultimately be worth the to the public. application will help, but said districts, all of which remain in In February, the Borough trouble. "Fanwood's population is a homeowners will likely continue existence. Council introduced its operating "This year we made the deci- well-educated bunch of citizens," to face tax increases until the A steering committee formed budget early to meet the state sion to aggressively seek proper- she said when discussing the state's property tax system is to explore the possibility of creat- imposed deadline for extraordi- ty tax relief," she said. "At the end complicated extraordinary aid reformed. ing a SID voted to approve the nary aid. While the early intro- of the day, when residents see the process. "You can pick up the "Fanwood is taking advantage idea March 8 after 21 meetings duction may ultimately allow final budget changes, they'll phone and call me to understand of this program until a better stretching over six months. Fanwood to gain more aid from agree it was worth it." the difference between facts and solution from Trenton is found," Pitch In to help Trenton, it also means the budg- The public hearing will be misunderstandings." she said. (Continued on page A-2) with landscaping The Westfield Board of Education is Scotch Plains teacher brings seeking community assistance with a project to improve the landscaping around the board's administration the arts to life for her students building on Elm Street. Volunteers are welcome at Vie property 10 a.m.- By BRAD BISHOP schools," Prestridge said. theater programs which combine 4 p.m. Saturday. To sign up or for THE RECORD-PRESS And vice versa. Prestridge's art, music, literature, public more information, call (908) 789- students had the opportunity to speaking, and theater arts. 4453. SCOTCH PLAINS — Local attend an NJSO performance at Her crash course in the arts elementary students are gaining the New Jersey Performing Arts includes set design and costum- a broader understanding of the Center in Newark. She said that ing, most of which is created by arts, thanks to an award-winning experience gave students a rich the kids themselves. An upcom- teacher at Evergreen Elementary perspective of an art form today's ing show will consist of 60 chil- School. youth tend to overlook. dren wearing dinosaur head- Barbara Prestridge, who also "For most kids this is the first dresses made from construction teaches students at McGinn time they've seen a symphony paper.