The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

FIFTY CENTS (908) 2324407

Scotch Plains – Fanwood THE TIMES

OUR 42ND YEAR – ISSUE NO. 4542 Published Every Thursday USPS 485200

Periodical – Postage Paid at Scotch Plains, N. J. Thursday, November 9, 2000

of

— Serving Scotch Plains and Fanwood Since 1959 —

INDEX

A& E............... Page 22 Classifieds ..... Page 21 Business......... Page 18

Editorial ........ Page 4 Education ...... Page 8 Obituary ........ Page 10

Political.......... Page 3 Social ............ Page 6 Sports ............ Page 13

Borough Council Set to Introduce New Zoning Ordinance Tonight By SUZETTE F. STALKER

Specially Written for The Times

Hoping to have a new zoning ordinance in place before the end of this year, the Fanwood Borough Council is expected to unveil the longawaited document at its regular meeting tonight, November 9, with adoption of the text eyed for December.

It will replace the borough’s current ordinance, which has been in use since 1956. Spanning 240 pages, the new version will feature current information on a broad range of topics, among them site plan and subdivision appeals; zone changes; architecture; parking; accessory structures and cellular towers.

Crafted over eight years by elected officials, members of the Fanwood Planning Board and others, the draft ordinance was reviewed, chapterbychapter, almost concurrently by the Fanwood Planning Board and the

Borough Council over several months earlier this year. The review process by both bodies concluded around the beginning of October.

Both the council and the Planning Board made recommendations during their reviews which were then incorporated by Dennis Estis, Special Counsel to the governing body, into the final draft which is slated for introduction tonight.

In accordance with state regulations, the Borough Council must adopt the ordinance by the end of the year or the whole review process will have to be repeated.

Although the ordinance will debut this evening, Council President Joel Whitaker confirmed at the governing body’s November 1 agenda session that the council intends to direct the Planning Board to conduct studies on the borough’s Light Industrial and Central Commercial zones, to deter mine if any changes should be made.

The Planning Board is expected to consider whether specifications concerning the Light Industrial zone should be amended or whether the zone should be abolished altogether in light of manufacturing changes which have occurred since the postWorld War II era.

In the meantime, guidelines for the Light Industrial zone will be carried over from the old ordinance to the new one when it is introduced.

Before the zone could be abolished, a public hearing would have to be held to give property and business owners in the zone an opportunity to present their case either in favor of or

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Wireless Cos. Seek to Expand Coverage By Installing Antennas By DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Times

Wireless communication companies, Nextell and AT& T, both seeking to expand their wireless services coverage area in Scotch Plains, made presentations to the Scotch Plains Board of Adjustment on Thursday, November 3.

A dozen residents also attended the meeting to voice their concerns

about the installation of these antennas in their neighborhoods. The residents chief complaint was the detrimental visual impact that these additional antennas would have on their neighborhoods.

The board voted unanimously to approve Nextell’s application to attach their antennas to an existing PSE& G tower off of Raritan Road with the condition that Nextell withdraw their previous application to construct a new tower to house their antenna at another location. The

PSE& G tower currently houses an Omnipoint antenna.

AT& T’s application to build a new, freestanding pole to the rear of the John H. Stamler Police Academy off of Raritan Road will be continued at the next Board of Adjustment’s meeting in December.

William Masters, a professional planner from Morris Plains, speaking on behalf of Nextell, explained to the board and the public that FCC regulations require municipalities to allow wireless companies to install

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Ferguson Edges Connelly in Battle To Replace Bob Franks in Congress

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Fanwood Republicans Sweep Races Again to Win Two Council Seats By SUZETTE F. STALKER

Specially Written for The Times

For the second year in a row, Republicans swept races for two open seats on the Fanwood Borough Council during Tuesday’s General Elections, increasing the GOP’s majority on the governing body from 43 to 52.

Council President Joel Whitaker was the lead votegetter, handily winning his second term with 1,807 tallies. Firsttime candidate Carol A. Wood, his running mate, came in second among four council contenders, with 1,670. Council terms in Fanwood are for three years each.

Democratic Councilwoman Cynthia L. Swindlehurst, who garnered 1,595 votes, lost her bid for a full term on the governing body. Ms. Swindlehurst had been named in March to fill out the remaining 10 months of former Councilman William E. Populus, Jr. ’s term.

She shared her party’s ticket with Matthew T. Glennon, a member of

the Fanwood Planning Board, who made his inaugural bid for a council seat with this year’s race. Results showed Mr. Glennon with 1,485 votes. The votes for each candidate do not include absentee ballots, totals for which had not been confirmed at press time.

Last year, a threeway Republican victory in Fanwood, including races for Mayor and two council seats, reversed the Democrats’ longheld 43 edge on the governing body. Democrats had hoped to recapture that majority with a double win this year.

Instead, Councilwomen Karen M. Schurtz and Katherine Mitchell, both of whom are up for reelection next year, will be the only Democrats remaining on the council come Monday, January 1.

As was the case at polls throughout the nation this Presidential year, Fanwood produced an unusually high voter turnout. Borough Administrator Eleanor McGovern’s office re ported that 75.6 percent of Fanwood’s

4,794 registered voters, or 3,623 people, cast ballots in this year’s election.

“We’ve worked very hard and I think people could see we’ve done things this year,” Councilman Whitaker remarked during a victory celebration at the Sun Tavern restaurant in Fanwood, where he and Mrs. Wood, a local Realtor, were met by a jubilant crowd of wellwishers.

Mr. Whitaker also attributed the dual GOP win to what he described as the current council’s policy of conducting government business as an “open process,” saying that in the past, governing body decisions were commonly “presented as fait accompli.”

“I had a good feeling, but you don’t know because anything can happen,” Mrs. Wood said as she accepted congratulations and expressed her gratitude to voters. “I appreciate their support and I’ll do my best,” she

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Suzette Stalker for The Times WINNING TICKET… Republicans Carol A. Wood and Council President Joel Whitaker enjoy their victory Tuesday night after winning two open seats on the Fanwood Borough Council. Voters returned Mr. Whitaker for a second term, while Mrs. Wood will begin her inaugural term in January. The double GOP victory increased the party’s edge on the council to 52.

CORONATO BEATS TRIPET TO WIN COUNCIL SEAT

Marks Defeats Samuel to Win Scotch Plains Mayor’s Race

By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Times

Republican Martin L. Marks won Scotch Plains’ firstever mayoral election on Tuesday while his running mate, Paulette Coronato, was elected to the Township Council, ensuring continued GOP control of the governing body.

Mr. Marks, 38, is currently in the 11th month of his oneyear appointed term as Mayor. He defeated Democratic Councilwoman Geri M. Samuel, who served as Mayor in 1999, by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin. Vote tallies late Tuesday night, not counting absentee ballots, showed Mr. marks receiving 5,531 votes to Mrs. Samuel’s 3,636.

Addressing a crowd of happy supporters at Republican campaign headquarters on Park Avenue, Mayor Marks said it was “humbling to be the first directlyelected Mayor” and lauded what he called “an unbelievable team effort” by campaign workers. Speaking to The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood afterwards, Mr. Marks said “the two factors that resonated with voters were budget and taxes and open government. It played out in our polls and in our doortodoor campaigning.”

Mr. Marks said he approached this year’s election differently than in his

first race fir Township Council four years ago.

“This time I had a record to run on,” he said. “So it was gratifying to win by a significant margin. This one is a lot more meaningful to me.”

Mrs. Samuel, who won two of the township’s 21 voting districts, spoke of her defeat by telling The Times

that, “I guess it was the taxes,” but, looking ahead to next year’s special council election, she added, “I guess I’ll have to wait to see what happens

next year.” Tuesday’s results means a continued 32 Republican majority on the council, with Mrs. Coronato replacing 10year GOP veteran William F. McClintock. She defeated her Democratic opponent, Peter Tripet, by 58 percent to 42 percent margin. Mrs. Coronato, currently a member of the township Zoning Board of Adjustment and an unsuccessful candidate for the council in 1998, received

By DEBORAH MADISON AND MARYLOU MORANO

Specially Written for The Times

In yet another race that was too close to call early on, Republican Michael A. Ferguson won the Seventh Congressional District seat edging out Democrat Maryanne Connelly by a narrow margin.

Mr. Ferguson’s victory means Republicans will hold onto the Seventh District seat which has long been held by GOP.

The final count was Mr. Ferguson 115,706 to Mrs. Connelly’s 110,202 votes, a margin of 50 percent to 47

Hetfield Bridge Is Open Again

The Hetfield Avenue Bridge spanning Scotch Plains and Fanwood reopened yesterday after having been closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic since July while repairs were completed.

Beginning on Monday, November 13, the Martine Avenue bridge will be closed to northbound traffic for about a week in order to facilitate repairs to the bridge deck. The bridge will be open to southbound traffic.

The following week, the bridge will be closed to southbound traffic while work is done on the northbound side of the bridge. percent.

Only one other district claimed a narrower margin of victory, with Democrat Rush Holt defeating Republican Dick Zimmer, both securing 49 percent of the votes in the 12th District. The total number of New Jersey District seats is 13 with the Republicans winning in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 11, and the Democrats claiming the other 7.

Mr. Ferguson declared his victory to a crowd of more than 100 enthusiastic supporters when he arrived at his victory celebration party just after midnight at L’Affaire in

Mountainside. Mr. Ferguson, who resides in Warren Township, announced that he had just received a concession call from his opponent, Ms. Connelly conceded the race after approximately 76 percent of the district’s polls were tallied and the vote was 85,190 to 82,204 at 11: 45 p. m.

The mood at L’Affaire was overwhelmingly confident hours before the conclusion of the race, with many supporters waving Mr. Ferguson campaign posters, dancing to the live band and chanting his name for the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Fred Rossi for The Times REVELING IN VICTORY… Republican Scotch Plains Mayor Martin L. Marks stands with wellwishers and Republican Councilpersons Frank Rossi and Paulette Coronato after hearing of his victory over Democratic candidate and former Scotch Plains Mayor Geri M. Samuel. Mrs. Coronato was victorious over Democratic candidate Peter Tripet.

Deborah Madison for The Times AND THE WINNER IS… Voters chose Republican and Warren resident Michael A. Ferguson over Democrat and former Fanwood Mayor Maryanne S. Connelly to represent the Seventh Congressional District for United States Congress. Standing proudly at the dais with his wife, Maureen, and son, Jack, the Congressmanelect delivers a victory speech to wellwishers at L’Affaire in Mountainside.

Page 12 Thursday, November 9, 2000 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK stated.

Mr. Whitaker, who commended local Democrats for having “run a good race,” said the council’s priorities in the year ahead would continue to be downtown redevelopment, improvements to local parks and projects such as equipping borough law enforcement vehicles with video cameras.

At the South Street Café in Fanwood, where borough Democrats gathered after the polls closed, Mr. Glennon reflected on the campaign he and Ms. Swindlehurst waged this year, thanking “everyone who was involved in it.”

“Everyone helped a lot,” Mr. Glennon stated. “We ran a great campaign and we ran an honest campaign. We did everything we could. I personally learned a lot about the community and about the people and about their concerns.”

Although disappointed by his own loss, he said he regretted even more that Ms. Swindlehurst “was not given the chance” to serve a full term on the governing body.

He said his running mate “clearly worked harder than anyone on the council. She brought up some great issues. It’s a shame she wasn’t given more time.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Fanwood Races

against such a change, according to Mr. Whitaker.

The councilman, who chairs the governing body’s Land Use and Historic Preservation Committee, said elected officials have made an amendment in the new zoning ordinance to have the block of land that is bordered by South, Martine and LaGrande Avenues and by Second Street designated as part of Fanwood’s Central Commercial district. The block includes the Dean Oil site at the corner of LaGrande and Second.

During a brief special meeting which preceded the council’s agenda session last week, officials passed resolutions for the appointment of two officers to the Fanwood Police Department, pending conclusion of background checks and one officer’s successful completion of police academy requirements.

The candidates are Ronald Greco, who will come to Fanwood from the South Bound Brook Police Department, and Jason Everitt, who is currently enrolled at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains. He has also worked for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Fanwood Council Sharynn M. Porter Prepares to Take

Her Seat on Scotch Plains Council

Jon Corzine Edges Bob Franks To Win Seat in U. S. Senate

By MELISSA BETKOWSKI

Specially Written for The Times

Money may not buy happiness, but voters in New Jersey might say that it can and did buy a U. S. Senate seat.

Democratic candidate Jon Corzine, former cochairman of Goldman Sachs & Co. held off a late rally by Congressman Bob Franks (R7th) to claim the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Frank Lautenberg.

Mr. Corzine, 53, of Summit, drew fire for spending as much as $65 million during the race. Mr. Franks spent only $5 million, but in the days leading up to the election he was able to close the gap in the polls between himself and Mr. Corzine.

Network television projected Mr. Corzine as the winner by 8: 30 p. m., but Mr. Franks’ camp remained optimistic.

By 9: 30 p. m., Mr. Franks had pulled a slight lead over Mr. Corzine. At that time, Peter DeMarco, a spokesman for Mr. Franks, told The Westfield Leader and The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood “it’s far too soon (to call). We’re very good where we are.”

Mr. DeMarco noted that it would be a long night for the candidates.

Tom Shea, a representative of Mr. Corzine’s campaign said “we’re very pleased with the outcome and thankful to the voters of New Jersey.”

Mr. Franks conceded defeat just after 11 p. m., complimenting Mr. Corzine on a “terrific campaign,” calling him a “good and decent man.”

“I made a pledge to run the best campaign I possibly could. I just hope tonight that you believe I did,” he told supporters.

Mr. Franks made one last comment about Mr. Corzine’s spending, saying “What I gained over this past 14 months was something $60 million will never be able to buy.”

Mr. Corzine took the stage at the East Brunswick Hilton at about 11: 45 p. m., telling New Jersey voters, “I love you.”

He called his win “absolutely one of the greatest thrills of my life.”

Mr. Corzine said he will make it a goal to provide New Jerseyans with the opportunity to achieve the “American dream” as he did.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 antennas to provide suitable coverage for their customers. Each wireless company needs to have their own antennas and a company may need several antennas pointed in different directions at several locations in order to provide complete coverage for an area.

Currently, Nextell and AT& T have several antenna sites in the Scotch Plains, Fanwood and Westfield areas. These sites, however, only provide partial coverage of the Scotch Plains area for each company.

The antenna installation sites also require equipment storage shelters, which vary in size from one company to another. The shelters encase radiomonitoring equipment such as transmitters, receivers and battery backups.

Nextell’s application also included approval for the construction of an eightfoot high chainlink fence that will enclose an 18by 30foot area, which houses a 12by 10foot equipment storage shelter at the base of the tower.

The shelter and tower sit approximately 309 feet from Raritan Road, according to Nextell’s Site Engineer, Paul Papay.

Mr. Papay assured the board that this additional antenna site would provide complete coverage for the Scotch Plains area by Nextell and that no additional sites would be required in the future.

AT& T’s application proposed to construct a new, 110foot monopole as well as a 12 by 28 ft. equipment storage shelter. AT& T’s radio frequency engineer, Robert Navarro addressed the board and answered questions from the public regarding the necessity of locating a new pole in this area.

“The entire area south of North Avenue has either bad coverage or no coverage at all for AT& T wireless customers,” Mr. Navarro explained. Board and audience members agreed that they have experienced problems losing calls in Southside area of Scotch Plains. Mr. Navarro also assured the board that this installation would provide complete AT& T coverage for all of Scotch Plains and that no additional antenna locations would be required.

However, AT& T could sublease space on their proposed pole to other companies seeking antenna placement, Mr. Navarro reported.

Board members and members of the public questioned Mr. Navarro at length regarding the necessity of constructing a new pole, as opposed to attaching their antennas to the existing PSE& G tower as Nextell proposed.

Mr. Navarro explained that placing their antennas on the existing PSE& G tower, which sits 400 feet south of the proposed site, would interfere with coverage by Comcast Wireless in Middlesex County, which operates on a similar bandwidth as AT& T.

Mike DiGioia, a spokesman for AT& T, explained that although a given location may be satisfactory for one company, it could be unsuitable for another company, depending on a variety of technical and geographic factors.

AT& T’s planner, John Fussa showed the board computer simulated photographs of the proposed pole displaying, what he believed would be, “minimal visual impact on the surrounding area.” In his opinion, the proposed pole was less of an obtrusive impact than most of the surrounding publicuse buildings.

Despite the pole being “barely visible,” according to Mr. Fussa, several members of the public questioned why this location was necessary, as opposed to other, less visible locations.

Mr. Navarro was requested to return to the board with a computergenerated map showing the coverage area if AT& T located their antenna on the existing PSE& G tower.

Metricom, another wireless communications company based Metricom, based out of San Jose, Calf. with a regional office in Harrison, will also make a presentation to the board to provide wireless Internet service to the Scotch Plains area at the next Board of Adjustment’s meeting scheduled for December 7.

Wireless Cos. Seek to Expand Coverage By Installing Antennas

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mr. Ferguson Is Victorious Union County Saw Hike in Persons

Registering for Presidential Election By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Times

Although municipal clerks around the state were busy counting election tallies Tuesday night, their work began over a month ago when individuals began coming in to fill out voter registration forms.

New Jersey’s deadline for a General Election is 29 days prior to the election, or October 10 this year. Voters still had the opportunity to fill out registration cards after this date, but had to appear before a Superior Court judge to claim an emergency waiver of the state law to vote in the 2000 election.

Marcella Diaz, who moved to Westfield six months ago from New York City, said she wanted to vote but was unaware of New Jersey’s registration deadline. She indicated that, in New York, a resident can register 10 days prior to an election.

“I just find that (having to go before a judge) ridiculous,” she told The Westfield Leader and The Times of Scotch PlainsFanwood.

Union County Board of Elections Administrator Patricia A. Formato said

the individual state legislatures mandate registration rules. She said some states offer same day registration.

She said after the registration period ends, her office is no longer permitted by law to process submitted registration forms for that particular election.

A voter who believes that he or she has a legitimate reason for missing the registration deadline has the option of presenting his or her case before a Superior Court Judge. Judges are available to hear appeals up until Election Day.

As far as registrations are concerned, Westfield Town Clerk Bernard A. Heeney indicated that his office stayed open on October 10 for residents to fill out registration cards. He said a dozen persons took advantage of that opportunity, “which is a lot for us.”

Mr. Heeney said the office also was busy handing out absentee ballots this year.

“We were giving out absentee ballots like there was no tomorrow,” he said. In total, 1,017 absentee ballots were mailed to Westfield residents. Mr. Heeney said that in an average year,

that number is around 15. The clerk indicated that most of the influx was due to the presidential election, and not the fact that residents were selecting a new mayor this year.

An employee in the Scotch Plains Township Clerk’s Office said, “There hasn’t been an extraordinary influx of people (registering) this year.” The township saw its first ever mayoral election this year. In the past, the Township Council appointed the mayoral annually.

Ms. Formato said the County Clerk’s office has informed her that over 10,000 absentee ballots had been taken out in anticipation of the closest Presidential election in 40 years. However, she stated this number is not unusual for a Presidential election.

“We saw this kind of activity in 1992,” she said, noting that voter interest picks up in years when an incumbent is not on the ballot. She believed the fact that both Senate candidates are Union County residents may also have had an impact on the registration blitz.

Ms. Formato indicated that about 6,000 to 7,000 absentee ballots had been returned as of Friday afternoon. Ballots must be returned by the time polls close, 8 p. m. on Election Day.

The New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety reported that as of October 31, a total of 4,710,768 state residents were registered to vote, an increase from 259,432 from a year ago.

The total breaks down to 1,179,577 persons declaring themselves Democrats, 876,386 Republicans, 12,944 Independents and 2,641,861 persons who are unaffiliated with any political party.

In Union County, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 92,608 to 41,818, with 137,275 listed as unaffiliated and 535 persons filing as Independent voters.

By FRED ROSSI

Specially Written for The Times

SCOTCH PLAINS — As she prepares for her first official meeting as a member of the Scotch Plains Township Council in two weeks, Sharynn M. Porter anticipates spending some of her initial time on the governing body listening to and learning from those members who have gained experience from years of serving.

Mrs. Porter, a Democrat, was appointed to the council to fill the vacancy resulting from the death in late September of Tarquin Jay Bromley. She formally took the oath of office on

October 21 and attended last night’s conference meeting. A 16year resident of Scotch Plains, Mrs. Porter has two children attending Park Middle School. Her husband, Lance, is a member of the Scotch PlainsFanwood Board of Education.

Mrs. Porter, who formerly worked in banking, is now a substitute teacher in the district’s elementary schools.

She told The Times that she wants to make the council “a more wellrounded one. There are AfricanAmericans in Scotch Plains, so there should be an AfricanAmerican on the Council.”

Mrs. Porter is the first AfricanAmerican member of the Township Council. She also hoped to make the Council “more accessible to the communityatlarge,” including not only AfricanAmericans but senior citizens as well.

Although a special election to fill the remaining year of the late Mr. Bromley’s term is still a year off, Mrs. Porter says “it looks very probable” that she will run to finish it out.

“This will be my honeymoon period,” she said, speaking of the next year, “and it will allow me to see how I can benefit the township council.”

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30

Police received a report of the theft of 150 bottles of soda and an undetermined amount of cash from a soda machine from a South Avenue service station.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

Vincent Scott Noel, 35, of Plainfield was arrested for possession and making purchases on a stolen credit card taken in the course of a burglary on Rahway Road on October 3. Noel was apprehended in West Fourth Avenue of Plainfield area during a surveillance conducted by the Scotch Plains Detective Bureau. Noel was remanded to the Union County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail set by Scotch Plains Municipal Judge Joseph Perfilio. Detectives Donnell Joyce and Jeff Briel conducted the investigation.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

· An employee a Route 22 fast food residence, was reportedly assaulted during midmorning hours with mace as he entered his vehicle during an attempted robbery at the rear of the premises. Police said a scuffle ensued with the assailant unsuccessfully struggling to take a moneybag. The assailant fled on foot. The area was canvassed by police with the aid of the Union County K9 Unit but were unable to locate the suspect.

· Police reported the theft of a digital camera taken from the Union County Vocational and Technical Schools School on Raritan Road during the afternoon hours.

· A South Plainfield resident reported that someone had written approximately $1,000 in checks to his account using forged checks. Occurred early October.

The Hillcrest Academy on Plainfield Avenue reported finding several screens to exterior windows sliced with a cutting instrument. Additional three windows were broken over the last few days by golf balls.

A 13yearold Clark boy was found intoxicated on the Goodman Crossing rail track. The youth was turned over to his parents and taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

Police said complaints are pending.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

· An employee at a Scotch Plains nursing home reported the theft of $700 cash from a locker during the morning hours.

A resident of the 900block of Raritan Road reported someone attempted to gain entry by breaking a window pane in a rear door during the early afternoon. Nothing inside appears disturbed, police noted.

· A student at Scotch Plains Fanwood High School reported his car vandalized in the parking lot during school hours.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

· The theft of an air compressor from a Route 22 service station was reported.

· Eric Mihansky, 19 of Scotch Plains was arrested and charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana pursuant to a motor vehicle stop on Westfield Avenue.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5

· A resident of Ternay Avenue reported a rock was thrown through the side window of her vehicle.

SCOTCH PLAINS POLICE BLOTTER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SP Council

cameras of several local television stations.

Dan Quinonez, Mr. Ferguson’s Campaign Manager echoed the sentiments of the crowd early in the evening, saying, “there’s no doubt that we are going to win,” despite both candidates running neck in neck for much of the evening.

At 10 p. m. the polls showed that both candidates were tied percentagewise, however, Mr. Ferguson retained a slight lead of approximately 2 percent over Ms. Connelly most of the night.

The crowd, many of whom had been involved in helping with Mr. Ferguson’s campaign, fervently cheered as the numbers on the giant screen TV reflected Mr. Ferguson’s lead. They were equally as vocal, booing and hissing when the numbers reflected a democratic margin in some districts and in the Presidential race.

Also among the supporters, were a large number of prolife activists and supporters, who were exceedingly vocal in booing when the screen reflected prochoice candidates such as Hillary Clinton, the winner in New York’s U. S. Senate race. Anne Perone, the President of the New Jersey Committee for Life, an affiliate of the National Right to Life Organization said that members of her Committee had distributed campaign literature in support of Mr. Ferguson.

When asked by a reporter with NJN news whether the prolife issue was a deciding factor for the Ferguson Campaign, Mr. Quinonez said that this race was more about economics than any other issue. He also mentioned that Middlesex County was a decisive factor in the outcome of the race.

In her concession speech at The Sports Section Café in Union, Ms. Connelly expressed her hope that her supporters would not let her defeat discourage them from advocating for patient’s rights, a prescription drug plan or a woman’s right to choose.

Her campaign manager Sujata Tejwani said, “We are disappointed. We ran a good race. We were massively out communicated and that was hard to overcome.”

Mr. Ferguson, who spent the day campaigning in Union, Springfield and Westfield, appeared at the podium with his wife and two daughters by his side. He told the roaring crowd that he would be committed to “restoring people’s faith in the integrity of government.”

He also acknowledged his close friend, Congressman Bob Franks and said, “I’m seeking to represent this district as well as Bob Franks did.”

5,200 votes to Mr. Tripet’s 3,725. She and Mr. Marks will assume their posts in a ceremony on January 1.

Admitting that this year’s results “feel a lot better than two years ago,” Mrs. Coronato, at Tuesday night’s victory party, saluted the campaign’s team effort. Mr. Tripet was unable to be reached late on Tuesday evening.

As of January 1, the Township Council will be composed of three Republicans: Mayor Marks, who will begin a fouryear mayoral term; Frank Rossi, who was elected in a special election a year ago to fill an unexpired term that runs for two more years; and Mrs. Coronato, whose own term runs through 2004. They will be joined by Mrs. Samuel, whose term runs through the end of 2002, and Sharynn Porter, recently appointed to the council until a special election next year.

SPF School Board Declares American Education Week In School Dist., Nov. 1219

By SUSAN M. DYCKMAN

Specially Written for The Times

SCOTCH PLAINS — During an abbreviated Election Night meeting, the Scotch PlainsFanwood Board of Education declared the week of November 1219 American Education Week. The theme for the week is “Children, Teachers, Parents: Helping Students Achieve.”

The board’s resolution spoke of schools as “community linchpins, bringing together adults and children, educators and volunteers, business leaders and elected official in a common enterprise.”

Part of the week’s festivities will include tours of both Terrill and Park Middle Schools on November 13 and 15, respectively, and Scotch PlainsFanwood High School on November 14. All tours begin at 9 a. m.

Board Member Linda Nelson updated her colleagues on the status of communication with the public regarding the upcoming bond referendum. She noted that board members and/ or administrators had met with various community groups such as the Scotch PlainsFanwood Ministerium, the Fanwood Lions Club, and the College Club to share information about the bond.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Scotch Plains resident Deborah Asher asked why eighthgrade parents were not notified that their children would be tested to determine into which levels they would be placed in high school.

“I think it would be helpful to send something out to parents regarding scheduling, the purpose of the testing and how the results will be used,” said Mrs. Asher.

A special bond referendum informational meeting with board members will take place Tuesday, November 14 at 8 p. m. at Terrill Middle School. The public is invited to attend.

On the agenda for the board’s Tuesday, November 21 business meeting are: an instructional update on the Second Grade World Language Program; acceptance of the 19992000 audit of Scotch PlainsFanwood Schools by the accounting firm of Barre and Cannone; and a discussion of proposed legislation that would require students to daily recite a 55word passage from the Declaration of Independence. That meeting will be held in the boardroom of the administrative offices at Cedar Street and Evergreen Avenue.

Ingrid McKinley for The Times SIGNS OF THE TIMES… Along Route No. 22, near the exit for Mountainside and Westfield, Democratic candidates for Union County Freeholder, United States Senate, Mountainside Borough Council and President and Vice President posted campaign signs which called out to voters on Election Day.

Douglas M. Fasciale, Esq.

Concentrating in personal injury and malpractice cases.

Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas, LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

DFasciale@ hoaglandlongo. com www. hoaglandlongo. com 40 PATERSON STREET

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08901 (732) 5454717

116 S. EUCLID AVENUE WESTFIELD, NJ 07090

(908) 2329944

325 North Avenue East, Westfield

9082328977

Jay@ BoyleLLC. com

BOYLE FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES, LLC

Securities are offered through 1717 Capital Management Company PO Box 15626 Wilmington DE 19850 • Member NASD, SIPC INSURANCE · INVESTMENTS

ESTATE PLANNING