The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

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Scotch Plains – Fanwood THE TIMES

OUR 42ND YEAR – ISSUE NO. 2942 Published Every Thursday USPS 485200

Periodical – Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, N. J. Thursday, July 20, 2000

of

— Serving Scotch Plains and Fanwood Since 1959 —

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

INDEX

A& E............... Page 17 Business ........ Page 14 Editorial ........ Page 4

Education....... Page 8 Mountainside Page 2 Obituary ........ Page 15

Religious ....... Page 9 Social ............ Page 6 Sports ............ Page 11 CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Scaling Down Price Tag, While Upgrading Schools Is Juggled By SPF School Board, Architects

Fanwood Council to Hear Update Tonight on Revitalization Efforts By SUZETTE F. STALKER

Specially Written for The Times

Borough officials are expected to receive a progress report tonight from Clayton S. Pierce, Coordinator for the Fanwood Downtown Revitalization Committee (FDRC), during a special meeting of the governing body beginning at 7: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers.

Mr. Pierce, who was appointed to his position in April, is scheduled to discuss his efforts over the past several months in support of the committee’s goals, which include implementation of a Victorian streetscape theme in the downtown.

In his role as Coordinator to the FDRC, Mr. Pierce’s responsibilities include contacting organizations and individuals and conducting research

relevant to the borough’s downtown revitalization efforts. He reports to Mayor Louis C. Jung and the committee.

As part of his work, he has gathered information on the lease versus purchase costs of acquiring 19thcentury style, gooseneck lamps from Public Service Electric and Gas for several borough streets, as one aspect of the streetscape theme.

The lamp, to be known as “The Fanwood,” is expected to be among the topics which Mr. Pierce will discuss before the council this evening.

Mr. Pierce’s contract with the borough, which expires at the end of this year, calls for him to receive $12,500 in actual compensation, plus reimbursement for what council members have defined as “reasonable

expenses.” These include such things as telephone calls, photocopying and mileage.

Prior to his formal appointment as FDRC Coordinator, Mr. Pierce logged some “50 to 60 hours” weekly on behalf of the committee on a volunteer basis from January to March, according to Councilman and Administration and Finance Committee Chairman Stuart S. Kline. Mr. Pierce was compensated for certain expenses during that period, Mayor Jung confirmed.

Councilwoman Cynthia Swindlehurst recently inquired as to why Mr. Pierce received compensation prior to his contract with the borough, since he was still a volunteer at that time.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

By SUSAN M. DYCKMAN

Specially Written for The Times

The Scotch PlainsFanwood Board of Education is faced with a challenge — how to fund tens of millions of dollars in renovations and improvements to the interiors and exteriors of its schools.

The board is preparing to put a bond referendum before the public on December 12 to fund a portion of those costs.

On July 12, a $50 million list of projects the Scotch PlainsFanwood school district would like to do was pared down to approximately $24 million for the purposes of submitting educational specifications (ed specs) to the State Department of Education for review.

The board cannot proceed with the referendum without state approval.

The high price tag appeared to stun board members and members of the public who attended the July 11 meeting where architects presented their first report on the scope of the work ahead.

Potter Architects and Faridy Thorne Fraytak Architects/ Planners, P. C. are the two firms hired by the board to oversee forthcoming construction and renovation work at the district’s eight schools.

Potter will manage work at Park Middle School, School One, Brunner, McGinn and Evergreen Elementary Schools, while architects at Faridy will supervise the work at Scotch PlainsFanwood High School (SPFHS), Terrill Middle School and Coles Elementary School.

The firms’ reports went well beyond the $17 million bond outlined in February by Business Administrator and Board Secretary Anthony DelSordi in conjunction with the

board’s decision to reconfigure district schools to grades K4, 58 and 912.

Other projects were recently added to the original bond components following architects’ discussions with building principals, head custodians, parents and other members of the community.

Board Member Thomas Russo strongly emphasized that the ed specs approved July 12 (when the July 11 meeting concluded) marked only “a

preliminary phase” in the board’s structuring of the bond referendum. The board has targeted September 28 as its date to approve the precise bond referendum.

Mr. Russo said the board is under no obligation to follow through with all of the provisions outlined in the ed specs. “It’s not a final decision,” he stated.

Additional recommendations, which the board must now consider,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Crossway Place to Open; Hetfield Bridge Will Close

By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Times

With Crossway Place in Westfield expected to be reopened to traffic about Friday, July 28, rehabilitation and repair work on the Hetfield Avenue bridge in Scotch Plains is expected to begin as soon as next Monday, July 24.

Westfield Town Engineer Kenneth Marsh told The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood that the roadway under the NJ Transit Raritan Valley train line, which is a popular pathway for vehicles and pedestrians traveling between North and South Avenues, will likely be open to emergency vehicles, such as police and fire, by the end of this week. Public access will come by the end of next week.

With the Crossway Place project near completion, the Hetfield Avenue bridge project can then begin in earnest.

The importance of having as many northsouth thoroughfares open as possible was underscored in the spring when the Scotch Plains Township Council said the bridge’s planned refurbishment would not begin until Crossway Place was reopened to traffic.

Dennis Harrington, Township Principal Engineer, told The Times

last week that signs have already been posted advising motorists and pedestrians that the Hetfield Avenue bridge would be closed beginning on or about July 24.

He did admit that, given the delays in completing the Crossway Place repair work, the Hetfield bridge will be closed in the first weeks of the coming school year because the repair work will take about two months.

“To put it (the bridge work) on the back burner for another year would be unacceptable,” Mr. Harrington said.

He said Scotch Plains and Fanwood, which, along with NJ Transit, will be financing and performing the resurfacing of the bridge’s deck and the structural repairs to its superstructure, will be “trying to minimize the disruption to traffic” during the bridge’s closure.

He said he was “worried about bus and other traffic,” such as walkers and bikers, and how the bridge’s closure would affect them.

The $298,469 contract for the longdelayed refurbishment of the Hetfield Avenue bridge was awarded in mid April to GFM Construction, Inc., of Rutherford.

The resurfacing of the roadway and the structural repairs to the bridge, which traverses the NJ Transit Raritan Valley rail line, was delayed as the bidding process twice resulted in bids significantly higher than anticipated.

It was hoped that work could begin June 1, but township officials first wanted to make certain

Ingrid McKinley for The Times RIDING THE CAROUSEL… This youngster’s summer vacation includes a funfilled carousel ride on this white pony at Bowcraft Amusement Park.

Cheri Rogowsky for The Times SPLISHSPLASH… At the Highland Swim Club in Scotch Plains, these youngsters take time out from splishing and splashing to offer some peace signs and smiles of summer fun.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Hovnanian Condominium Application Turned Down; Developer Plans to Appeal

By DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Times

An application to build a 100unit condominium development by real estate developer K. Hovnanian was denied by the Scotch Plains Planning Board in a 72 vote on Monday.

K. Hovnanian’s lawyer Francine Chesler told the Planning Board, after the vote, that the application will now be taken to court. The attorney said the developer will file an appeal with the New Jersey State Superior Court, Law Division.

The proposed development, which was to be located on the Scotch Plains/

Watchung border, on a site called “the Reserve,” was initially applied for in 1996, but was denied by the Planning Board due to flooding and safety concerns.

The second application, heard over the course of several meetings since January, included changes to the proposal, which, according to Ms. Chesler, remedied those concerns.

The seven members of the Planning Board, however, who voted against the development, stated that the flooding and safety issues were not sufficiently remedied by the changes in the second application.

Situated immediately across New Providence Road from the proposed site, is Weldon Inc., a company that quarries raw materials from the surrounding mountains. Weldon contested the application on the grounds that the site was situated in a flood plain, which, according to the attorney for Weldon, William Butler, made this site unsafe for residential housing.

After hearing the testimony of more than a dozen experts on flood plain topography, hydrology and civil engineering, the Planning Board gave each attorney an hour for summa tions before making their vote.

Quoting from numerous Supreme Court and Appellate Court decisions as well as the township’s own site plan ordinance, Mr. Butler pointed out to the Planning Board its obligation to protect the public from the hazards of severe flooding.

Reiterating some of the testimony made by numerous experts, Mr. Butler reminded the board that it must base its decision in anticipation of a 100year storm, which was likely to flood the surrounding roadways.

“Union Avenue, Meadow Avenue and Route 22 will become inundated under several feet of water during a regulatory flood,” Mr. Butler pointed out.

This, he explained, would cause access problems to and from the site, as well as compromising the stability of the six large retaining walls that were proposed to hold back the surrounding hillsides.

In her closing statement to the Planning Board, Ms. Chesler stated that all of the offsite concerns regarding flooding, traffic, overcrowded schools and other safety issues were irrelevant.

Ms. Chesler told the board that the creation of Scotland Street was the remedy to flooding concerns, because experts testified that Scotland Street would never become inundated under water, even during a regulatory flood.

Ms. Chesler pointed out that the buildings would be situated on an elFanwood

Planning Bd Members, Residents Discuss Options for Pending Sign Ordinance By BRIAN JOHNSON

Specially Written for The Times

The Fanwood Planning Board voiced its support Monday night for keeping existing sign regulations in

place once a revised zoning ordinance is adopted by the Borough Council later this year.

Board representatives, along with members of the community, spent over two hours at the agenda meeting debating the pros and cons of allowing local merchants to use internallylit or neon signs to advertise their businesses.

Presently in the final phase of their review of a draft of the revised zoning ordinance, board members have recently been divided on whether or not to permit such forms of illumination under the sign ordinance which will be part of the overall zoning document.

While the board can make recommendations regarding signage and other aspects of the zoning ordinance, final determinations on these issues will be made by the Fanwood Borough Council.

Both internallylit and neon signs are prohibited by the borough’s existing ordinance, which dates to the early 1960s, although several such signs are in use, due to a grandfather clause or other conditions.

Board Chairman Gregory Cummings, who favored continuation of the ban, said permitting externallyilluminated signs exclusively would help maintain the borough’s

smalltown ambiance. He described the current landscape of the community as “aesthetically pleasing” to both residents and visitors.

Mr. Cummings displayed a series of photographs he had taken in Metuchen, which permits neon signs, saying these types of signs lend an “unfavorable look” to the atmosphere of the business district there.

He has argued that neon and internallyilluminated signs could make Fanwood’s downtown look “cheap and gaudy.”

The Metuchen photographs, taken at night, were primarily of restaurants and bars in the town. One neon sign in particular measured over 50 feet long and two feet wide.

Five members of the community were given the chance to present their opinions to the board and all voiced disapproval of neon and internallylit signs.

Pamela Sayles, a Marian Avenue resident, noted that churches in the borough which use internallylit signs are low key, but cited a neon sign on a local business as being “too bright,”

and argued against this type of illumination. Members of the board were unanimous in their opinion that the type of lighting illustrated by Mr. Cummings’ photographs would be conducive to a “bad quality look” for Fanwood.

In the event the council is not favorable to a continuation of the ban, board members also explored alternatives whereby internallylit signs would be permitted but regulated.

Board members proposed that store owners could use timers for their establishments, which would automatically turn off the lights at 11 p. m.

They also proposed prohibiting consistently flashing illuminated signs and restricting sign content.

Mr. Cummings pointed to the towns of Westfield and Chatham, which do not allow neon lights in their business districts. He stated that forbidding these types of signs would help the borough “maintain the (smalltown) atmosphere” which Fanwood, like the other two towns he mentioned, currently have.

Page 10 Thursday, July 20, 2000 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 She stated at last week’s regular council meeting that she felt it was unfair to other Fanwood volunteers

who have dedicated “countless hours of time and effort” to serving on borough committees and in other capacities by compensating one individual.

Ms. Swindlehurst also expressed concern that it could set a precedent for other volunteers to submit bills and urged that the governing body quickly establish a policy that addresses the issue of compensation.

“I think we need to set guidelines and I think we need to make it a priority,” she remarked.

Fellow council members concurred with the need for a policy, with Mr. Kline agreeing to put together some recommendations in time for tonight’s meeting. He said such a policy would not just relate to Mr. Pierce, but to submissions of expenses by individuals in general.

Ms. Swindlehurst also last week questioned certain expenditures which have appeared on Mr. Pierce’s bills since his contract went into effect – such as some longdistance telephone calls.

Mayor Jung told The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood that Mr. Pierce has recently been performing some aspects of his work, such as telephone calls and photocopying, at Borough Hall.

While these still represent expenditures, the borough is not billed for them by Mr. Pierce because he is utilizing municipal equipment for these tasks, Mr. Jung noted.

As for work done prior to implementation of Mr. Pierce’s contract, the Mayor said the FDRC decided in January that it needed someone to interact with people involved in downtown revitalization on a fulltime basis.

Mr. Pierce volunteered for the position at that time, and was reimbursed for outofpocket expenses with funds from the FDRC’s budget, the Mayor said. Mr. Jung noted that while it was a volunteer post at the time, Mr. Pierce was compensated because of the extraordinary amount of hours he spent traveling, attending conferences and conducting other business for the FDRC.

He remarked that Mr. Pierce “went way beyond what we would consider normal for a volunteer.”

Under other council meeting business, officials adopted an ordinance on second reading which prohibits parking on both sides of Deborah Road, between Pleasant Avenue and Oakwood Court, from Monday through Friday, between 8 a. m. and 4 p. m.

The ordinance was prompted by students from Scotch PlainsFanwood High School parking their cars on the street, which is near the high school, making it difficult for residents there to exit their driveways, Borough Administrator Eleanor McGovern confirmed.

Another ordinance, unveiled on first reading, establishes development fees which enable the borough to be compensated for administrative expenses related to fulfillment of its affordable housing obligation through its agreement with the state Council On Affordable Housing.

Governing body members additionally agreed to enter into an arrangement with Scotch Plains for installation of two traffic control signals on Terrill Road, which runs through both communities.

The two municipalities will share the $10,000 cost of installing the signals, which will be located near Coles Elementary School and Terrill Middle School in Scotch Plains.

Several resolutions were passed authorizing the borough to submit grant applications to the state Department of Transportation for street reconstruction on Old South Avenue, West; repaving of the municipal parking lot on North Avenue and parking lot lighting and enhancements on North Avenue.

It was announced that Frank Oberlies has been appointed as Fanwood’s Fire Inspector/ Fire Sub Code Official, effective July 1. The council also revealed the ingrade promotion of Fanwood police officer Marc Gottlick to Patrolman Class A.

In addition, proclamations were issued honoring Whitney Slaten and Andrew Elko for having become Eagle Scouts – the highest rank offered by the Boy Scouts of America.

Finally, Mark and Vicki Annese, who are relocating from Fanwood to Massachusetts, were saluted with a resolution for their various contributions to the borough.

For the past five years, Mr. Annese has been the borough’s representative to the Memorial Day Parade Committee of Scotch Plains and Fanwood and has also served on Fanwood’s Holiday Decorations Committee.

Mrs. Annese was recognized for having created the “KidsArt” program for preschool students at the Fanwood Memorial Library.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SPF School Board Fanwood Council to Hear Update

Tonight on Revitalization Efforts

are: new multipurpose rooms at each elementary school, a second floor link between the two buildings of SPFHS, expansion of Terrill School’s media center, a new multipurpose room and enclosed breezeway at Park, new windows for McGinn School, and roof repairs at SPFHS and Terrill School.

The original elements of the bond referendum included: 12 new classrooms and a multipurpose room at Terrill School; renovation of all existing classrooms plus the media center, science labs, art and music rooms, and auditorium, along with window replacement at Park School; and construction of two classrooms at Coles School.

Also identified as part of the original plan were permanent walls surrounding the library/ media centers at School One, Brunner, McGinn and Coles Schools. The February proposal saw improvements dictated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being implemented at every school. These improvements included signage, lavatory upgrades and stage accessibility, as well as elevators at Park, Terrill and SPFHS.

The $1 million worth of technology enhancements originally slated for inclusion in the bond referendum appear to have been reduced to an upgraded telephone/ intercom system for all schools save SPFHS.

Mr. DelSordi used the time between the adjournment of the July 11 meeting and its reconvening on the evening of July 12 to divide the $50 million “wish list” into two parts — those projects which could be considered for inclusion in the bond referendum, and others which could be funded over the longterm through the regular school budget as capital improvements.

Another consideration as the district prepares to finetune the particulars of the bond referendum is the impact of the New Jersey Legislature’s July 13 passage of the “Educational Facilities Construction & Financing Act.”

The $12 billion program provides for $2.6 billion in aid to districts like Scotch PlainsFanwood, which, heretofore, have been deemed too well off to qualify for state support of this kind. Projects eligible for 40 percent funding under the new law include school buildings, administrative spaces and classroom spaces for students with disabilities. Athletic arenas, stadiums, land costs and engineering costs do not qualify.

Looking ahead, the board has hired a public relations consultant associated with Rowan University, who specializes in bond referendum work for school districts, to support its efforts to communicate effectively with the public.

This summer, according to Kathleen M. Meyer, the district’s Public Information Coordinator, the firm will conduct a random telephone survey of Fanwood and Scotch Plains residents.

“They’ll try to assess what it is our community values,” said Mrs. Meyer. In knowing how the public feels, “it helps you formulate your bond.”

The next board meeting regarding the bond referendum is scheduled for Thursday, August 24, 8 p. m. in the board meeting room. that NJ Transit’s repairs to the

bridge overpass and the Town of Westfield’s subsequent work to the road were completed before another North AvenueSouth Avenue artery is closed to automobile traffic.

Mr. Marsh said in June that some problems with the contractors that had been widening the roadway between North and South Avenues that runs under the NJ Transit rail line had caused delays.

The road has been closed for about nine months, although it originally was to reopen in late spring.

Birds Return to SP Neighborhood And Residents Unsure What to do

By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Times

SCOTCH PLAINS —The thousands of birds that have roosted in a Scotch Plains neighborhood for a number of summers are apparently back yet again, to the dismay of a group of residents who mounted a strong effort last year to have the township government do something to disperse the flock.

For about a quarter of a century, the flock of blackbirds, grackles and starlings have found the large trees in the Golf StreetWood Road neighborhood to be suitable for nighttime roosting. And some residents, especially those with young children, found the presence of the birds unsettling.

In March of last year, a group of neighborhood residents met with the Township Council to urge action similar to, if not stronger than, 1998’s pyrotechnics effort, which was partially successful in temporarily dispersing the birds.

During these meetings, the council heard stories of residents fearful of exposing their children to the numerous bird droppings in their yards and on their driveways and sidewalks.

One Wood Road homeowner told of barbecuing in his backyard while holding an umbrella to shield himself and his food from the birds.

There were also complaints about the noise, the smell of rainsoaked shed bird feathers, and dead birds in the neighborhood.

Early last summer, the council began discussing the use of a fruitbased fog that would be sprayed into the trees in which the birds were roosting.

Such a method is used at large airports to keep birds away from runways and airplane hangars.

But after hearing some residents express concerns about the potential health hazards of such a solution, the council voted last July not to employ a fogging solution, and, in the end, no action was taken.

Jeff Downing, a Wood Road homeowner who took the lead in urging the township to find a solution to the flock influx, told The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood earlier this week that the birds returned, on schedule, around July 4.

He said he spends time in the evening “trying to deter the birds” by making loud noises.

He reported that last Monday night, the noise from the birds was the loudest of the summer. And with last weekend’s heavy rains, “the stench is there, too.”

The same group that met with the council a year ago apparently made no effort at similar discussions this year.

Township Manager Thomas E. Atkins told The Times that “there hasn’t been one chirp” from concerned residents.

Mr. Downing explained the group’s actions this year by lamenting that all of its efforts in 1999 had resulted in no action ultimately being taken.

“Things kind of slipped through the cracks,” last year, he said. In addition, the concerned residents have been busy with family and other matters.

“It hasn’t been in the forefront. We’re hoping it won’t be as bad,” he stated, although he added that the feathers, the dead birds, the smell and the bird droppings are present in the neighborhood this month.

Mr. Downing did express some concern about the possibility that dead birds in the neighborhood could carry the West Nile Virus, which was found in several birds last summer in

New Jersey and New York and has been detected in New York in recent weeks as well.

“If I find (a dead bird), the (local) health department will be contacted,” he vowed.

PASS HER THE GAVEL... Karin Dreixler, the new President of the FanwoodScotch Plains Rotary Club, accepts the gavel from past President Andy Calamaras at the recent meeting for the installation of new officers. Ms. Dreixler is the Executive Director of the FanwoodScotch Plains YMCA. New officers are Neil Schembre, Presidentelect; Rose Phelan, Treasurer; Steve Prato, Secretary, John Turnbull, SergeantatArms.

Ingrid McKinley for The Times NOR SUMMER’S HEAT… Despite a recent wave of summer sun, this mail carrier obeys the United States Postal Service motto and delivers the early afternoon mail to residents.

evation leaving them “high and dry” during extreme storms and that there was nothing unusual or unsafe about creating retaining walls of this size.

The seven board members who voted against the proposal cited flooding concerns as the major reason for their denial.

The two affirmative votes were by Board Chairman George Tomkin and Robert LaCosta. They stated that they felt that the new application sufficiently addressed safety and flooding concerns.

Most of the board members agreed that the plethora of information made this application difficult and complex to decide.

Several members of the public addressed the board regarding their concerns about the proposed application. Dr. David Goode, a Watchung resident who lives approximately 100 feet from the intersection of Bonnie Burn Road and New Providence Road, told the board that traffic in the neighborhood was already congested and that adding 100200 cars to the mix would only make the congestion worse.

Scotch Plains Board of Education President Theresa Larkin addressed the Planning Board regarding the BOE’s concerns that the proposed development would create an additional strain on already overcrowded schools, necessitating enlarging the facilities and raising taxes.

Mr. Butler explained, that on appeal, the presumption of the law is that the local board’s decision is correct, and it is the job of the plaintiff to prove that the board’s decision was arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable, which in his opinion, would be very difficult for Hovnanian to prove.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Crossway Place, Hetfield Bridge

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Hovnanian Development

SP JCC Salutes Local Volunteers

SCOTCH PLAINS — During its annual meeting on June 11, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Central New Jersey, Wilf Jewish Community Campus in Scotch Plains, honored four individuals as its Volunteers of the Year.

They were recognized for their dedication and commitment to the agency through the many special events and programs they were involved with over the past several years.

Erica Needle and Sharon Rockman, both of Scotch Plains, worked together for two years in chairing the JCC Spring Fashion Show, the Western Casino Night and the Tzedakah Program with Camp Yachad, while supporting and working on various Early Childhood activities and Youth and Family Service events.

They are graduates of the JCC’s Leadership Development Program, which recognizes future leaders to the JCC and the community.

Mitchell Siegel has served as Liaison to many JCC committees, among them the Adult Cultural Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee. A resident of Westfield, he and his family have devoted many hours to the agency.

Cathy Tabak, also of Westfield, has served as CoChairwoman of the Super Raffle Campaign and cochairs the Membership Committee and the Golf and Tennis Committee. She is also a graduate of the JCC’s Leadership Development Program.

The JCC of Central New Jersey, Wilf Jewish Community Center, is located at 1391 Martine Avenue in Scotch Plains.

Library Seeks Volunteers To Help With Renovations

FANWOOD — The Fanwood Memorial Library at North Avenue and Tillotson Road will get a longawaited “facelift” this summer, with major interior renovations to take place that will enhance and update the facility.

Volunteers are needed to help with the boxing and moving of materials in preparation for the renovations, and to assist with other aspects of the project as well.

People are especially needed from late July to midAugust, then again from late August through Saturday, September 9, when the library will reopen with a gala celebration to unveil all of the new improvements.

The library will remain open until Friday, August 11, which marks

the end of the Summer Reading Program in the Children’s Department. Some materials in the Adult Department will be inaccessible starting in late July as the library prepares for the work to be done, and the entire library will be closed completely from August 12 to the first Saturday after Labor Day.

The renovation plans include new carpeting and painting throughout the Adult Section, new main entrance doors, a new Children’s Department Service Desk and a new Circulation Desk.

New tables for work and study, improved periodical and audio/ visual displays and new computer work areas will be included, along with new shelving that will provide a more than 15 percent increase in the amount of space for materials.

In addition, a new Young Adult area will be created featuring a study area, a computer workstation and books, magazines and other materials aimed at that age group.

The improvements are the result of a joint effort between the Borough of Fanwood, the Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library, the library itself and its Board of Trustees. Assistance with the efforts will be provided by members of the Fanwood Department of Public Works and others.

The renovations will complete a threeyear plan set in motion by Dan Weiss when he became Library Director in October of 1997. Automation of library services was completed last summer, as well as numerous improvements to the exterior of the building.

Volunteers of any age are welcome to participate and may call (908) 3226400 for further information.