The Westfield Leader Serving the Town Since 1890
Thursday, August 19, 1999 USPS 680020 Periodical Postage Paid at Westfield, N. J.
Published Every Thursday
INDEX INDEX INDEX INDEX INDEX
Arts................ Page 19 Business ........ Page 17 Classifieds ..... Page 18
Editorial ........ Page 4 Mountainside Page 3 Obituary ........ Page 10
Religious ....... Page 11 Social ............ Page 6 Sports ............ Page 13
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Edward Gottko Retiring as Town Administrator; Mayor Jardim Eyeing Selection Committee Process
By PAUL J. PEYTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
After 29 years in municipal and city government, the last 20 with the Town of Westfield, Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko has announced he will retire from his present position at the end of the year.
Mr. Gottko informed Mayor Thomas C. Jardim and the Town Council verbally of his decision on August 3 as a followup to a letter he sent them in July.
The administrator said he wanted to give the governing body sufficient time to find his successor.
"The town has been good to me and I wanted to be fair with the town," said Mr. Gottko.
Mayor Jardim said the council's Personnel Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 25, at which time the selection process is expected to be discussed.
The committee is chaired by Republican Fourth Ward Councilwoman Janis Fried Weinstein and includes Mayor Jardim, a Democrat; Republican Second Ward Councilman James J. Gruba, and Third Ward Councilman John J. Walsh, a Democrat.
Mayor Jardim said he is leaning towards creating a bi- partisan selection committee which will include himself and Councilman Gruba, the veteran on the council, and one or two other governing body members. He anticipates having resumιs to review by the end of September, with interviews to be conducted by the selection committee in October.
The Mayor hopes to have a successful candidate in place some time in November or December so that the new administrator can be brought up to date on town business by Mr. Gottko.
"I think it (the selection process) needs to be as objective as possible with no pre- conceived notions" as to who the new administrator should be, the Mayor stated.
When reached for comment Friday, Councilwoman Weinstein said she believes her committee would be the proper forum to begin the process of finding a new administrator. Councilwoman Weinstein said if Mayor Jardim decides to form a search committee, she believes she should serve on that committee.
"I would definitely be affected by it (not being involved in the selection
process)... It would be a charade," she said.
In Westfield, the administrator is appointed by the mayor with the consent of the council. Mr. Gottko's three- year appointment was due to expire at the end of the year. Prior to the multi- year appointment in 1996, the position had been an annual ap pointment.
Mr. Gottko, the second administrator under the Westfield Town Charter established in 1967 by the State Legislature, was hired by the Town of Westfield as Town Engineer on November 1, 1979. He moved up to administrator in the summer of 1993, the same year his family moved to
McKinley Elementary School Six Classrooms
Will be Added To McKinley By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
Editor's Note: The following is part of a continuing summer series of articles regarding improvements underway at Westfield's public schools as supported by voters through the passage of last December's bond referendum.
* * * * *
A total of six new classrooms will be added to McKinley Elementary School in Westfield to ease, what school officials say, is
an enrollment boom in the school district. This improvement, along with several others at McKinley, was made possible by the $11.7 million bond referendum passed by residents in December.
The classroom additions, which are estimated to cost $2,376,000, were expected to begin this month and continue until July of 2000.
However, according to Business Administrator and Board Secretary Robert A. Berman, the work has been pushed off and the board expects to "mobilize" or coordinate the project components by the end of this month. The project to build the additional rooms was approved by the state on July 27.
The addition of the classrooms involves several components. General Construction by Amato Construction of Fairfield will cost $1,116,800; steel work by EDMA Steel of Paterson will cost $135,500 and plumbing by A- Mech, Inc. of Clark carries a price tag of $96,800.
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning upgrades by AMCO Enterprises, Inc. of Union will cost $354,000, and casework by WoodMetal Industries of Old Bridge will cost $10,400.
Adding these classrooms will also include an electric contract. The Board of Education awarded a bid for electric work to Electrical Applications, Inc. of Roselle Park for $161,895. Don Pizzolato, Inc. of Piscataway will complete fire protection work for $53,515.
Computer cabling and integration for 125 workstations by Elcom
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Westfield HS Cross- Trainer Heather Dennis Pushes the Limits During Summer Cycling Tour
By MELISSA A. BETKOWSKI
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
Heather Dennis has been doing some serious cross- training this summer 4,000 miles of cross- training to be exact.
The soon- to- be senior at Westfield High School has been bicycling crosscountry for the better part of the summer.
She has been traveling with a tour from the Student Hosteling Program (SHP) based in Conway, Mass.
Heather, a captain of the high school's cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams for the upcoming year as well as the WHS Student Council President, said that the summer's adventure has helped her develop her competitive edge in terms of mental toughness.
"If you dig deep, it's there," she said.
Head Cross Country Coach Tom Hornish called the tour "typical Heather." Mr. Hornish noted that Heather embodies the "no fear" attitude.
"That's her motto," he said. Jennifer Buccino, WHS Assistant Cross- Country and Track Coach, worked on cycling workouts with Heather to help her prepare for the
80- 110 miles per day that the bicyclists would be doing on the tour. The coach said that the summer has been one of self- discovery for Heather.
This was not unlike her coaching experiences with Heather, Mrs. Buccino said.
"Each year has been self- discovery, thinking you can't and finding out that you can," she said.
She noted that Heather's desire to try new things has often led to her successes in track.
"I had never done something that sounded so impossible," Heather said.
The tour is Heather's first major experience with cycling, according to her father, George Dennis.
Heather admitted that the longest distance she had cycled prior to the tour was a training run that was part of the SHP preparations in Massachusetts.
The participants on the tour began training in Massachusetts before flying to Seattle to begin the tour. The tour will end on or about Tuesday, August 24, in Sea Bright.
Mr. Dennis said that this is the first year that the tour has been run from west to east. It has traditionally begun in Sea Bright, with the cyclists then flying home from Seattle after completing the tour. He said that it was changed so that the riders could have the benefit of the wind at their backs.
However, Mr. Dennis said that the tour would likely revert to the old plan in the future. He explained that because the group has encountered mountains so early in their trip, they have experienced numerous injuries. When they previously traveled east to west and traversed the plains states, they were more conditioned to handle the mountainous terrain.
Mr. Dennis said that with the riders traveling "like nomads" from campsite to campsite, the family waits for phone calls from Heather to know that she is okay. Typically, he said, she calls every two to three days.
He noted that with the riders traveling on varying types of roads, some with less shoulder area than others, there is a concern for Heather's safety.
However, he said, "SHP had such good plans for safety that we felt good (about the tour)."
Heather said that there have been a few times when members of the tour have ended up in the emergency room at hospitals along the route. Five of the six emergency room visits occurred during the first two weeks when the riders were getting accustomed to the workouts.
At one such emergency room visit,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Courtesy of Beverly Dennis
PUSHING THE LIMIT... Westfield High School student Heather Dennis, who will begin her senior year next month, is shown here on Hoosier Pass, Colorado, one of five mountain elevations she and her fellow cyclists have crossed during their 4,000- mile trek from Seattle, Wash., to Sea Bright. The tour was arranged by the Student Hosteling Program (SHP), based in Conway, Mass. The cyclists are due in Sea Bright on Tuesday, August 24.
Master Gardeners, Farmer Share Advice On Plant Survival During Summer Drought
By DEBORAH MADISON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
As the drought lags on, with the forecast calling for no significant rainfall, homeowners may be wondering if there's anything that can be
done to salvage their weary plants.
The Westfield Leader recently spoke to several Master Gardeners and a local farmer to find out how they are fairing and what, if anything, can be done to save parched
shrubs, trees and other plants. "The good news is, the trees and shrubs that are wilting may not be a total loss," according to Master Gardener Eleanore Gural, of the Rutger's Cooperative Extension Garden Hotline located in Westfield's Municipal Building.
"Deciduous trees protect themselves during droughts by dropping their leaves," Ms. Gural explained. "They are only going dormant, and not necessarily dying," she added.
The way to tell if a tree or shrub is actually dying or has just gone dormant is to break off a small branch or cut away some of the bark, Ms. Gural stated. If the pulp underneath is still bright green, then the plant is just dormant. On the other hand, if many of its branches are crispy and dry, it may be dying.
"Trees that have gone dormant may survive very nicely, or they may be so stressed that they become diseased next year," she added.
Ms. Gural explained that large plants, such as bushes and shrubs, need to be watered approximately nine inches deep.
"You can check the ground near the roots by digging nine inches down, to see if your watering is deep enough," Ms. Gural suggested. "However, with the current water restrictions in place, using buckets or handheld hoses with nozzles, you cannot achieve the kind of saturation that most plants need. Just let the plants go dormant, and hope it comes back to life after a few good rainfalls," she stated.
Scotch Plains resident and Master Gardener Stephen Schoeman has been growing a wide array of flowers, vegetables, fruit trees and berry bushes for many years in his yard on Inverness Drive. A Master Gardener certification is given following a yearlong course given by the Rutger's Cooperative Extension, and taught
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
Town Council Hires Consultant to Prepare Detailed Report On Proposed Parking Deck for Downtown Westfield By MELISSA A. BETKOWSKI
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader
The Westfield Town Council last week approved a $25,700 contract with Rich and Associates, Inc. of Southfield, Mich., to prepare a detailed report on a parking deck to be constructed within the central business district.
The firm offers parking consulting, architecture and engineering services.
Rich and Associates, Inc. was chosen from a group of 10 companies that submitted proposals.
The firm declined comment pending notification by the town that it had been awarded the contract.
The company's report, due to the council sometime in late fall, will
detail what the deck should look like, how many levels it should have, its best location and how the town could fund its construction, as well as the cost for daily operation, factoring in personnel issues.
Rich & Associates also will review four sites already identified by the town for a multi- tiered deck.
The sites include: municipal parking lots 1 and 8, located at Prospect and Elm Streets in the center of town; lot no. 4 behind several East Broad Street stores including Baron's Drug Store; lot no. 9 at the intersection of North and Central Avenues, and the South Avenue commuter lot referred to as lots nos. 3 and 3A.
The firm, which will rank these sites on a scale of 1 to 4, may also recommend another site.
Westfield officials are seeking to build a deck of no more than three stories with a capacity of between 300 and 400 spaces.
Mayor Thomas C. Jardim, who served on a special selection committee that reviewed the proposals said: "It was a difficult decision because there were some very qualified companies."
He noted that Rich and Associates has had past success in the planning and execution of parking structures and "they have a good idea of the problems we are facing."
"It (the consultant's report) will put to rest, finally, what the actual
cost will be (for a parking facility)," said Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko.
The improvements to the town's parking system will address three different types of people who park in the downtown, Third Ward Councilman Neil F. Sullivan said.
These include the "inbound" driver, such as employees of the town's businesses; "outbound" drivers, those who use the mass transit system out of Westfield, and service users, including those people who shop or patronize the town's restaurants.
Michael LaPlace, Executive Director of the Downtown Westfield Corporation, said that the proposal
from Rich and Associates presented a "comprehensive parking plan", which will evaluate whether each town lot is being used to its full potential.
First Ward Councilman Carl A. Salisbury, Chairman of the council's Transportation, Parking and Traffic Committee, said that the council wanted a comprehensive proposal
that would study all aspects of the issue of a parking deck.
He said that (Rich and Associates) proposed conducting such a comprehensive study.
Additionally, he said that they propose to perform a study of the parking system that will take a more "holistic approach" to the parking
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Paul J. Peyton for The Westfield Leader TOUGH ON THE CROPS... Union County farmer Henry Dreyer, Jr., who owns farms in Westfield and Cranford, including the one pictured here on Springfield Avenue, estimates that he has lost 25 percent of his crops due to the combined heat wave and drought.
The Westfield Leader File Photo
A MORE RELAXING MOMENT... Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko had a chance to get away from job- related stress when he attended last year's UNICO- sponsored Italian Festival at St. Bartholomew's in Scotch Plains.
Page 12 Thursday, August 19, 1999 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION
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WESTFIELD POLICE BLOTTER
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town from Bayonne. He succeeded former Administrator John J. Malloy, who retired after serving 23 years in that position.
"I'll miss it. I'll miss the people. I'll miss the work," Mr. Gottko told The Westfield Leader during a personal interview conducted in his office on August 12.
During his tenure in Westfield, the administrator has served under six mayors and 43 council members.
He was hired by the council, upon the recommendation of former Mayor Bud C. Boothe, after just a half hour of closed door discussions between council members. Mr. Gottko started as Assistant Administrator for a few months under Mr. Malloy before assuming the administrator's job.
Mr. Gottko came to Westfield after nine years with the City of Bayonne, where he had been Assistant City Engineer.
While other municipal positions such as the Town Engineer, Public Works Director and Financial Officer all must be certified in the state, there is no such requirement for the administrator.
The Town Charter states that the town administrator should be chosen "solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications."
The administrator is responsible for the overall day- to- day operations of town government, including preparation of the annual municipal budget. The mayor and council set policy.
According to the New Jersey League of Municipalities Web site, seven other municipalities are seeking administrators, including neighboring Cranford, a town of 23,000 residents with a $19 million annual municipal budget.
By comparison, Westfield has a municipal budget of $23.62 million, with 29,000 residents and a municipal workforce of 200, including the police and fire departments. The workforce balloons to 400 in the summer, when the Westfield Municipal Pool and children's recreation programs are in
progress. "The nice thing I say about this business a lot of times is when you come to work in the morning you don't know what will happen," said Mr. Gottko.
During his 14 years as Town Engineer, Mr. Gottko was involved in the planning for the building of the new library, the renovation of the Fire Department headquarters on North Avenue and over $5 million worth of road improvements.
Mr. Gottko noted that the town is more computerized today than when he started, thus making the budget process that much more efficient.
One of the mainstays of his tenure as administrator has been to increase educational opportunities for town employees. Mr. Gottko, who earned his master's degree while employed as Town Engineer, said employees have been able to earn the necessary certifications for career advancement, thus paving the way for "lines of succession" within Westfield's municipal government departments.
Mr. Gottko said he will no longer be involved in local government, emphasizing that he is not a candidate for any other municipal job.
"My intention is to turn the page and go do something else. What that is right now, I don't have an answer," he said.
Mr. Gottko, a registered Professional Engineer in New Jersey, holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Kean College (now a university), as well as Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Civil Engineering from the Newark College of Engineering. He is a certified municipal engineer and public works manager.
Mr. Gottko has been an adjunct professor at Kean, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses. He is currently an adjunct instructor with the Center for Government Services at Rutgers University and with the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark.
Town Admin. Announces Retirement After 20 Years
WESTFIELD FIRE BLOTTER MONDAY, AUGUST 9
· Seven hundred block of Fairacres Avenue wire down.
· One thousand block of Central Avenue system malfunction.
· Orchard Street and Mountain Avenue car fire.
· One hundred block of Stoneleigh Park system malfunction.
· One thousand block of Ripley Avenue wire arcing in tree.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10
· Nine hundred block of Prospect Street power line down.
· One hundred block of Central Avenue unintentional alarm.
· Three hundred block of Wychwood Road unintentional alarm.
· Six hundred block of Boulevard lock out.
· One hundred block of Hawthorn Drive electrical short.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11
· Five hundred block of St. Marks Avenue wire down.
· Two hundred block of North Avenue, West service call.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13
· One hundred block of East Broad Street unintentional alarm.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14
· Six hundred block of Willow Grove Road system malfunction.
· Six hundred block of South Avenue, West system malfunction.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10
· Akbar F. Winfrey, 32, of Carteret was arrested and charged with shoplifting at a South Avenue pharmacy, according to police. During a search incidental to his arrest, Winfrey was discovered to be in possession of suspected heroin, for which he was additionally charged, authorities said. He was held on $1,500 cash bail.
Winfrey was also arrested on four warrants issued by the Municipal Court of Newark, with a total bail of $1,850; three warrants issued by the Hillside Municipal Court, for a total bail of $700; three warrants from the Union Municipal Court, with a total bail of $1,560, and one warrant each from the South Orange and East Orange courts. Bail for the last two warrants were set at $500 and $1,000, respectively.
· Malcolm Bowes, 60, of Fanwood was charged with driving while intoxicated at Tamaques Park, authorities said. He was released on his own recognizance.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12
· Christopher Williams, 45, of Plainfield was arrested and charged with shoplifting at an East Broad
Street toy store and an Elm Street stationery store, according to police. Williams was released on his own recognizance with a summons.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13
· An incident involving theft by deception was reported, in which $3,000 in cash was taken from a local landscaping firm, according to police. The case remained under investigation this week.
· A Westfield resident reported that his car was damaged through criminal mischief on Elm Street, police confirmed. It is believed someone used a ceramic planter to smash the windshield of the vehicle. There are presently no suspects in the case.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15
· A bicycle reported stolen from the rear yard of a home on South Avenue, East, on August 1 was recovered and turned over to its owner. No one has been charged in connection with the incident, police said.
MONDAY, AUGUST 16
· The theft of $500 from an Elm Street bank was reported to police, who believe it may be an internal matter at the bank. The incident remained under investigation this week.
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Westfield HS Cross- Trainer Participates in Summer Tour Consultant to Prepare
Report on Proposed Deck Recent Home Sales
MOUNTAINSIDE
John W. Fox to Irving and Linda Shalfman, 1382 Wood Valley Road, $222,000.
WESTFIELD
D. and E. Vagell to Garrett W. Falzone and Donna M. Falzone, 701 Girard Avenue, $325,000.
K. Shanahan to Dale Stewart and Ethel Stewart, 901 North Avenue, West, $207,000.
D. Villane Construction, LLC to Joseph J. Magiera and Michele L. Magiera, 204 Gallows Hill Road, $525,000.
R. W. and D. Van Arnum to John C. Bowen and Patricia R. Bowen, 901 Union Street, $361,000.
O. V. A. Realty to Ralph Rapuano, 320 Grove Street, $105,000.
K. M. and L. Reinhard to Paul F. Cash and Adrianna Sena- Cash, 71 Tamaques Way, $269,000.
C. P. and M. J. Head to Christina L. Mc Cormick, 1037 Harding Street, $231,000.
L. Liebes and M. C. Agin to William
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Services Group of Edison and Pennsylvania will cost $51,962. The project was actually estimated to cost $70,900. The timeline for this computer work will be from January to February of 2000.
The roof of the library at McKinley School will be replaced from July to September of 2000. The Westfield Board of Education expects to receive a bid for the project in April of 2000. The cost is estimated to be $106,700.
Six Classrooms to be Added At McKinley Elementary
a woman from the area invited the riders to stay at her house. Heather noted that a few times there have been locals who have invited the group to camp in their backyards.
The Dennises, originally from Colorado, caught up with Heather on a visit to Colorado this summer.
Heather recalled seeing a woman taking pictures of the riders as they passed. It wasn't until she approached the woman that she realized that it was her mother.
"I've never been happier to see (my parents)," she said.
With her parents there she was able to experience a few rare luxuries, a nice shower and sleeping in a real bed at her parents' hotel. Normally, she said, the riders get to shower once every six days or so. In the meantime, she said, washing consists of what can
be done at a sink in a public restroom. The route that the riders are following includes five mountain passes, the last of which was Hoosier Pass, with an elevation of 11,543 feet. Heather, who struggled with the uphills, said that the passes were scary, and Hoosier Pass, Colorado, was "so steep you couldn't see the bottom."
When Heather returns to New Jersey at the end of the month, she will bring with her "lots of tales," Mr. Dennis said.
One such tale is about the snowball fight that broke out (between bicyclists) on July 5 at Washington Pass.
Also, she said, she will embark on a new kind of cycling cycles of showering and sleep. That is, until school, and cross country, start. About the hills typical of cross country courses she said, "bring 'em on!"
Master Gardeners, Farmer Share Advice on Drought
by experts in the fields of gardening and botany.
"This is the worst growing season ever," Mr. Schoeman stated, "especially for shallow- rooted plants such as impatiens and rhododendrons. The flip side of this is that the tomatoes are much sweeter because of the lack of rainfall, and there are very few insects this year," he added.
Corn, which is a big water guzzler, according to Mr. Schoeman, is doing terribly. Much of the corn is very small in size.
"I could have saved many more plants if I continued to water, but I wanted to do my part in water conservation," he stated. "We don't realize how cheap and plentiful our water supply is, until it's gone," Mr. Schoeman said.
"We cannot predict the weather," Mr. Schoeman continued, "but we know that our population and industrial needs have exploded in size, and our water supply hasn't. We have to keep conserving or our supply will always be in constant jeopardy."
Union County farmer Henry Dreyer, Jr., who owns farms in Cranford and Westfield, estimates that he has lost 25 percent of his crops due to the combined heat wave and drought.
He currently grows tomatoes, peppers, string beans and lettuce in the summer and flowers in the fall, which he sells out of the retail store at his farm on Springfield Avenue. Although his farms are irrigated by two wells, a lake and city water, "there is nothing like a
good rainfall," Mr. Dreyer stated. "When you water when it's sunny, you risk damaging the vegetables with sun burn," Mr. Dreyer explained. He suggests watering at night, after the sun has gone down, so as not to sun burn the leaves and fruit.
"Our biggest problem has been extra work in constantly moving the irrigation pipes to make way for the tractors," Mr. Dreyer noted. "The other major problem has been the lack of bees to pollinate the plants, due to the extreme heat," he explained. "Without pollination, there is a big reduction in the fruitage of vegetables and flowers. The bees are just like people; they don't want to work in the heat."
He surmises that the fall pollination will improve as the bees enjoy more moderate weather.
Ms. Gural said that during some years, the Garden Hotline receives calls due to an over abundance of rainfall, which leads to fungus and insect problems.
"People bring in samples of diseased or dying plants, and we will send them to our experts, who can identify the problem and solution," she said.
This year, most of the calls concern plants dying from the drought, Ms. Gural stated. "I tell them that they may not be able to save the grass or flowers, but most likely, everything else will survive on its own."
For further drought- related questions, the Master Gardener hot- line may be reached at (908) 654- 9852. issue that will include meetings and
workshops with residents and various stakeholders, such as store and restaurant owners, in the town.
Mayor Jardim echoed Councilman Salisbury's sentiments, noting that Rich and Associates has "a good track record of building public consensus."
Mayor Jardim expressed that one goal of the council is for all parties involved (the community, the governing body and the stakeholders) to be in agreement over what to do about this issue.
"By the end of this calendar year we will have decided on how large a structure, where (it will be built), what it will look like and how it will be paid for," Mayor Jardim said.
He added that the town has some creative opportunities in terms of funding for the project, noting that there are opportunities to join forces with other organizations or obtain funding from other government entities such as the state or the County of Union.
Mayor Jardim said he was originally skeptical about the need for a parking structure, but now "it's clear
to me that there is a parking problem." Councilman Salisbury offered a slightly different perspective, stating, "We know there's a parking problem, what are we going to do about that?"
Councilman Salisbury noted that there are more than 600 people waiting for spaces at the 469- space South Avenue train station lot.
The last time a deck was considered was in 1985 when the council hired a New York consulting firm. The firm recommended the town build a 285- space deck over the existing municipal lot (lot no. 7) across from the Westfield Post Office on Central Avenue, according to Mr. Gottko.
The estimated cost at that time was $800,000. The council appropriated $1 million and went out to bid twice but the lowest bid received was $1.5 million and the council opted not to proceed with the facility.
Prior to that, consideration was given to construct a deck at lots nos. 1 and 8, which exit off both Elm and Prospect Streets near the Trader Joe's store.
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Senior Citizens Council Sets Roster of Upcoming Trips
The Senior Citizens Council of Union County has announced that three new trips are planned for the fall. Trips with the Council's "Over 55" Travel Club are open to adults of all ages.
On Thursday, September 23, the group will travel to the Coe Hall Mansion and Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island, with lunch in Oyster Bay and sightseeing. The cost of the trip is $40.
On Friday, October 8, group members will visit Ott's Garden in Pennsylvania to view mums in a hillside setting. Lunch at the Collegeville Inn will be included in the trip cost, which is $34 for members of the Senior Citizens Council, and $35 for non- members.
On Friday, November 5, a trip to Liberty Village in Flemington is planned. Discount outlets, specialty shops and sightseeing will be featured in this excursion. Tickets are $21 for members and $22 for nonmembers. Participants are advised to wear walking shoes.
Day trips for the fall will include a trip on Monday, October 4, to Platzl Brau House in New York. The cost is $55. On Monday, October 25, there will be a trip to the South Jersey Culinary Arts for lunch, and a visit to Smithville Village. The cost is $42.
Lunch at Larison's Turkey Farm and shopping in Chester Village in
Chester will be featured on Wednesday, November 10 for $38. The Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City will be offered for $45 on either Wednesday, November 17, at 2: 30 p. m. or Tuesday, November 30. at 5 p. m.
A narrated New York City Holiday Lights tour will be available on Sunday, December 5, and Wednesday, December 15. The trip will include a stop on the way home at the Clarmont Diner for beverage and dessert. Children over 5 are invited to attend. The cost is $25.
Multi- day trips will include an excursion to Cape May for five days beginning on Monday, September 13, for $375 per person. The cost includes meals, entertainment, a visit to Atlantic City, daily activities and a stop at Smithville Village.
A two- day Amish trip will begin on Thursday, September 30. The cost is $145 per person. Included is an overnight stay at Strasburg Inn, breakfast, a Dutch Apple dinner and show, along with touring and shopping at the Kitchen Kettle Village.
On Sunday, October 10, a five- day trip to Yankee Doodle Lodge in Vermont will be offered. A rate of $430 per person includes first- rate accommodations, meals, planned day trips, entertainment, taxes and gratuities.
On Saturday, December 11, a twoday trip to Lancaster will include a tour of the Amish area, dinner at Miller's Smorgasbord, a Holiday Spectacular Show at the American Music Theatre, breakfast at Strasburg Inn and a visit to Peddler's Village in Lahaska, Pa. The cost is $155 per person includes taxes and gratuities.
A round- trip cruise from New York on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth II will be held from April 20 to May 1, 2000. Prices start at $1,500 per person. Included are visits to Miami, Barbados, Dominica and St. Thomas. Space is limited.
For more information or a brochure, please call Richard Stone at (908) 964- 7555 during the day or (908) 687- 1559 in the evening. Full payment for day trips may be mailed to Senior Trips, 2165 Morris Avenue, Union, 07083.
The Council is a non- profit organization that provides assistance, information and referral services to Union County seniors, their families and caregivers and others.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY At its recent annual meeting, the Westfield Service League honored four of its members celebrating special anniversaries. A nonprofit volunteer organization, the league owns and operates the Thrift Shop and Consignment Shop at 114 Elmer Street. All proceeds benefit local charities. The league also provides volunteer dispatchers to the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad and drivers to Mobile Meals of Westfield for a delivery route one morning a week. Pictured receiving recognition for their 10th anniversary are Mary Lou Carter, left, and Chris Molloy.
M. Golden and Judy P. Golden, 835 Shackamaxon Drive, $440,000.
J. A. and J. F. Lovito to James Puzzo and Regina Puzzo, 712 Norman Place, $450,000.
P. and K. Zimmermann to John Apostolos and Luci Apostolos, 930 Irving Avenue, $280,000.
M. and N. Friedrich to Michael E. Albero and Amelia G. Albero, 127 Harwick Avenue, $250,000.
E. and E. Swidzinski to Ann E. Berman and Lawrence S. Berman, 34 Tamaques Way, $352,500.
Toastmaster Member Performs Comedy Bit
WESTFIELD Phil Munkacsy, a member of Toastmasters of Westfield, recently completed a course at Middlesex County College entitled "So You Want to be a Stand Up Comedian."
At the conclusion of the course, students had an opportunity to perform their comic routine.
Mr. Munkacsy was one of 11 students to do his routine at the Tavern in the Park in Roselle Park before an audience of about 200 family and friends.
Mr. Munkacsy is a resident of South Bound Brook.
To learn communication skills to overcome the fear of public speaking, make a presentation at work or to sharpen speech- making skills, please call (908) 654- 9757 or visit www. westfieldnj. com/ toast.
The group is open to the public and meets on the first, second and fourth Thursday of each month at Sunrise Assisted Living in Westfield.
Michael Dvorak Ends Army ROTC Training
WESTFIELD Michael G. Dvorak of Westfield has graduated from the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Advanced Camp at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash.
At the camp, cadets between their third and fourth year of college completed a five- week course of intensive military leadership training and evaluation exercises in communications, management, and survival training.
After successfully completing advanced camp and graduating from college, he will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant to serve in the United States Army, National Guard, or Reserve.
Michael is currently a student at Rowan University, Glassboro. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Dvorak of Westfield. He is a 1996 graduate of Union Catholic Regional High School, Scotch Plains.
Westfield Day Care Center Director Attends Conference
WESTFIELD Linnea Rhodes, executive director of the Westfield Day Care Center, recently attended a national conference of child care professionals in Austin, Tex., aimed at helping directors do their jobs better.
Sponsored by the National Association of Child Care Professionals, the three- day meeting included workshops
on topics ranging from personnel management to technological advances in the industry.
Hundreds of child care professionals from throughout the United States and Canada were offered 45 workshops designed to increase management skills and provide a better environment for children enrolled in day care centers.