NOW IN OUR 53 rd YEAR
ACCREDITED GEM LAB American Gem Society
ELLEN R. RAMER, Certified Gemologist Appraiser 12 North Avenue West • Cranford, NJ 07016 • 908-276-6718
Special Holiday Hours Mon-Fri 9:45-8:30 • Saturday 9:30-5:00 • Sundays 11am until 5pm
Open Wednesdays now thru Dec 23rd
• Not a F • Not a F • Not a F • Not a F • Not a Fr rr rranc anc anc anc anchise or “Center” hise or “Center” hise or “Center” hise or “Center” hise or “Center”
‘Y’ Men’s Club Tradition Continues With Tree Sale By CHRISTINE BROWN-CHARLTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
A tradition in Westfield since 1951, the Y’s Men’s Club of Westfield is once again sponsoring their annual Christmas tree sale.
Affiliated with the Westfield “Y,” the men of the club volunteer their time throughout the holiday season to help customers select, trim, bag and tie a tree to their car. They also offer garland and wreaths.
The proceeds of the sale go directly to local charitable organizations. The United Fund of Westfield, the Westfield Rescue Squad, Children’s Specialized Hospital, CONTACT We Care and the “Y’s” aquatics programs have all benefited from the tree sales.
The Y’s Men Club also sponsors two scholarships given to students who demonstrate a desire to give back to their community in various ways.
According to Dominic DiGiorgio, Vice President of the Y’s Men Club and who is in charge of the event this year, annual proceeds net approximately $30,000 to $40,000. They stock between 2,100 and 2,300 trees that come from Nova Scotia, Pennsylvania, Maine and North Carolina.
One will find a selection of Frasier Firs, Douglas Firs and traditional Balsam trees. Although sales seem to be going very well for this point in the season (possibly due to the mild weather) any un-purchased trees will be donated to homeless shelters and related organizations.
Among the 40 active members, Ernest Powell is a familiar face to
those who buy their Christmas trees from the Y’s Men. “Ernie” has been a Y’s Men Club member for 47 years, since before the annual sale began.
It has also become somewhat of a tradition for the Old Guard of Westfield to volunteer for the daytime shifts since most of the Y’s Men work during the day.
Dave Ciarrocca has been working the lot for the past six years. Mr. Ciarrocca says that while they see new faces every year, there are many repeat customers, as well. He believes that although the club’s has successfully run the sale every year, “people don’t realize that we are raising funds for our community.”
“Our main focus for the last several years has been to raise this awareness. We thank the Town Bank of Westfield for donating some new banners to put up around the lot. Although we had some signs before noting the organizations that benefit from the sale, people didn’t seem to notice. Hopefully, the new signs will make a difference,” he added.
The annual Halloween Parade is also sponsored be the Y’s Men Club of Westfield and benefits the local community. They will be involved in First Night Westfield and often help at Spears-Eljabar Camp, a camp for underprivileged children.
The Christmas tree lot is located on the Elm Street field across from Edwards Supermarket. It is open daily from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. through Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24.
Actress Susan Wood, Former Westfielder, Conquers Hollywood
By SONIA V. OWCHARIW
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
“Follow your heart” is the motto which former Westfield resident Susan Wood said inspired her to pursue her “passion” of performing on stage.
That desire eventually led to a television career and her current role on “The Jamie Foxx Show,” a popular sitcom on the Warner Brothers network in Los Angeles.
A 1986 graduate of Westfield High School (WHS), Ms. Wood said, “At Westfield High School, I had one foot out of the door. I was always going to New York to get work, and I had an agent. During my sophomore year, I was in seven plays,” she revealed.
Ms. Wood earned a full scholarship from the Rotary Club of Westfield to
attend New York University in Manhattan, where she studied dramatic arts. After one year of school, she moved on
to theater. By the age of 20, Ms. Wood had earned her Equity Card, which represents membership in a union for actors.
“I wanted to be a huge star — something big. Then I went to New York, and I struggled and struggled. It was horrible, and I could barely pay the rent, but I never gave up. And then I finally got the lead,” said Ms. Wood.
The youngest of three girls, Ms. Wood said she always knew she wanted to become an actress. While her sisters were more artistically inclined, with painting and drawing abilities, Ms. Wood found she possessed talents as a vocalist.
“In fact, the whole family could draw and paint except me, but I discovered I could sing,” she remarked.
Ms. Wood recently performed a solo on singer Meatloaf’s new compact disk, “Welcome to the Neighborhood.”
When asked about working with the singer — best known for such hits as “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” — Ms. Wood exclaimed, “He has been my idol since I was a kid! He brought me to the studio and he asked me to sing this way. And within 15 minutes, the track was done. It was a lot of fun.”
Ms. Wood’s singing abilities can also be heard on the current Grease
cast album. Playing the lead role of Sandy in the revival of Grease on Broadway at the Eugene O’Neill Theater, Ms. Wood worked alongside such show business veterans as Rosie O’Donnell and Brooke Shields.
Ms. Wood also worked on Broadway in Face Value. Her other theatrical credits include productions of
Godspell at the Muny Opera House in St. Louis, and national tours of Chess
and Grand Hotel. She has also appeared off-Broadway in Eating Raoul.
She won a regional Best Actress Award for her performance in Of Thee I Sing.
After a year and a half with Grease,
Ms. Wood left New York to move to Los Angeles.
“When I moved to L.A., it was starting all over again. And it was rejection after rejection. It’s taken me three years to get here, but this is not the end all. I feel that I’m heading in the right direction.”
In the spring, Ms. Wood will also guest star in the premiere of “Payne” starring John Larroquette, on CBS.
Mountainside to Gain Membership Status In Sewerage Group By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
MOUNTAINSIDE Mountainside Mayor Robert Viglianti noted Tuesday night that a second reading of an ordinance proposing that the Borough be included as part of the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority (RVSA) District will be heard at the Tuesday, December 15 Borough Council meeting.
A bond ordinance will also be heard that would allow the borough to make a $300,000 payment to the RVSA to become a member.
According to Mrs. Borough Clerk Judy Osty, Mountainside had been purchasing flow rights for the past two
years from Cranford, which is a current member of the Authority.
“Being a part of the RVSA will give us a voice in the district,” Mrs. Osty stated. “Having a representative on the Sewage Authority is a means for the borough to look out for its best interest.”
Among members of the RVSA are Scotch Plains, Westfield, Woodbridge, Rahway, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Kenilworth, Roselle Park and Springfield.
In other business, the appointment of Carol Goggi to the Borough’s Historic Preservation Committee is also scheduled to take place at the December 15th meeting. Mayor Viglianti noted that all members of the committee are appointed by council.
Ms. Goggi will be joining the committee because of the recent death of one of the Committee’s original members, Anne Hose, who served on the committee for 21 years.
According to Arthur Brahm, who heads the committee, Ms. Hose was one of the original members since its inception in 1977. She died in early November.
Lastly, Borough Administrator Gregory Bonin announced improvements that have made to Mountainside’s web page on the Internet.
According to Mr. Bonin, the new web page will have an electronic newsletter that will be sent by E-Mail to all those who request it and will also include a Union County bulletin board, which will allow the public to make comments about borough happenings.
Mr. Bonin reported that the new offerings would cost the borough $800 in the first year and $500 for each subsequent year.
Firefighters Continue Holiday Food Drive
The Westfield Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association (F.M.B.A), Local No. 30, is currently conducting the third annual holiday food drive for needy Westfield residents, and extended appreciation to all who participated in last year’s program.
Non-perishable food items will be accepted at Fire Headquarters at 405 North Avenue, West, until 9 p.m. on Friday, December 18.
Donations will be distributed to those in need through local churches and civic organizations in time for the Christmas holiday.
In its first food drive in 1996, F.M.B.A. Local No. 30 distributed holiday meals to approximately 50 families in Westfield. Local No. 30 donated one turkey to each meal distributed and will do so again this year.
William A. Burke for The Westfield Leader and The Times
TREE TIME…John Giffin, left, and Mike Shepnel of the Westfield Old Guard display one of the Christmas trees for sale from the Westfield “Y”’s Men’s Club at the Elm Street field opposite Edwards Supermarket. Old Guard members traditionally volunteer to help with the sale during daytime hours, when many Men’s Club members are at work.
First Night Westfield Needs Volunteers
WESTFIELD – First Night Westfield ’99 is seeking volunteers willing to work New Year’s Eve to man the various sites around town. Individuals who wish to work 2 to 3 hour slots between 6:45 and 11:45 p.m. may call the First Night Hotline at (908) 518-2983 and leave a message in Box 3.
Assignments will be made by the First Night Volunteer Committee. All volunteers will receive a First Night Westfield ’99 T-shirt, which entitles them to entry into all other venues when they are not working.
Susan Wood
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