The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

Page 2 Thursday, December 2, 1999 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

All State School Districts Would be Eligible For Loans Under Proposed Legislation

TRENTON–Bipartisanlegislation was introduced in the state Senate on November 15 that establishes a guaranteed financingandconstructionprogram for every school district in the state.

"We have created a program that will provide an opportunity for every school district in the state to receive financialsupport tobuildnewschools where needed, rehabilitate aging facilities andexpandovercrowdedbuildings," said SenatePresidentDonaldT. DiFrancesco of Scotch Plains, who announcedtheprogram.

"Forthefirsttime ever,thestatewill provide financial support for school construction and rehabilitation in all 618 districts, including suburban districts whichnever beforehadhelpfrom Trenton," he added.

Under terms of the proposal, even districts that are ineligible for core curriculum aid would be in line for debtserviceaid forbuildingandrehabilitating schools. Additionally, the program guarantees a fixed rate of debt service aid that will not be tied to annualfluctuationsin thestateaidformula. The program also offers a $1 billionrevolvingloanfund.

The Senate legislation, S15, is being sponsored by Senators William

Gormley(R2nd) andJohnLynch(D17th). The program is a response to the 1998 Supreme Court ruling that ordered the state to subsidize facilities' improvements in the state's poorest school districts, the socalled Abbott districts. The Senate bill, dubbed the "Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act," provides a comprehensive loanandfundingprogram notonlyforthe 30districtsincludedin the court order, but also for all of the other districts throughout the state.

Under terms of the program, the state will finance 100 percent of the cost of school construction in the Abbott school districts, which will be requiredtohave theNewJerseyBuilding Authority supervise construction projects.

Districtswith astateaidpercentage oflessthan50 percenthavetheoption of using the state Building Authority or building the project themselves. Debt service aid will be in proportion to the amount of aid the district receives at the time the construction project is approved or a minimum of 10 percent.

Thenew legislationwouldnotalter theroutethat schooldistrictsmusttake to issue debt for school construction

and renovation, which is to win voter approval for new borrowing.

Local school districts would be required to win voter approval of its local share of construction costs service prior to receiving the state debt service aid.

Therevolving loanfundwouldprovide nonAbbott districts with up to $200 millionperyearfor atotaloffive years.Loan repaymentswouldberolled overfor additionalloansfollowingthe initialfiveyearperiod.

The bill also directs the New Jersey Educational FacilitiesAuthoritytoassist districts with borrowing to meet the local share of project costs and for refinancing existing school facility debt.

In addition,thelegislationprovides for Community Development School Projects, aprogramannouncedearlier this month by Senators DiFrancesco, GormleyandLynch.

That program requires school districts in New Jersey's urban centers to coordinate new school building projects with other community redevelopment initiativesinacomprehensive effort topromoterevitalizationof the state's older downtown areas and neighborhoods, Senator DiFrancesco said.

Your First Night Button Admits You To All These Sites!

8.Presbyterian Church

Sanctuary Parish Hall

10.St. Paul's Church

Sanctuary

9.Congregational Church

11. Municipal Building

Community Room

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P P Y

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1.Armory

Cafeteria A Cafeteria B

2.Westfield High

Auditorium

3.Holy Trinity School 5.Methodist Church

Hall

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Choir Room

7.Baptist Church

Sanctuary

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Bradford Hayes Quartet Jazz is their thing. Kick back and listen to this savvy saxo phonist and his swinging group.

Bob Conrad He does it all in his one man show utilizing puppets, ventriloquism & holi day magic!

Broadway Rhythm Dance Co. We're bringing Broadway to town, your favorite mu sical theatre song & dance numbers.

Carrie Jackson and Her Jazzin' All Stars Hot jazz on a "cool" night with the sultry sounds of Duke Ellington to Count Basie.

Class 'The Girls Next Door & the Blue Brothers II Featured Band' Remember poodle skirts? A fun costumed "retro group" with hits from the 40's through 70's.

Balloons by Arnie A master of Arnie creates an amazing balloon sculpture gallery. You won't believe your eyes!

Fiddlestix Dancers Get ready to dance! Country and square dancing for all ages no experience necessary.

FINALE AT THE "Y" Times Square is here! Our surprise packed finale will usher in the new millennium. Don't miss it!

Joe Fisher Magic for the millennium, an entertaining slight of hand show for audiences of all ages.

Frank Glaz Music & Y2K, original morous satirical songs about technology and our fast paced lives.

The Guitar Duo Nat Janoff & Jake Schwartz. This young guitar duo is a gressive, innovative creative force with their

fusion of steel & nylon strings.

Happy Medium Barbershop Quartet Twentyyear members of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. That says it all!

Hickory Tree Chorus These "Sweet Adelines" harmonize for your pleasure & enjoyment.

Hudson River Rats Rob Papparozzi & his hot harmonica leads the band with their unique rocking blend of blues, jazz & funk!

In Effect 'N Sync watch out. This young hip male acappella group makes its debut.

Karaoke -You'll be "smokin'" at the firehouse! Sing along with your favorite fire man, spouse, relative or friendly stranger.

Ralph Litwin Clap your hands & stamp your feet to a wide variety of good time mu sic performed by this trio.

Al Madison Be serenaded by Al as he plays & sings familiar rock, jazz, pop, & blues tunes.

Madcap Mutts Return of last year's "SRO" attraction. Dave Letterman of CBS says, sibly the best dog act in the world!"

Marc Sky Marc had a premonition he'd be back this year. Mindreader, psychic, ESP huextraordinaire!

Millennium Scrapbook Bring a family photo, design your own scrapbook page and become part of a permanent pictorial history proof our town.

Mural Painting Get your brush ready and help paint a mural created by Westfield artist Dan Black.

The Music Studio Chamber Group Cham ber music with a twist. Classical music won't sound the same after you hear this oneofa kind group.

Mythmakers A lively program of music, stories & authentic instruments from around the world.

Candy Nelson The whole family will be up & singing along with this exuberant entertainer.

Odessa Klezmer Band Klezmer music goes beyond the traditional come hear the lilting sounds of Turkey, Russia, Greece, Poland the Ukraine from this acclaimed group.

Patchwork Puppets Favorite fairy tales come to life through the magic of puppets.

The Peter Spink Group A First Night high light. See why this mesmerizing folk rock group opens for Lyle Lovett.

PROCESSION OF LIGHTS! Bring your lights, hats, noisemakers, meet at the firehouse at 11: 15pm and march to the Grand Finale at

"Posthe Westfield "Y". Our town will shine.

Quinntales, Inc. Fred Quinn presents sto ries from around the world, for grown up friends. Lovestruck Memories are selections from Quinn's collection of true love stories.

Shakespeare 2000 All of Shakespeare in 60 minutes! Full theatrical production of the comedy Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare.

Hilarious fun!

Silk City A First Night favorite. Audiences adore this group with their special sound and dazzling variety of tunes.

Steel Band Pulsating island beat will have you dancing in the aisles. Their music will heat up the night.

Ultimate Safari Kids can ride these wild beasts. Safe indoors fun.

Valerie Vaughn A true "NJ girl". Valerie entertains with songs of the Garden State in her popular country blue grass style.

Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus Step right up! An all new circus comes to town. Young and old will have fun under the big top.

Westfield Symphony Orchestra We're so lucky to have our own accomplished orchesFantasy tra. The WSO premiers an exciting millenballoons. nium composition by Westfield resident Genevieve Mannion & Appalachian Spring.

William Raye Band Wear blue jeans or black tie & dance your way into the year 2000. The band will play music from the 40's thru 90's until 1 am.

Wink & Daisy the Clowns Cute & Clever, they'll clown around for your amusement.

4.Westfield Fire House

Ave., Station #1 Fellowship Hall

6.Westfield Y

Gym

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GRAND FINALE

At The Westfield "Y" Gym 11:45 pm to 1am

Cafeteria FF iddlestix iddlestix Fiddlestix iddlestix Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Candy Nelson Giant Musical Giant Musical Chair Giant Musical Chair Giant Musical Chair Giant Musical Chairs ss Chairss TT TTwister wister wister Twister wister

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Continuous Trolley To All Sites, All Evening

First Lights for First Night Available at The Y FF FFood ood Ser ood Ser Food Ser ood Service – vice – Pr vice – Pr Service – Pr vice – Pro Proovided vided b vided b oovided b vided by y T y T by T y The he Gir he Gir The Gir he Girl Scouts – A l Scouts – A l Scouts – A Girl Scouts – A l Scouts – Av vvaila aila vvaila ailab ailabble le a le a bble a le at t T t T at T t The Armory he Armory he Armory The Armory he Armory

See Map for Trolley Route

Open Open Mik Open Mik Open Mik Open Mike e Ama e Ama Mike Ama e Amateur Bands teur Bands teur Bands Amateur Bands teur Bands

Buttons Available At:

The Westfield "Y" • Westfield Leader Baron's Drug Store • The Leader Store • Little Treasures

Lancaster Ltd. • Scotch Plains/Fanwood YMCA Kings of Garwood • Westfield Recreation Department

For more information – 908-518-2983 • www.westfieldnj.com/firstnight

Westfield Woman is Suspected Of Slaying Spouse on Thanksgiving

Recycling Center To be Closed During

Upcoming Holidays

FANWOOD –TheFanwoodReNorth cycling Center will be closed on twoconsecutiveSaturdays,ChristSanctuary Day and New Year's Day. It will be open on Wednesdays, DeSocial cember 22 and 29.

wrapping paper will be accepted together with mixed paper, except for metallic types.

By SUZETTE F. STALKER

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

WESTFIELD – A Westfield woman was arrested at an Atlantic Citycasino lastSaturdayandcharged with having bludgeoned and strangled her husband to death Thanksgiving morning at their resi dence in Upper Darby Township, Pa.

Kim Vo, 45, is suspected of having killed Michael Coll, 67, in the one bedroom apartment they shared. Detective Sergeant Robert Compton of the Westfield Police Department's Detective Bureau said Tuesday that Pennsylvania authorities informed Westfield police that the victim and Vo were married two months ago.

Mr. Coll's body was discovered by Pennsylvania police last Friday wrapped in bed linens and concealed in a bedroom closet in the blood spattered apartment, Detective Ser geant George Rhoades of the Upper Darby Township Police Department said. Upper Darby is located in Dela ware County, which is just outside West Philadelphia.

According to Sergeant Rhoades, the Delaware County Medical

Examiner's report found that the vic tim died of "multiple blows to the head, trunk and limbs and also stran gulation." He added that authorities were still attempting to identify the murder weapon used.

He noted that a neighbor heard an argument coming from the apart ment at about 5 a. m. Thanksgiving morning, during which the victim was heard yelling "what are you do ing?" and "why are you doing that?" Thedisputewas followedbythesound of a thump, Sergeant Rhoades said.

Policein UpperDarbywerealerted to the situation after a friend of the victim reported that Mr. Coll failed to show up for Thanksgiving dinner at the friend's home, Sergeant Compton acknowledged.

Westfield police assisted Pennsyl vania authorities with obtaining and executing a search warrant last Sat urday at Vo's home on Florence Av enue in Westfield, according to Ex ecutive AssistantUnionCountyPros ecutor Robert O'Leary.

Sergeant Compton confirmed Tuesday that the search uncovered several pieces of evidence linking Vo to the crime, including bloody den tures and clothing belonging to the victim, as well as a recent bank re ceipt for $36,000. Mr. Coll report edly received the money after selling his interest in a Pennsylvania radio station, Sergeant Rhoades said.

Authorities discoveredthatVotook a taxi from Westfield to Clark at noon last Friday and traveled from there to Atlantic City. She was arrested by New Jersey State Police at Caesar's casino without incident the follow ing day.

Sergeant Compton said that while detectives had found evidence that the suspect "had done a lot of gam bling," it was unknown whether or not a gambling habit had played a role in the murder.

Vo has been charged with murder, manslaughter,aggravatedandsimple assault, recklessly endangering anAuditorium other person, robbery, theft, receiv ing stolen property, possessing inFFiddlestix struments of crime and tampering or fabricating evidence, Sergeant Rhoades confirmed.

He said the last of these charges had to do with Vo's alleged attempts to clean up the apartment and discard evidence in a dumpster on the apartmas ment property.

Sergeant Rhoades said investigaChristmas tors had sifted through trash at a Delaware County incinerator where the contents of the dumpster had been taken, but had not uncovered

anything connected with the crime as of Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania detective said Westfield authorities offered "a great deal of cooperation" in the case and were instrumental in the swift arrest of a suspect in the crime.

According to Sergeant Compton, Vo used several aliases, including KimQuiVo, KimPaster,MariaLewis and Maria Louis. He said tax records show Vo had owned the home on Florence Avenue since 1989, but that Mr. Coll did not live there. The Westfield Tax Assessor's office con firmed that Vo also owns a house on Cacciola Place in Westfield, which she rents out to tenants.

Vo waived extradition to Pennsyl vaniafollowing aNovember30hear ingin AtlanticCountySuperiorCourt inMays Landing,saidJanetNiedosik, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, yester day morning. She is expected to be transported to Pennsylvania within the next several days.

In September, Vo was arrested in Newark and charged with a series of thefts by fraudulently using the ac count number of Celebrations, a Westfield businesswheresheworked.

In July, Vo put the store's bank account number on her personal checks and cashed four checks in Atlantic City in the amounts of $2,351, $2,000, $1,725 and $500, Sergeant Compton confirmed on Tuesday.

Mr.O'Leary saidVopleadedguilty in Superior Court on November 18 to one count of theft by deception, a third degree crime. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, January 28, and faces 90 days in jail plus required restitution to the store.

Westfield police said Vo had also been charged in April with driving with a revoked license. A municipal court warrant was issued after she failed to pay the summons.