Scotch Plains boys embark on title defense. See Page C-1. WESTFIELD SCOTCH PLAINS FANWOOD Friday, December 18, 1998 50 cents Holiday L School referendum passes easily president. "1 want to recognize and express board plans to invest a portion of the money mittees. RECORD-PRESS the board's appreciation to all of the volun- and pay off part of the debt with the inter- Dr. Foley and Walsh made presentations teers and community residents that helped est generated. to numerous community groups to answer WESTFIELD-By more than a two to us and supported us with the bond." A 1994 bond which was for almost half questions, hear concerns and solicit input one margin, residents approved a "For the school board, this demonstrates the cost failed at the polls. Rocketing enroll- before the vote. A cross-section of the com- $11,730,000 plan to upgrade district a vote of confidence from the community," ment turned many 1994 opponents into munity including senior citizens, empty schools in Tuesday's referendum. Walsh added. 1998 bond advocates. The message of the nesters and prc-school parents expressed "The public cast a vote to maintain the The bond proposal provides for additions advocates was the enrollment problem was- their support for the bond. high level of academic excellence in and renovations to MeKinley, Franklin and n't temporary and was only getting worse "We arc very excited, we are ready to roll Westfield," said Bob Berman, Board of Wilson elementary schools, as well as the the longer it was denied. and have our meetings with our architec- Education business administrator. high school. It also included the installation "1 think that since 1994, the people have tures and engineer*) to start our additions lite bond referendum passed in all 25 of cabling and wiring at all elementary and Been the change that's taken palace in the and renovations," Herman said. Briefs voting districts in town with a 19 percent intermediate schools to build a communica- town - the number of new families, the high Construction is scheduled to begin in the I voter turnout. Of the 3,751 residents who tion infrastructure for technology. birth rate," Dr. Foley said. "We're no longer spring, The rationale behind the December went to the polls, 2,800 voted for the bond The bond will increase the tax rate three talking about enrollment projections, we're referendum was to use the winter to com- Ice sculpting and 1,033 voted against it. cents per hundred dollars of assessed talking about the present, the children are plete the necessary paperwork and start the contest Sunday "i'm glad that the community put the pri- value, or about $57 a year for the average here now." bidding process so construction could get ority of the students' education and well- homeowner. In the bond's first two years, The board heard recommendations from underway as soon as possible. The additions WESTFIELl) The being ahead of everything else and support- however, the tax increase will only be $18 a 25-member citizens' advisory commit toe are expected to lto completed in the fall. annual ice sculpting content ed us," said Darielle Walsh, school board and $32 respectively because the school as well as several strategic planning com- (Continued on page A-2) will be held at noun Sunday in downtown Westfu'ld. While competing for prises, individuals and teams will transform blocks of ice into glistening sculp- Board, union tures on Quimby and Elm streets. Shoppers can enjoy the display while taking advantage of extended shop- ping hours at downtown stores. finally settle In addition, the Watson marked with a seven-week picket indent pipe band will and other job actions by teachers, arm Irish, Scottish and resulted in a stalemate. A utate- tiday classics throughout SCOTCH IM^INS With the appointod mediator was called in Tdowntown 11 a.nv-i p.m. aid of a atate fact-finder, the and finally a 1'actTmdcr. ! tomorrow. The Freehold- Scotch Plains-Fanwood Hoard of Major points of disagreement baaed ensemble has per- Education and the Scotch-Plains for the three-year package cen- formed for first lady Hillary Fanwood Education Anwociatidn tered around the salary guide for Rodham Clinton, according (SPFEA) have reached a lentn- teachers and (he proposed .1.7 to a press release* from the tive contract agreement. percent increase for the first two Wtartfield Area Chamber of The SPFKA will bu voting on years ami Il.fi percent for the Commerce. the agreement today. The schtHil third. The events mark the end iMiard is expected to act on the Previously negotiations ended of the annual "Welcome contract Tuesday. tip in the hands of a fact-finder in Home to Westfteld" promo- Details of the Mitltlommit WITH HW.'J and imm also. The last tion sponsored by the under a "facl-finder'H blttckout" teachers' strike was in I!)H,') and Chamber of Commerce and during presw tinu*. They vvill IH> Itis-tted two ilayM. the Downtown Westfield made public oner both parties "I am happy I hat tl's finally C<»rp. For more information, have rutifled the contract. cdiuing to a mutual agreement tall 1908! 233-3021 or (90H» RUTHANNE WAGNEfVfi-P CORRESPONDENT Negotiations began in January and Unit we can get on with busi- to eHtuhlinh a new contract iK'fore ness al hand in the district," im-uu, the previous contract's expiration Barbara Mc(Juane, Sl'KKA presi- Holiday ornament Happy birthday, Westfield library! on .f une HO. But a lengthy mid rig- dent and chief negotiator. "I think Fofiwf W»«tild Umtm% M** WIMiiwi, ftoy How and Woo f rtfrto (abov) pfpf to cut trw 10 birth- oroiiH negotiation procesH, it will lie ratified !>v bulb sides." is now on sale day cakM domUd by toc«t DutlntHH to mark tlw 10th MrtMcy of tho WHlfMd Publte Library «t a WESTFIELl) The ifNW gata ftaturday night. Paul KoHoriahn and M« ton Paul (bctow) look at a buHatln board wrtlh pho- Westtield Area Chamber of to* of Ih* Hbrary construction. Th»y are tha ton and grandaon of ••ut Kohar|ahn, who donafd monay Commerce has commiH- far tha construction of tha library* cMMran's room. Council bickers ttiontH] it* l(Kh unnual holi- day ornament: it hall in bur- gundy with the town depict- ed in ivory over appointment Art on tlw ornament \x from a dexigti created for the voted on at the council'*! cham tier by local artist UI.;I inn m<<oting in Harry Devlin. .liinuary. The ornament IH in ii lim- WKSTh'IKI.O The partisan "There'H a potent ml conflict of ited edition of fit HI iiini avail divide on the Town ('ounul (kep interest Ilial we M h • 1111 < 1 explore iihlc lor &7 each at selected ened TueMiliiy when Demoerats ,iii<l I dnn'l think we can do that Khnjis in tlif town For loot and ItrpnlihrtiMH clanhed over the ii^hl mtw," i,ml Kepithlican IIDIIH where the ornamenta iippninttiienl ol Hie town's insnr ( (Him ilniiin Mall Alkifiii, art- UMIIK HOM. call <SKW> X\'.i- nitre risk manage.)' "We shouldn't let this appoint- M02I The dispute starled wlien mi'iil lull mln (lie sniijj of parti- In .ulilil mrt II limited Itcpubliciin Couiicilwoiiinii ,hiniH sun appnml menlH," suid 1 IIUIIIIM t ol orimitienlK IrotTi WeiiiBlein proponed Io pull ii res I )emnc nil ii Councilman Jack earlier years* niv available niul ion fro in Tues(liiv'n iigendit Willed "IT we ntiek this p through the rhamtier of lice. whirlt winiIt) t'cappoiiil l.ninr- Iv in the piilliM.ill |)IO!CHM. it will Lelevre of Hollinger Fuwlcr ih vi'l'V IIK'V .Hilt (IIHI'M mil DKCA pupils tlielown's risk maiDigetnent con collecting toys Miliaiil. Weiiistein wauled the i{ 'oiil IIIIH'I mi j>ii(;c A 'Al SCOTCH PI.AINN Tht> DKCA * liid of iti.it kd inn *tu ih'iilx nt Scotch Hum* FunwiMiil ll«Mn S«-hmil IM holding itH mull) .llillUJll toy ill ive i'H !)>•' needy inn! hunieleM« III1.1 A itifMiln'iH nil1 MUM irivl IIIIHU utiil rolled in^ new IllVM |l)f Illllle lllilll KM) (till iltl'll lllil Ml l;Hlllllr-i in I 'iitibti <'inintv Study says Terry Lou Zoo Tin- 'li|)i i • plmiiiini; .i ( lini-l ot.-is I,'.'• pitttv Im llii' i IHIIIM n Nl'W lnyti i 1 1119 Ml'W I'1III|M'M project could cost $1 million [ 11 M \V I' 11 (1H 11 * it'' i I1 I' ( i I H11 •yJONLUXMUM T'I altriul dnimin the ciimiitll(«>i- will develop (Illllilt lull-; | tin n mil lininn t In1 inl<'M<li'd UNCM n! t lie /'in pr <i|nr U(. i i it) j> I'Kl •-.'-. t I i II 111 'ill F ] HI tiiuM1 m|i it tihil ion ( nil IV I 1'NIHi MM'I MtilHI MC'»TC|I I'I .AINH A seven tin>ttihef eid/ehs The iilati will likely turret the nei'd* «>f thi' ddci i iiiiinulli'i' IntN hihl Ihc Township Council it rotllil ly, elulnteti, open Hpiire, the I'liviMintnenl mid IIIM I in. I up In $1 Itiilllnll In fompleic th" |HII ( Imwi' mid lour priMCi vul Inn Inside r (innvjitinti nl llie IMIKI IhiM hdiined t lie (ormei Tfi't v "We enviwinit ii polk wil h walk wuv>< arid phmli I.MII /.(Ki II).!'! (Hid llripim I'liu'lit:: of (lie 'iliciiln illid (Kind." lii it lepni) IIMIII'H thr<'U(!h CourHilrniin Hill mud McClinf m U, n inenilii'i nl t he ( il i/cnn i -IIDIIIIII Commentary , .