1 ' A A .. 1 ,. 4 '„) * * i o LOT m o l M o 1 <r -I i-t Vitmtb ttBB * en + fl Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood . 18, Nc .t Friday, March 28, 2003 50 cents War in Iraq hits close to home Local schools prepared for a crisis By KEVIN B.HCMNELL cials. Students would remain in TUB HE(X>RD-PRESS school; however, parents could pick up their children if residents are Since U.S. troops began the con- permitted to travel. If not, the flict in Iraq nnd the federal gov- school has made provisions for a 24- (jrnmont raised the terror alert hour lockdown by stocking water from yellow to orange, residents and food. The Red Cross would pro- have been a little on edge about vide essential items in case of an the possibility of terror. Locally, emergency as well. law enforcement agencies and Westfield has also sent letters to school districts have been review- parents and posted a letter from its ing and updating their crisis plans superintendent, William Foley, in case the state issues a "Code Red." about its preparation for a possible Code Red. Foley According to the state Homeland Security web- said interior plans for all schools are on file with site, a "Code Red" will only be called in case of an the police and all schools have evacuation and cri- Defending imminent attack or the realization of an attack that sis procedures. He also directed parents to the Red directly affects the state. In this case, the Cross website, www.prepare.org, which provides champions Department of Education will communicate with guidelines for emergencies. 7/>e Westfield High School baseball local school districts and ensure they move forward According to Lorre Korecky, coordinator of com- team, shooting for a second with emergency response plans. munity relations for the school district, the crisis Straight Union County title this sea Most districts already had emergency plans in plans are ever-evolving. She said school staffs have son, kicks off its campaign place, particularly after incidents such as the met with principals to review procedures for lock- Wednesday when it hosts Cranford Columbine High School shootings downs and evacuations. The high For a season preview, see Page C-l and Sept. 11 attacks; however, with school and intermediate schools are the different threat that terrorism 'We want to ensure planning to have drills, but as of presents, those plans have be (students) that we're press time have not done so. updated. Local districts have been "The main goal is to get the chil- working in conjunction with munic- working hard to ensure dren home," Korecky said. "In case ipal police departments on what they're safe. The focus is no one is available to pick them up, Paul Campanile and Kate Irwin posad for thla photo Just bafora tw course of action to take. on reassuring and avoid- we will take care of them. We have departed for the Middle East. Depending on the nature and a site for children to go if they're proximity of the threat or attack, ing anxiety and continuing not picked up at the school. The schools and communities may have routine as much as possi- Red Cross will supply needs if chil- a "lockdown," which means chil- dren would be with us for an dren would be confined in the ble." extended period of time," 2 Westfield men schools and residents to their - Lorn Korecky Korecky said in case of evacua- homes. However, those measures coordinator of tions, each school would immedi- are for extreme cases only. ately proceed to assigned alterna- In the Scotch Plains-Fanwood community relations, tive sites. During an emergency, among Marines School District, Superintendent Westfield Public Schools information would be available on Carol Choye has posted a tetter on the website, television station or by look sale the district's website and sent it to ~"~"~~~""""~"~~ calling the board offices. parents about what the district is doing in case of a The increased terror alert has affected school THE KFXORD-PRESS at library Code Red alert. Choye said that each principal activities. Westfield has cancelled an elementary WESTFIELD — Operation These volunteers have been hard at heads the building's crisis response team and is school trip to Staten Island in April because of con- responsible for implementing the plan that cerns about terrorism, and other field trips are Iraqi Freedom comes into living work getting ready lor the annual rooms every night via 24-hour Westfield Book Sate, which offers includes procedures, emergency codes, drills, atten- being evaluated. dance forms, checklists and floor plans. television news networks. But for approximately 20,900 volumes to In Scotch Plf ins-Fnnwood, trips are being evalu- some town families, the war is the public. For a story about their The letter also stated a lockdown would be a even dloser to horn*. Their loved efforts, $ee Page A-4 directive from county and local enforcement offi- '"'""'' ** " * "continued on page A-2) ones Nave been deployed to the Middle East. Two Westfield High School graduates are serving in the Help the troops through Red Cross programs Marine Corps in the war zone. Corp. Paul Campanile, class of The Red Cross is encouraging support for the — Get trained as a Red Cross disaster volunteer 1995, and Sgt. Kevin Dowling, troops in the Middle East and they offer several or investigate other Red Cross volunteer opportuni- class of 1997, were both deployed Westfield High School graduate suggestions. ties. earlier this year. Campanile, 25, Kevin Dowling la among the — Send an email to U.S. servicemen and women — Visit Veterans Affairs hospitals and nursing works in bulk fuel, following Marines now serving overseas. at http://anyBerviremembcr.navy.niil/About.html or homes, coach children's sport* teams, provide meals behind the lines refueling vehi- http^/www.defendAmerica. nu'1/nmam.html for the homeless or volunteer for other community cles. Dowling, 23, works in avion- other way. 1 believe he belongs — Reach out to those families whose loved ones outreach programs. Many servicemen and women ics, maintaining helicopters at there. My wife worries, but she have been deployed overseas. who normally do this volunteer work are now night on the SS Curtiss. Both understands somebody has to be — If you are an eligible donor, make an appoint- deployed. joined the Marines in 1998. there. I did it, my father did it ment to give blood. Encourage a friend to donate — Fill a box with "quality of life items" that will "I'm proud he's there," said and now my son is doing it." with you. be sent to the troops. William Campanile, Paul's The elder Campanile fought in father. "I wouldn't have it any (Continued on page A-2) Cite offers Westfield Board tastowtttaMst Nubia Suarez and Vera Vitorino are may stop calls for co-owners of Cate Romanzza, a new eatery with an exotic ambience in downtown Cranford. To learn more reporting permit a6owf the cate, see the story on PageB-1. class rank parking REMINDER By KEVIN B. HOWELL Share the story THE RECORD-PRESS plan WESTFIELD — An advisory of your here committee chaired by High ByKEVWaXHOWELL School Principal Robert Petix THE RECORD-PRESS If you have a loved one stationed has recommended the school abroad in Operation Iraqi Freedom board discontinue the reporting WESTFIELD — It waa the or Operation Enduring Freedom, the of students" rank to colleges. Board of Education's turn to Record-Press would like you to The committee recommended offer its opinion about the park- share your thoughts with your that a report of a precise rank be ing situation at the high school friends and neighbors on our news replaced with a new system that Tuesday night in what has pages. instead groups students into become a back-and-forth debate You can write us at Box 699. intervals. between the school board and Somerville, NJ 08876 or email us at At a special board meeting Town Council. [email protected]. Tuesday, Petix presented the The council's latest move has Pictures, glossy or digital, are wel- committee's report to the board. been to put parking restrictions come. Though the report recommended on Edgar and Lynwood roads class rank no longer be reported and to allocate funds to pay for a to colleges, it suggested that parking lot behind the National rank still be submitted to mili- Guard Armory, a $120,000-proj- INDEX tary academies, which require it, ect that initially was proposed as and organizations that sponsor a joint venture between the scholarships. council and board. Commentary A-6 When the board first dis- Board President Arlene cussed the issue during its fall Gardner presented a report on Community Life ..^.....B-1 retreat in September, it focused the facts and issues about park- Sports C-1 on class rank's impact on college ing around the high school at the admission, pointing out that GEORGE PACCIELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER board's meeting at the high class rank is not for the high school. Though the meeting was Prime Time B-3 school but for colleges. slated as a public hearing on the Obituaries B-2 It decided to form a commit- Saluting the flag school budget, most of the public tee to examine the issue and Sara Flnkelsteln, president of the DECA chapter at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, and comment — including some from charge it to review the current Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks pledge allegiance prior to the township meeting Tuesday night.