I n Serving Linden and Roselle r; - ii- , fnr r ' ■Hfr .1.7- . THURSDAY, MAY 16,2002 TWO SECTIONS - Sept. 11, Israel attacks focus of Holocaust progr By Brian Gooney people like the Beck family who put themselves in danger to save the lives of Managing Editor others. She added that there was no Jewish cemetery in her town — just the Approximately 200 people heard a harrowing account of a Jewish teen girl burned remains of a synagogue and a marker on the mass grimes iff the forest. who was hidden during die Nazi occupation of Poland May 8 during the 12th “ You have no idea what this means to me,” she added. “Just to know that we annual Holocaust Memorial Commemoration at the Gregorio Recreation Cen­ w ill not be forgotten.” Many of the other speakers at the program said that the events of Sept. 11 and ter in Linden. 1 1 1 Deborah Fires and Lisa Alford gave a dramatic reading of excerpts from the recent outbreaks o f bombings and violertce in Israel show that the threats of “Clara’s Diary,” the story of the experiences of Clara Kramer and her family, intolerance and-,hatred remain in the 21st century. who were among 18 people hidden in a cramped underground bunker for 20 “They say it is history — leave it in the past,” said Cantor Shimon Vogel of months by a Gentile couple in their town of Zolkiew. Congregation Anshe Chesed. But the Holocaust must be remembered, he Kramer, a special guest at the Linden program Who spoke briefly at the cere­ added, “for if we don’t, it caii and w ill happen again.” mony, was one of only 52 Jews alive in die city at the end o f World War n. The During his invocation, Vogel said the nations o f the world must commit to a city formerly had a population of 5,000 Jewish residents. future free of violence and hate. The two readers began Kramer’s experience in the summer of 1942, when the Mayor John Gregorio said people must stand together in unity against those train transports of Jewish residents to ghettos and camps started. There were who would threaten freedom by using religious beliefs to spread intolerance, terrible tragedies, according to Kramer, with parents and children jumping from fear and death. the rail cars to escape, leaving other family members behind. “We must never give up,” said Gregorio. “ We must never forget the Holo­ Approximately a dozen people were dying every day in the ghetto due to a caust or Sept 11.” typhoid epidemic. While anyone watching the news today might think that all prayers for peace Kramer, her parents and family members and a few other Jews were hidden are falling on death ears, attorney Michael Posnock told the crowd that they by Valenty Beck and his wife, Julia, under the wood floor of their home. They must have faith that someone is listening. had little water to drink or to wash in, fresh air was only available from cracks in “ Sixty years after the Holocaust we are experiencing a world holocaust all the chimney and their diet consisted of only a sparse supply of potatoes and old over,” said Posnock. Fanatics try to distort the teachings o f the Koran and other bread. holy books to justify their hate and the deadly attacks in Israel. Kramer’s younger sister fled the bunker when a fir&broke out in the area. She “ O f course it is not religion, it is not faith,” he said. was captured and fatally shot by German soldiers /ear a convent, where Clara The Arab countries surrounding Israel have tried repeatedly to “drive the Kramer believes her sister may have been seeking sanctuary. Jews into the sea.” Anti-semitism is also running rampant in Europe, said Her family lived in constant fear — not only of German soldiers, but of Pol­ Posnock. ish peasants who might track them down and turn tlita i in for rewards from the While President Bush’s background is in the o il field, the attorney said Bush Nazis, according to Kramer’s written account. The Kramer family was also run­ has shown great statesmanship in supporting Israel and its right to defend itself. ning out of money and had sold o ff most of their possessions. By June 1944, He has also shown a commitment to reducing America’s support on oil in the many people in the bunker were becoming sick from malnutrition. Middle East. , , During her brief comments, the 75-year-old Kramer said she never believed “A program like this only has value if it inspires us to action,” said Rabbi during her horrible experience that the persecution and murder o f Jews and Cary Friedman of Congregation Anshe Chesed, an Orthodox synagogue. other minority groups would be remembered six decades later. Americans have to resolve never to let atrocities like the Holocaust happen Linden Mayor John Gregorio presents guest speaker “Only in America,” said Kramer. “God bless America.” again, and not abandon the Jewish people. Despite media criticism about mili- Clara Kramer with a proclamation May 8 during the Despite the death and hatred she experienced, Kramer said there were also See RESIDENTS, Page 2 Holocaust Remembrance program. School cuts Reference section criticized by planned at library union head By Brian Gooney New carpeting w ill be installed in By Brian Gooney Managing Editor the main room and side room o f the Managing Editor A reference and study room w ill be library to cover the 65-year-old file The Roselle Board of Education created at the Roselle Public Library flooring. Lighting improvements will Monday issued layoff notices to as pan of a number of capital complete! Xhis round of renovations approximately 200 staff members in improvements in the aged faci#. on '44p# make the library more user- anticipation o f cuts from its school Chestnut Streeltjtccording 'Lhr.uv ftieadly fin patrons, McCoy budget, which was defeated by voters Director K ei&P bC oy. 1 W' “ We got the grant money last fa ll in April. The action drew sharp critic­ ■ A slide room Where cooki >oks and but we’ve just been silting on it until ism from the president of the teachers large-print book were stort l w ill be now," he said. union and a few parents at the converted for reference usd through Work is nearly complete on con­ meeting. an $8,500 grant from the E.J. Grass- vening Roselle Library listings on the The written notifications sent Tues­ man Trust and the Ifamta FAndalion, Libraries o f Middlesex Automation day were a contractual obligation by The Borough Council committed Consortium System. The online cata­ the board, not a definite decision on $79,000 to help improve the library, log w ill be available in mid-June, and cutbacks, according to Superintendent which supplements the gram funds. registration for new library cards w ill of Schools Darlene Roberto. The “ We're going to be renovating one be at that time, said McCoy, The new board must notify staff members by room," said McCoy. "We’re going to circulation system w ill be activated in May 15 whether or not they w ill be turn that into a reference center,” July. Roselle patrons w ill have access employed in the district for the fol­ Ike first projects wiQ involve to more than two dozen public libra­ lowing school year. replacing the slate roof, which dates ries in the region, including other lib­ Secretaries, custodians, security back to when the building was con­ raries in Plainfield, Kenilworth and guards and paraprofessionai aides structed in 1937. The healing, ventila­ Fanwood. I were informed that their contracts tion and air conditioning system, Anotherrequestfor$21,000in new would not be renewed due to econom­ which is more than 40 years old, is computer equipment w ill replace or ic factors. The two resolutions dealt also being upgraded. See UPGRADES, Page 2 with non-tenured and non-certificated staff members The board action is Above, district staff mem­ considered a RIF — reduction in bers dominated the crowd Volleyball event to force, said Roberto. of 80 people at the Roselle The board also passed a resolution : Board of Education who eliminating non-mandated areas of were upset over potential assist sick children instruction for the 2002-03 school layoffs. Left, Roselle Edu­ By M inhaj Hassan “ It is jnst a fun day," said Bob Gre­ year. Graphic arts and home econom­ cation Association Presi­ Staff Writer gory, chairman o f the focus group. "It ics could be affected at Abraham dent Gerri Bums, center, For the 12th straight year, the is not competitive — unless you have □ark High School as well as the said the board was driving M ack Volunteer Focus Group w ill police teams up against one another. instrumental music, vocal musk and dedicated employees host its annual 12-hour volleyball People from Rahway Hospital Stay for business/computer instruction prog­ away. marathon benefit Saturday, a long time and everyone raises a lot rams throughout the school district H ie employees' group at the Rah- o f money for a good cause," Even teachers with tenure may be let way-Linden pharmaceutical firm w ill The event has been very successful. go if these instructional areas are eli­ use the proceeds to provide medical Last year, the event raised between minated, added the superintendent treatment for impoverished children $30,000 to $35,000, which was used "The district cannot function with­ iu other countries toward treating various eye diseases out many of the people on that lis t” The volleyball marathon, which and supplies for approximately 1,100 said Gerri Bums, president of the w ill start at 8 a.m.