CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK
Miele Autumn Sale
SINCE 1956 • Vacuums
• Central Vacuum Systems • Sewing Machines • Outdoor Power Equipment • Janitorial Supplies • Air and Water Purification Equipment
Old Fashioned Quality and Service
224 ELMER STREET • WESTFIELD 908•232•5723 Closed Wed. and Sun
SALES • SERVICE • PARTS RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL
Your Environmental Headquarters
www. etpetersen. com
All MieleVacuums onSALEfrom $249
MIELE \MEÉILUH\
n. an extremely quiet, easytouse, powerful German vacuum with a sealed filtration system to capture all particles to bacteria size (. 3 microns).
vb. an indescribable state of environmental cleanliness i. e. “I Mieled my house today.”
CouncillCraftsmen• Brownstreet•Nichols&Stone• Shifman•Hancock& Moore•VirginiaMetalcrafters Kindel•Stickley• Baker•HenkelHarris •Karges•Southwood •Statton•E. J. Victor•HickoryChair •Dimes•Widdicomb
Valley Furniture Shop
53rd ANNUALSTOREWIDE ANNIVERSARY SALE!
November 2nd through 13th
SPECTACULARREDUCTIONS!
Drawing for Door Prize Trip to Colonial Williamsburg Special Sale Hours:Monday Friday 109; Saturday 105: 30; Sunday 15 20 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ 07069 (908) 756 7623 33 Forest Avenue, Hawthorne, NJ 07506 (973) 4271848
SOUTHWOOD 50% off on all Upholstery Samples including special purchase 18th Century frames and Oct. 2000 New England Collection Samples
KINDEL Phyfe Table Sale: $3995.
Sideboard w/ gallery Sale:-$ 4100.
Chipp. Chairs Arm Sale: $1295. Side Sale: $960. STICKLEY Mission at Anniversary Sale Prices (Watchung Store Only)
D. R.DIMES Clock Tiger Maple Sale: $9500 (floor)
EJVICTOR Newport Loveseat List: $7722. Sale: $3500. WIDDICOMB Secretary Bookcase
List: $28,400 SALE:-$ 15,900 HENKEL HARRIS Rice Carved Bed Queen Sale $3648. King Sale $3966.
Pieces in Stock for Holiday Delivery.
HANCOCK &MOORE Leather Austin Sofa. Some styles up to 50% off on pieces in Stock.
SAVE 35 55%
$100 Gift Certificate on Premium Sets
WIDDICOMB Revolving Book Table Sale $4590. HANCOCK& MOORE
Recliner from $999. HICKORY CHAIR
Arm Chair from $569.
Exquisite 18th Century Reproductions Valley Furniture Shop
Slip into something more
ROMAN JEWELERS ONEOFAKIND JEWELRY • ONEOFAKIND JEWELER
973.912.7222 THE MALL AT SHORT HILLS • BRIDGEWATER COMMONS MALL • FLEMINGTON VILLAGE PLAZA
Republicans Sweep Race for Seats On All GOP Mountainside Council By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
MOUNTAINSIDE — There was another Republican sweep in Mountainside Tuesday night in the local race for the two available ough Council seats. Democrats have
never won a seat on the local ing body. Incumbent, Thomas Perotta, a Republican, led the race with a total
2,045 votes, while fellow lican Bill Lane earned 1,892 votes. Democratic candidates, Steve Brociner, who had also run for a seat in 1998 and 1999, and John Shackelford, both earned 1,140 votes each.
According to the results tallied by Borough Clerk Judith Osty, a total of 3,420 voters in this year’s campaign.
According to official election re sults, the Republican candidates Borswept all nine districts, which differs
from last year’s results where there governwas a Democratic win in the eighth
district. “I am proud to be able to serve Mountainside again,” said Council Repubman Perotta. “Serving my commu
nity gives me a great sense of per sonal satisfaction. I have lived in this borough for approximately 30 years, almost all of my life. My whole family lives here and the borough has given me a lot. Serving on coun cil gives me chance to give back.”
“I am really excited about the out come of our local election,” said Mr. Lane. “I am really looking forward to serving Mountainside.”
Mr. Brociner and Mr. Schakelford were not available for comment.
At the victory reception held at the Mountainside Elks Club, GOP Cam paign Managers Dona Oseija and Clark Landale thanked the candiof dates for their hard work during the campaign.
Mrs. Oseija addressed the crowds stating that she was very proud that they “ran a positive campaign.” Mr. Landale addressed the audience on statistics from last year’s election stating that it “was a prime motivator to work hard for this year’s race.”
According to Mr. Landale, out of 1,434 registered Republican voters 929votedlastyear. Outof739DemoOriginal... cratic registered voters, 425 cast ballots and out of 2,238 registered Independent voters, 863 participated in last year’s race.
This year, according to Mr. Landale, shows that “the registered Independents determine who sits on our council. This was a big wake up call to us and made us work even harder during our campaign.”
Senator Donald DiFrancesco Cites Health Care, Public Schools Property Tax Relief Among Top Priorities for Lawmakers By PAUL J. PEYTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Over the years, Senator Donald T. DiFrancesco has seen a shift in lation to suburban areas and a tinued movement in New Jersey’s
tax base to the suburbs. The focus of transportation is now on extending mass transit through light rail tems and also maintaining the state’s
existing infrastructure. When Senator DiFrancesco first ran for the Assembly in 1976, the most controversial issue concerned the completion of Interstate 78 through the Watchung Reservation.
“It was the people who didn’t want to see a highway go right through the reservation versuspeoplewhowanted to have this major artery completed and relieve other roads of the state truck traffic and interstate
travel,” he said. In the end, the way was constructed through the ervation, as opposed to building the highway through residential areas.
On the environmental side, ing up toxic waste sites was a major issue back in the 1970s. He said the
focus in recent years has shifted to popuair quality.
con“I feel people are much more con
cerned about the air they breathe and the water they drink,” the Senator noted. Mr. DiFrancesco has served sysin the Senate since 1979.
The criminal justice system has also changed, with victims now be ing given rights while penalties have stiffened and jail sentences length ened for criminals. New Jersey’s strong prosperity has not detracted from the need for more correctional facilities in the state.
“The economy is great, people are better educated and we are still build ing more jails,” he said, citing the interlonger jail sentences.
Issues that continue to be hot top highics in New Jersey are auto insurance,
reseducation fundingandpropertytaxes.
Senator DiFrancesco said the state legislature still emphasizes a strong cleanpublic school education, strong en vironmental standards and maintain
ing New Jersey’s transportation net work, along with giving law enforce ment officials the tools they need to reduce crime while broadening the rights of crime victims.
He said New Jersey has concen tratedoncleaning upthestate’sshore line, both from an environmental and economic standpoint, in regards to tourism. The state has also put an emphasis on preserving open space, with the establishment in 1998, via a voter referendum, of a 10year, $2 billion program.
Looking at current legislative ini tiatives, SenatorDiFrancescoiswork ing on developing a new prescription plan for the state’s senior citizens. He said the new program will pro vide coverage to another 100,000 persons who are not covered under New Jersey’s current Pharmaceuti cal Assistance to the Aged and Dis abled (PAAD) program which was started in the 1970s.
The PAAD program provides pre scribed drugs, insulin, insulin sup
plies and diabetic testing materials to eligible New Jersey residents 62 and older at a copayment of $5 per prescription to the beneficiary.
Under the new program, married couples with an average income of $30,000 would qualify for the pro gram. Currently, individuals making $18,000 annually and $22,000 a year as couples are eligible for the pro gram.
The proposed system would have a higher copay with an individual cap to ensure that persons are not denied medication due to an inabil ity to pay.
Also, Senator DiFrancesco noted that the legislature is working on increasing the maximum benefit in the Homestead Rebate from $500 to $750. Seniors get the highest return in the program.
The state is also phasing in the New Jersey Saver program. The pro gram issues rebates to homeowners to offset the school portion of prop erty taxes. By next year, homeowners should be receiving an average of $500.
The program, when fully phased in by the year 2003, will provide
homeowners with an average refund of $600. This year, the average re bate is $240. The program is based on taxes paid on the first $45,000 of the assessed value of a home.
Lawmakers are working on in creasing municipal aid to towns to help reduce the impact of property taxes. On the same point, the state is stepping up to the plate by giving towns like Westfield the opportu nity to receive millions of dollars to help fund school construction projects.
“I’ve been listening to people for 20 years who have been talking to me about how the state ought to partici pate more in school costs. The best way to participate is to fund capital construction so that you know the money you are spending is going towards school costs,” the Senator stated.
Hesaid thehourslawmakersspend on job and constituent services has increased “dramatically.” In fact, Senator DiFrancesco indicated that legislators did not have district of fices until 1974. Lawmakers used to work out of their houses prior to that.
Legislative committeesarealsomore active nowadays.
“By and large I think the legisla ture is a much better operation than it was when I started,” the Senator explained.
On the issue of politics, Senator DiFrancescowill beseekingtheGOP nomination next year for Governor.
Republican activists statewide have been working to ensure that Mr. DiFrancesco is endorsed by Repub lican county committees.
“There is a strong feeling that a divided primary will cost the party to lose the governor’s race and poten tially the legislature,” Senator DiFrancesco explained. Republicans have won four of the past five guber natorial races and have held the ma jority in both houses of the legisla ture since 1992.
Rallying around one candidate, he said, enables the likely nominee to focus on the general election a lot earlier. In 1989, he recalled,the even tual nominee, former Congressman Jim Courter, was challenged by four other persons, including former As sembly Speaker and Westfield resi dent Chuck Hardwick. Democrats Claim Reelection Victories
In Union County Freeholder Races By PAUL J. PEYTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
UNION– Democratspostedasixth consecutive victory in the race for seats on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Tuesday night.
With their reelection sweep, Deborah Scanlon, Chester Holmes and AlexanderMirabellahelpedtheir party retain a 90 majority on the large board, with a margin of around
33,000 votes over RepublicansWally K. Shackell, Jr.,Al Dill and Esther D. MalcolmGuzman.
Voters also approved a 20year, $98 million bond referendum to port an Open Space, Recreation and
Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Democrats will hold the majority in January for the fifth consecutive year. It will be the fourth year in a row they will hold a 90 edge. Demo crats held a 63 advantage in 1997, following five years of Republican majority boards. atUnion County Clerk Joanne
Rajoppi, a Democrat, posted a one sided, 99,558to51,591 victory over Republican Eric Urbano of Scotch Plains to win a second, fiveyear term. supMr. Mirabella was the top vote getter, with 89,604, followed by Mrs.
Scanlon, 89,459, and Mr. Holmes, 85,399. Mr. Shackell led the GOP ticket with 56,976 tallies, followed by Ms. GuzmanMalcolm, 56,913, and Mr. Dill, 56,737.
“The Democrats took Union County like they’ve never taken it before,” acknowledged Freeholder Scanlon.
Freeholder Mirabella cited the win as a “great victory” for the party. “I’m really thrilled to get a victory. We really worked hard.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
| www.goleader.com | press@goleader.com | Copyright Covering Fanwood, Mountainside, Scotch Plains and Westfield, Union County, New Jersey (NJ) |