The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood Thursday, June 11, 1998 Page 3

HIGHER ACHIEVER... Jennifer Early was recently honored for her achievements as President of the Westfield Junior Optimist Club by Club Advisor Russ Finestein. The Junior Optimist Club, whose members are Westfield High School students, was established by the Optimist Club of Westfield in 1996. The students participate in various community projects such as the Haunted House, BLAST and the Holiday Toy Drive. Retiring and Long- Time Staff

To Be Honored by School Bd.

Forty Westfield Public School staff members, with a cumulative total of 888 years of service, will be honored by the Board of Education and colleagues at the 11th annual End- ofthe- Year Gala for school employees to be held this afternoon, Thursday, June 11, beginning at 4: 30 p. m. at the Westwood in Garwood.

The annual event brings staff members together to honor retirees, people with 25 years of service and those resigning after 10 years of employment. This year there are 25 retirees, 11 quarter- century staff members and four decade- of- service resignations.

School staff members retiring this year are: Ann Bonfield from Washington and Wilson Elementary Schools; Robert Harrison from Wilson Elementary School; Ellen Linden and Carol Mastroianni from Franklin Elementary School; Phyllis Lisanti from Jefferson Elementary School; James Geoghegan, Allan Lambert and Joseph Soviero from Edison Intermediate School; and Camille Kahn, Martha Koury, Frank Nolde and Joseph Salinard from Roosevelt Intermediate School.

Also retiring are Ruth Elmquist, Brenda Flahault, Mary Francaviglia, Leland Goslin, Beverly Johnson and Frank Scott, Assistant Principal from

Westfield High School. Substitute teachers retiring are Joanne Hammon and Virginia Shaw.

Retiring from the Administration Building are: Marie Micione, Mary Ann Panek; Assistant Business Manager Jean Poquette; Assistant Superintendent for Business and School Board Secretary Dr. Robert C. Rader, and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. David Rock.

Staff members to be recognized for 25 years of service include: Antonio Cirillo from McKinley Elementary School; Salvatore DeSimone from Tamaques Elementary School; Susan Glick from Jefferson Elementary School; Joan Horn and Camille Kahn from Roosevelt Intermediate; D. Thomas Hornish and Maria Schmidt from Westfield High School; Janet Hussein and Marie Micione from the Administration Building; Karen Kashlak from Washington Elementary School; and Diane Russell from Franklin Elementary School.

Resigning after 10 years of service are: Janice Bopp from Wilson Elementary School; Kathleen D'Eufemia from Edison Intermediate School; and Nancy Morris and Sheila Nichols from the Administration Building.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE... To heighten the awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, the Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School Parent- Teacher Association and Students Against Driving Drunk (S. A. D. D.) displayed a wrecked automobile in front of the high school during the week preceding Senior Prom activities. The automobile served as a reminder to students and all passers- by of the real danger of combining drinking and driving. The auto was provided by Estelle's Automotive Service of Scotch Plains. Pictured, left to right, are: Beth Weiler, Katie Feighner, and Meghan Mele examining the wreck in front of Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School.

Music Booster to Expand to All Public Schools in SP- F District

The Scotch Plains- Fanwood Music Booster Association (SPFMBA), currently with chapters at Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School and Terrill Middle School, has announced that will be expanding this month to every school in the district.

Approval for the measure was given by the Scotch Plains- Fanwood Board of Education at its May 28 public meeting so that SPFMBA can launch a series of events to raise money to replace and repair musical instruments, equipment and uniforms.

The fundraising efforts will supplement the budget provided by the Board of Education to support the district's music program, according to Dan Mazzagatti, President of the Association.

Currently, 45 percent of district students are involved in the program, putting a strain on available funding.

All money raised will be spent on the music program throughout the eight district schools. Dispersal of the funds will be decided by the district's supervisor of fine arts in

conjunction with the music staff. The public is invited to an introductory presentation on Wednesday, June 24, at 8 p. m. in the MultiPurpose Room at Scotch PlainsFanwood High School. All local residents are invited to learn more about the plans for supporting the music program.

Additional ideas will be sought, as the SPFMBA tries to provide events and activities that will not involve selling, especially door- to- door, and that will be entertaining and easy to support.

Town- wide mailings to Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents within the next two weeks will offer more information. Residents with questions or wishing to become involved in these efforts are invited to contact the SPFMBA by writing the organization at P. O. Box 331, Scotch Plains, 07076 or by telephoning (908) 889- 6400.

Mountainside Mayor Wants Unauthorized

Players Off Courts By JEANNE WHITNEY

Specially Written for The Times

Mountainside Mayor Robert F. Viglianti said Tuesday that he wants police to patrol borough tennis courts in an effort to crack down on players using the facilities without having obtained registration badges.

Borough Recreation Director Susan Winans said this year's badge sales are down to 50 from an estimated 250 last year. Badges cost $5 each.

"We need to ask two questions," Mayor Viglianti said, "Is there a decrease in tennis interest or are people playing without badges?"

Ms. Winans pointed out that in the past, an attendant checked for badges at the courts. Now there is simply a sign- up sheet. Four courts are adjacent to Borough Hall, while another two are located on the Deerfield School property.

"We spend a lot of money on lighting and resurfacing," Mayor Viglianti said, noting that badge sales indicate the percentage of residents who use the facilities, and subsidize the cost of electricity for lighting the courts at night.

Regardless, the council agreed to award a contract next week to have the courts paved this season, although the cost of the proposed work was not yet revealed. Ms. Winans said the courts are resurfaced about every five years.

On a related matter, Mayor Viglianti encouraged the council to consider creating a seasonal outdoor ice skating rink near the Borough Hall tennis courts, from railroad ties and sheets of plastic.

"I've seen it done in other places and it's a safe and economical program," the Mayor said.

He described how the fire department would wet down plastic sheets stretched over a wooden frame during freezing temperatures, thereby creating a rink.

"We also have the (swimming) pool lighting and facilities there. We could have a bonfire — supervised. It could be a very good recreation program," Mayor Viglianti said.

On a separate subject, the council agreed to consider support for a state Assembly bill to move Board of Education elections, traditionally held in the

spring, to November to coincide with the general elections.

Reportedly, the change would save the cost of mounting two separate elections; however, some council members questioned whether the move included voting on the school board budget in the fall.

Retiring Councilman David M. Hart pointed out that the school year budget takes into account many factors, including enrollment for the coming year — factors which often are not apparent until the end of the school year.

The Mayor noted that more voters typically turn out for a general election than for a school board election.

In other business, the council agreed to consider sharing gasoline supplies for borough vehicles with neighboring municipalities or with Union County after the current contract expires.

Mayor Viglianti said the borough would take bids on the deal.

Councilman Werner C. Schon indicated he was skeptical of one plan that would issue fuel company credit cards to borough employees with municipal vehicles.

He described one incident in which a borough- related gas credit card bill showed charges for three cases of soda at 2 a. m.

Mayor Viglianti said the Mountainside Rescue Squad currently has a credit card agreement with Exxon that reportedly eliminates tax on the fuel purchases.

In other action, the council passed a resolution that will allow Borough Engineer Michael Disko to apply for grants this week to resurface Mill Lane and part of Lawrence Avenue.

No dollar amounts were mentioned, but Mayor Viglianti said the borough would also likely receive a grant through the state Department of Transportation. "It looks like it's becoming a reality very shortly," he noted.

Finally, the Mayor announced plans for a monthly municipal TV- 35 show which would feature a different borough department and its staff each time.

The first in the series will showcase the swimming pool staff, he said. The following month's program would spotlight either the Chief of Police or the Borough Administrator.