The Westfield Leader Newspaper

OUR 108th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 47-98 FIFTY CENTS 232-4407

The Westfield Leader — Serving the Town Since 1890 —

Thursday, November 19, 1998 USPS 680020 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J.

Published Every Thursday

INDEX INDEX INDEX INDEX INDEX

Business ........ Page 18 County .......... Page 2 Editorial ........ Page 4

Mountainside Page 3 Obituary ........ Page 11 Religious ....... Page 10

Social ............ Page 6 Sports ............ Page 13

LIBRARY FRIENDS PLAN GALA...To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the completion of the new Westfield Library, a committee of the Friends of the Library are planning a gala party, open to the everyone in town, on Saturday, December 12. Pictured, left to right, are: front row, Linda Giuditta, Anne Arkel, Jane Stepanski and Library Director Barbara Thiele, and second row, Letty Hudak, Jane Curtis, Party Chairwoman Eva Wiley, Sadie Scholl and Lynn Kolterjahn. Please see a story on Page 5.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader

RUNNING AROUND, THROUGH AND OVER THE WOLFPACK...Westfield High School runningback Todd Dowling, No. 44, runs around the West Morris Central line during the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 quarterfinal game at Gary Kehler Stadium in Westfield on November 14. Seniors, Gabe Perez, No. 81, Rob Albino, No. 53, and Lamont Turner, No. 8, made sure that the Blue Devils ran around, through and over the Wolfpack as they nearly made them an endangered species, winning 30-6. Westfield will travel to Parsippany Hills at 1 p.m. on November 21. Please see a story on Page 13.

Vicki’s Diner Prepares to Serve Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast By SUSAN M. DYCKMAN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

Next week, Vicki Pavlou and her husband, Tom, will celebrate Thanksgiving with hundreds of their closest friends as Vicki’s Diner on Broad Street in Westfield shares free Thanksgiving dinners with its customers.

Her Thanksgiving Day menu will feature the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings: two vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce and, of course, a choice of pumpkin or apple pie to complete the meal. Vicki’s will serve dinner from noon to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26.

With her parents and three sisters in Greece, Mrs. Pavlou, who emigrated to this country 26 years ago, treasures her customers, her American family.

“We laugh, we cry together,” she said.

Every visitor to the vintage ‘50s style-diner is greeted with a warm

smile and familiar greeting. Vicki’s buzzes with business discussions and the chatter of friends pausing in the midst of their holiday shopping.

Among her “regulars,” Mrs. Pavlou lists second and third generations of families whom she has come to know through her 13 years in Westfield. Prior to the opening of Vicki’s Diner, Mrs. Pavlou owned a coffee shop for 11 years.

Last year, 300 people including families, senior citizens and homeless individuals, plus “people with no place else to go” feasted on companionship as well as the delectable turkey dinner. (Vicki’s cooked 23 birds in 1997.) Mrs. Pavlou expects many more guests this year.

“This year, it’s word-of-mouth advertising,” she explained. No reservations are required.

“It’s first come, first served,” she added.

Adding to the festivity of the day is the fact that the extra help required to serve the multitude of holiday visitors comes from volunteers Vicki’s

Former BOE Members, Activists Offer Diverse Views on Bond Vote By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

Voting season is far from over. The Westfield Board of Education’s $11.7 million bond referendum, which is proposed to construct new classrooms, upgrade and repair schools and wire classrooms for technology, will have voters returning to the polls on Tuesday, December 15.

And former members of the Board of Education who want the bond to get either a green light or a red light are speaking out.

Thomas Madaras, a former school board member, represented an amber light regarding the bond, stating that he wanted to obtain all of the necessary details in order to make a truly informed decision before going to the polls.

However, Mr. Madaras expressed specific concern about how the cost of the bond will affect taxpayers. He is particularly interested in how the tax increase would impact families who are on a strict budget, or those who have experienced downsizing or a cut in salary.

He added that if he was presently serving on the school board, he might have supported the possibility of unbundling the bond if this action were taken prior to having the election ballots printed.

With regard to the enrollment crunch at the elementary school level and the proposed construction of new classrooms, Mr. Madaras pointed to the reconfiguration of classes or “pairing of schools.”

He concluded, “There is no magic formula in terms of education at the elementary level.”

Susan H. Pepper, who served as President of the Westfield Board of Education when the 1994 bond was

proposed, stated that she would give the referendum a green light.

“I wholeheartedly support it,” she stated.

She added that she would only consider unbundling the bond if one of the components was considered an option.

However, Ms. Pepper observed that all three components of the referendum are essential and necessary for the school district.

“Westfield has, over the years, continued to provide quality education and in these times, you cannot provide quality education with elementary class sizes of 27 to 28 students each,” she stated.

Ms. Pepper noted that in 1994, citizens believed that Westfield was experiencing a passing “baby boom,” and that the need to construct new classrooms was a fickle trend.

“It’s here to stay for a long time,” she stressed.

Regarding the need for art and music classrooms at the elementary level, which are not included in the proposed construction of new classrooms, Ms. Pepper stated that if a drop in enrollment is experienced, these classrooms might be free for art and music instruction.

She said she feels that in Union County, Westfield schools are behind the game in wiring for technology, and that the proposed wiring is essential.

“I think bonding is wise,” she stated. “It spreads out the tax impact over time. The facilities are in such dire need of these improvements that none of this is optional,” observed Ms. Pepper.

In a letter issued by former school board member Melba Nixon, she stated, “I applaud Dr. William Foley

and the Westfield Board of Education for developing a strategic plan for continued excellence in the

Law is Sought To Ban Feeding

Geese in Town By SONIA V. OWCHARIW

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

The Friends of Mindowaskin Park are appealing to the Westfield Town Council to introduce an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of Canadian geese in the park as the first step in controlling problems with the waterfowl.

Currently under review by the council’s Building and Town Property Committee, the proposed ordinance is being eyed as the initial step in eliminating debris left by the geese along sidewalks near the park, and encouraging the animals to migrate elsewhere.

“It definitely is a nuisance that needs to be addressed,” said Second Ward Councilman Matthew P. Albano, who chairs the committee.

What attracts the geese to Westfield?

“Some of the conditions are, of course, the water supply, the lake, short grass,” said Susan Debbie, a member of Friends of Mindowaskin Park. The short grass around the lake makes it easy for the geese to take off and land, she noted, adding that the lack of any predators also makes the park an ideal habitat.

The geese population has boomed over the last 10 years. Ironically, they were almost extinct during the 1930s,

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader

THE 11TH MONTH, THE 11TH DAY, THE 11TH HOUR…On November 11 at 11 a.m., United States military veterans stood before the Westfield World War I Monument near the intersection of Broad Street and North Avenue and paid their respects for all the men and women who served their country and sacrificed their lives in its wars. At exactly 11 a.m., the bell at the First United Methodist Church across the street chimed 11 times as the area was blanketed in melancholy silence.

THANKSGIVING GUESTS…Vicki Pavlou, center, the owner of Vicki’s Diner on East Broad Street, and her family are once again inviting the public for a traditional turkey dinner at no charge on Thanksgiving Day. Last year Mrs. Pavlou greeted customers with her daughter, Rena. Mrs. Pavlou and her husband, Tom, are also the parents of a son, Teddy.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 BOE Reviews Hiring Process, Enrollment By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

During their regular meeting Tuesday, Westfield Board of Education members discussed recruitment and

selection procedures for teachers at the elementary, intermediate and high school levels.

David Tuller, Director of Human Resources, explained the hiring procedure at the elementary level. He reported that a process of recruitment, networking, application screenings, preliminary and multiple interviews, demonstration lessons, and reference checks are all included in the hiring process.

He further stated that each year in March, all applications for teaching positions are taken, and the paperwork, or application screening process, begins. Networking involves visits to colleges and universities for recruitment.

The individual principals of the elementary schools, he explained, will hold 20-minute interviews, followed later by longer interviews. Prospective teachers will undergo approximately three to five interviews during the process.

Candidates are required to participate in demonstration lessons. These lessons allow the interviewers to see how the candidate interacts with students, how knowledge is demonstrated, and how a lesson plan is taught. The final stage of the process is the reference check.

Kenneth Shulack, Principal of Roosevelt Intermediate School, explained the recruitment process at the intermediate school level.

“We hire the best people and the right people to work with our kids,” he stressed.

Mr. Shulack noted the importance of finding teachers who will pledge a strong commitment of their time, resources and energy to becoming a part of the Westfield school system.

He stated that it is important to “steer quality candidates toward Westfield.”

Mr. Shulack observed that often up

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

CITGO LOT TO BE CHANGED TO METERS

Council to Vote Tuesday on Raise

In Permit Rates By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

The Westfield Town Council is expected to take action this Tuesday, November 24, to double permit fees at the town’s commuter lots on South Avenue and on Watterson Street. The new annual rates, $480 and $240, respectively, represent the first increase in fees in eight years.

Westfield commuters may park at permit lots on the south side of the train tracks, while downtown employees with permits may park on the north side of the tracks.

Users of municipal lot No. 9, located at the corner of North and Central Avenues and referred to as the Shell lot, will see a $10 per month jump as annual rates move from $360 to $480.

That increase, though, is not expected to be introduced by ordinance until Tuesday, December 8, the same night at which the new commuter lot rates are expected to be adopted fol

lowing a public hearing. If approved, the new rates will increase town revenues by over $200,000, to around a half million dollars annually for the South Avenue, Watterson, Citgo and Shell lots. The Citgo lot, located adjacent to Trader Joe’s on Elm Street, offers parking to downtown employees.

Additional fees come from meters in parking lots and on streets.

Permit holders at the municipal lot No. 6 on Watterson Street, adjacent to the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad headquarters and Holy Trinity Interparochial School, pay $10 a month if they live in town, and $15 if they do not.

Those rates will rise to $20 and $30. Of the 146 permit holders at the lot, only 10 are non-residents.

Currently, permit holders at the South Avenue lot, adjacent to the train station, pay $20 a month, or $60 a quarter. Those fees will be increas

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Information on FAA Flight Routes Indicates Poor Design on Charts

By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

Flight patterns recently ceased by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) not only failed to reduce air

craft noise over residential areas below — they also may have endangered the lives of hundreds of passengers, according to information obtained by a local anti-aircraft noise

advocate. New Jersey’s United States Senator and a local Congressman have reserved comment on the information pending a review of the materials.

E. Dennis Hardie, Chairman of the Central Jersey Runway 22 Coalition, Inc., based in Scotch Plains, said he obtained information which indicates that instructions to pilots regarding both the 250and 260-degree routes on departures from Newark International Airport were misread by pilots who cited poor design on flight charts.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Page 12 Thursday, November 19, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

and are now highly visible all over New Jersey, as well as other parts of the East Coast.

The ordinance would ban the feeding of geese in Westfield. Since there is no town law prohibiting the practice, such a regulation currently cannot be enforced, claim representatives of the Friends.

Councilman Albano said he anticipates the issue being discussed in the next week or so. In addition to an ordinance, he said some communities have had success with flying a large balloon over the geese, which helps to relocate them.

“We’re conservationists and we are animal-friendly. Continuing to feed the geese is not ecologically safe for the geese or for the lake,” said Nancy Priest, President of Friends of Mindowaskin Park.

The next measure, which has had success in towns such as South Orange and Clarkstown, New York, as well as at Passaic Valley High School, is retaining a Border collie to help manage geese populations.

There are two reasons the dog has proven successful with controlling geese. The breed, known as a “stock control dog,” is very trainable and takes commands eagerly. More importantly, however, the Border collie resembles the arctic fox, which is a natural predator of the geese, according to Eugene Sheninger, Past President of North East Border Collie and Consultant to the American Border Collie Association.

“Introducing the Border collie to help with the geese controlling problem is a

non-lethal and effective approach,” said Mr. Sheninger, who trains these dogs and said he has seen this situation improve when the breed was used.

He said once a female goose has laid her eggs —one is laid every 26 hours — it is difficult to move the nest. “The goal is to make it uncomfortable to habitat, but not dangerous for the geese,” said Mr. Sheninger.

Clarkstown residents experienced such difficulties with geese a couple of years ago that 385 of the fowl were killed in an attempt to eradicate the problem. The effort failed, however, and the geese returned.

Groups such as the Federal Department of Environmental Conservation, animal rights activists and the Humane Society expressed outrage over these measures, according to Mr. Sheninger, who helped the town rout the geese in a less drastic manner with the help of a trained Border Collie.

Only when a Border Collie was used was there a significant decrease in the geese returning, Mr. Sheninger said.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, there a number of techniques which have proven effective in discouraging Canadian geese from nesting in an area.

USDA experts say these methods should be used in conjunction with one another, however, since the geese will quickly adapt to any single technique.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Westfield Public Schools. Some elements of that plan have already been implemented, and others will follow.”

She continued, “Several hundred people (educators and citizens) have been engaged in taking stock of our assets and liabilities and recommending ways to move forward into the 21st century. We, as a community, are being asked to support a bond that will underwrite some of these initiatives.”

Mrs. Nixon further noted, “As I understand the bond proposal, there are essential elements — develop and enhance a communications infrastructure; repair and maintain our buildings; and build new classrooms.

“As for the first initiative, it is imperative that all of our children have the opportunity to be completely computer literate,” she stated.

She observed, “As for the second element, we must make needed repairs and, where possible, improve energy efficiency in our school buildings.

“It is the third element, i.e., the building of new classrooms, that needs some thought,” she added.

“It is the conventional wisdom that smaller classes are better. The rationale

for having ever smaller classes seems to be the belief that test scores, college acceptances, and graduation rates from college will be enhanced if class sizes are reduced,” she noted.

“It is true that for school populations where few students have pre-school experiences, 10 percent or more of the students speak English as a second language and family and community support systems are fragile, reducing class size is helpful,” she maintained.

“For towns like Westfield, I know of no studies that validate the reduction of class sizes from the high twenties to the low twenties and achieving improved performance,” she continued.

“Westfielders overwhelmingly support high quality education and are willing to pay whatever is needed to underwrite excellence. Westfielders do insist on good value for their money; whether individual tax increases are a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars,” she stated.

Mrs. Nixon concluded, “If the proposal put before the voters in December is for much-needed technology enhancements and refurbishing our school buildings, I believe the town will vote a resounding ‘yes.’”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Former BOE Members Offer Views on Bond Vote

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Vicki’s Diner Prepares Annual Thanksgiving Feast

own customers plus a handful of Westfield police officers.

The Pavlou’s son, Ted, works in Vicki’s full-time, while daughter, Rena, helps out after her college classes.

One of Vicki’s regular customers stopped to congratulate her for continuing the free Thanksgiving dinners.

“You are most generous,” the gentleman said. “It shows where your heart is.”

“You know we love you,” Mrs. Pavlou replied, patting him on the arm.

“I like to help people,” she said simply.

Prior to opening her diner, Mrs. Pavlou contributed regularly to homeless shelters in the area. Once she and her husband opened Vicki’s, “we had our own room to entertain in,” she said. And, entertain they have.

Once she and her husband opened Vicki’s, “We had our own room to entertain in,” she said.

That gave rise to the idea of hosting Thanksgiving dinner.

The generosity of the Pavlou family to the community of Westfield is truly something to be thankful for this holiday season.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ing to $40 and $120. Rates at the Citgo lot, also known as municipal lot No. 8, will remain the same. Those rates are already at $40 a month.

Fourth Ward Councilman Lawrence A. Goldman suggested that Westfield residents be given preference at the Watterson Street lot, with non-residents allowed to maintain permits if they have them.

Officials have said those persons who pay annually and semi-annually would receive a discount. For instance, an individual who pays annually at the South Avenue lot will end up paying for 48 instead of 52 weeks.

Third Ward Councilman Neil F. Sullivan, Jr., Chairman of the council’s Transportation, Parking and Traffic Committee, said the goal is to make the permits more equitable, thus cutting down the disparity between rates at the various lots in town.

“We have to price what we have appropriately,” said Councilman Sullivan.

Mayor Thomas C. Jardim said he believes the issue is more about reducing waiting lists at the permit lots, specifically the South Avenue lot, where 900 people remain on the list. Officials noted that people can be put on both commuter lists at the same time.

He said the problem, as he sees it, is that the town does not appear to have enough parking capacity for train commuters.

Westfield, with 1,500 daily commuters, is the largest station on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line. Roughly 80 percent of the commuters travel to New York City.

Mayor Jardim, who at one point asked that the matter be deferred for more discussion over his concerns, called the rate hikes “a significant increase.”

The change will double the permits at the South Avenue train station lot, referred to as municipal lot no. 3, from $240 per year to $480 per year, and at the Watterson Street lot from $120 to $240 annually.

The South Avenue and Watterson lots are geared solely for commuters, while downtown employees park at the Citgo and Shell lots.

In an effort to free up parking in downtown Westfield for the fast approaching holiday season, the council also agreed to convert 22 spaces at the Citgo lot from permit to short-term metered spaces immediately. The plan is to eventually convert all 88 spaces at the lot to short-term meters.

The governing body will also be discussing a plan to combine the Citgo lot and municipal lot No. 1 on Prospect Street within the next few weeks when it begins reviewing the capital improvements portion of the 1999 municipal budget.

The Prospect Street lot has 125 spaces divided between long-term and short-term meters and permit spaces.

Councilman Sullivan said he had hoped to launch a pilot program in

advance of installing a centralized pay station in the lot. A manned station would have been created, with users paying an accelerated fee after the normal 50 cent fee for two hours.

However, due to the lateness in the year, the conversion to meters is the only option left to ensure more short-term spaces are available for the shopping season.

Mr. Sullivan said he believes Citgo permit holders could move over to the South Avenue and Shell lots, or perhaps park in long-term metered spots without having to pay for the meter.

Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko noted that the town will probably receive complaints when permit holders are displaced at the Citgo lot.

“We are squeezing the balloon in one place and it will pop out somewhere else,” he said in explaining the displacement of the permit spaces. “You are going to have 20 some odd people coming down saying, ‘I paid for the Citgo lot and I can’t park there anymore.’”

“I understand what you are trying to do. I just don’t know if this is the right time to be playing around with people downtown,” he continued, noting that 80 some commuters who park at the Lord & Taylor lot on North Avenue will soon be displaced when the lot is closed to non-shoppers for the holiday season.

Second Ward Councilman James J. Gruba, while supporting the need make Citgo a short-term lot, also questioned the timing of the change.

While noting it was “a close call” for him, Mayor Jardim agreed that the first of spaces along the wall of Taylor Hardware on Elm Street need to be converted over at this time.

“Timing is an issue that is always going to be there because you’re always going think whether it’s the appropriate time to do it,” the Mayor said. “But if the reasons are justified, I don’t know if any time is better than the present.”

Without the action, Councilman Sullivan said the council would not have addressed the issue of moving long-term parkers out of the business district, and increasing the number of short-term spaces.

In terms of metered spaces, users of the eight-hour spaces pay around $2 a day, or $40 a month, while 12hour users actually pay a daily charge of $3. Meter fees, set at 25 cents per hour, have not risen since the mid-1980s.

The council will also introduce an ordinance Tuesday night to ban parking on the roadway at Tamaques Park effective Friday, January 1. Under a second ordinance, also to be unveiled next week, motorists will not be permitted to “stop or stand” on the roadway in the park. The ordinances are aimed at reducing safety concerns in the park.

Also, a 15-miles-per-hour speed limit will be set in a separate ordinance for Dixon Avenue at the entrance to the park.

Council to Vote Tuesday On Raise in Permit Rates

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Data on FAA Flight Routes Indicates Poor Chart Design

He cited previous statements made by the FAA that tests of the new flight patterns had failed because pilots could not pick up weak radio signals from Solberg Navigational Aid as false, based on the new information.

Upon receiving the signal, pilots were supposed to turn west toward Solberg, which is in Hunterdon County.

Mr. Hardie said the end result was aircraft passing the turning point to intercept the Solberg signal, per the flight instructions for the 250and 260degree turns, and flying directly into LaGuardia Airport’s arrival air space. He compared this error to a motor vehicle going the wrong way on a busy one-way street.

Mr. Hardie obtained aviation safety reports filed by pilots as per the Freedom of Information Act. The data shows that pilots failed to make the westernly turn, and controllers complained that pilots were not complying with departure tracks. At this point the controller gave the pilots heading changes to intercept the Solberg Navigation Aid.

In one report, the pilot recommended that the new process be placed in bold print in the fight instructions to ensure they are followed by pilots. Another pilot indicated that the information on where to make the turn towards the Solberg device was “buried in the text and hard to extract.”

Still another report stated that neither the pilot nor the co-pilot noticed the new turning procedure regarding when they were to intercept the Solberg signal.

Jerome Feder, Chairman of the Union County Air Traffic Noise Advisory Board, said the pilot reports would indicate that the 260-degree turn had not solved the problems from other routes the FAA had attempted.

Mr. Feder said the information also shows that the FAA has been “less than candid in its presentations to the public” regarding implementations of the new flight paths.

He said the Noise Advisory Board, which Mr. Hardie serves on as the Scotch Plains representative, is in the process of putting together a detailed report on the 260-degree turn.

He said the FAA is currently conducting an environmental impact study on the route which indicates the agency is planning to implement the route as the long-term solution to the air traffic noise problem.

Concerns over air traffic noise have been in the news for the past decade, since the FAA implemented its Expanded East Coast Plan. The routes were aimed at reducing the stacking of aircraft at the three major metropolitan airports — Newark, LaGuardia and Kennedy — thereby eliminating flight delays for airlines.

After pressure from citizens groups, Congress mandated that the FAA conduct an Environmental Impact Study as required by the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990.

According to the Union County Air Traffic Noise Advisory Board, the study cost $6 million and took six years to

complete. As a result of the study, the FAA unveiled its so-called Solberg Mitigation Proposal whereby airplane routes were to spread apart to reduce noise over Union County. Under the plan, planes were to proceed about 6.5 miles south of Newark Airport before making a westerly turn toward the Solberg Navigational Aid in Hunterdon County.

That plan spread plane patterns over Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, Warren and Sussex Counties to reduce air traffic noise, mostly in the western Union County area.

The Advisory Board has noted that prior to implementation of the 260degree turn, aircraft flew a 220-degree course where they gained altitude over industrialized areas of the Arthur Kill waterway, following a path developed in the late 1980s by FAA noise abatement experts.

The 260-degree heading places air traffic closer to populated areas. The Advisory Board has indicated that the heading shortens flight paths by two miles from the 220-degree heading and produces aircraft flying 1,000 feet lower.

The 260-degree route, implemented earlier this year, essentially involved the rerouting of 25 percent of Newark Airport departures, or 100 daily flights.

Mr. Hardie noted that he has sent the information to the offices of Congressman Bob Franks, who represents the Seventh District, and United States Senators Robert G. Torricelli and Frank Lautenberg. A spokeswoman for Mr. Franks said the Congressman and his staff needed more time to review the documents before making a public comment.

A representative of Senator Lautenberg said the information had not been received as of Monday afternoon.

Mr. Hardie has asked officials to initiate an investigation through the General Accounting Office.

He said the probe should include questions on the amount of funds and resources used by the FAA to develop the Environmental Impact Study of air traffic routes over the state and the FAA’s attempts to implement the Solberg plan and route changes, including the 260-degree turn.

He also has demanded an explanation as to why the Solberg Plan has not been implemented as written, and why the FAA continued with the tests of the 250and 260-degree routes “in spite of numerous incidents in which aviation safety was compromised.”

The Coalition has also sought action to ensure that the 250and 260-degree routes are “never re-implemented in any way, shape, or form.”

“I think we have been more than patient with them (FAA),” said Mr. Hardie. “I think it is time our elected officials put some pressure on them.”

The FAA has proposed a complete overhaul of the airspace over the metropolitan area as the long range solution to increased air traffic, as well as air noise on residential areas.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to 200 applications will be received for a teaching position in social studies, while 12 to 13 applications will be obtained for a position as a mathematics teacher.

Among some of the qualifications sought by employers at the intermediate level, Mr. Shulack listed knowledge, instructional technique, implementation of technology, ability to grow into a longterm position, flexibility, ability to respond under pressure, and caring for children.

Candidates will teach a 40-minute sample lesson. In a “post-observation conference,” Mr. Shulack stated that candidates will discuss their impressions of the lesson.

References will be checked and employers reported that they would hope the employee might anticipate a longterm career with the Westfield school district.

After being hired, the teachers are welcomed with orientations, supervisor support and a Welcome Breakfast.

Dr. Robert G. Petix, Principal of Westfield High School, detailed the threeyear hiring process at the high school level.

He explained that it is important to first determine the needs of the department which is seeking a teacher. Other factors include the specific discipline or area which the teacher will instruct, versatility, gender balance, how the candidate relates to the students, if the candidate is open to criticism, and the style or quality of life that the candidate can add to the classroom and the Westfield community.

Mr. Petix stressed that the high school networks with a “consortium of ivy league-type colleges,” and consults department chairpersons and advertisements in local newspapers in order to obtain a strong pool of candidates.

After the application screening, candidates are invited to multiple interviews and have the opportunity to meet with teachers and students in the specific department for which they are applying. Students also provide input after the candidate completes a demonstration or sample lesson.

In the first year of the hiring process, the candidate’s potential, how they react to the students, community, parents and supervisor, is analyzed and determined.

In the second year of the process, supervisors set specific standards for the teacher/teachers to determine if they can rise to challenges and pursue their goals.

In the third year of the process, supervisors analyze if the individual is a “good, solid teacher” who is willing to grow and project their future potential.

If after this process, the teacher is not a good match for the school system, Dr. Petix stated, “When in doubt, move ’em out.” He stated that he is always trying to ensure that the high school hires the cream of the crop through its process.

“We hope for the best,” he concluded.

Bd. of Ed. Reviews Hiring Process and Enrollment

In a brief Superintendent’s Report, Dr. William J. Foley discussed re-examination of the enrollment projections for the school district, pointing to the enrollment crunch and the upcoming bond referendum.

Dr. Foley referred to a report received this week from Westfield demographer and research consultant Sara K. Weissman. According to the report, “the enrollment is expected to grow at a more rapid rate in the next five years than in the last decade.”

The report states that while 290 high school seniors will graduate this year, 430 kindergartners will join Westfield schools.

Dr. Foley stated, “These new projections further support the need for more classrooms at the elementary level. The bond referendum proposed by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which will be presented for public vote on December 15, will also give us the ability to make major capital improvements to our aging schools, and to equip them with the technology infrastructure to enhance our curriculum and improve communication.”

Dr. Foley noted that the Westfield birth rate is not declining, but rather increasing. He stated an initial birth rate report did not indicate the situation was as grave as it has become.

“The problem is a bit more intense than even I expected,” he explained.

Dr. Foley stressed that he “became alarmed” when he realized that there were no available regular classrooms or spaces available for music and art classrooms.

The board heard a statement by Sally Bauer Doerr of Westfield regarding the nighttime lights at Gary Kehler stadium.

She stated that she represents a large part of the Westfield community who did not feel the nighttime football game or the accompanying lights were disturbing or dangerous. She also noted that the game did not continue until 11 p.m., as originally stated by a concerned resident of Beechwood Place.

“The game ended between 9:30 and 9:40 p.m. The crowd promptly dispersed without any mishaps, and the field, stands and neighboring streets were empty by 10, 10:15 the latest,” she remarked.

“If there was any noise at 11 p.m., it had nothing to do with the football game.”

In her statement, she cited the “heavy police presence” at all times. She noted that Westfield police were prepared for all possible situations and they had confirmed that there “were no incidents or problems of any kind — drinking or otherwise — the night of the game.”

She concluded, “the stadium was built, and is built in every town, for the purpose of allowing the school students, teachers, parents, friends and general interested community the opportunity to watch our school teams perform. This is a good thing — not something to be feared or criticized — but applauded.”

Law is Sought to Ban Feeding Geese in Town