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The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

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To Meet Thursday, Dec. 9

WESTFIELD – The Raritan Valley Line Commuter Commission (RVLCC) will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday, December 9, at 7: 30 p. m. in Town Hall in the Administrator's Conference Room.

The RVLCC was formed to identify and address problems with the train commute along the Raritan Valley Line.

A New Jersey Transit official will brief the members on the status of the effort to get same platform transfer on the Raritan Valley Line. All interested citizens are invited to attend and participate in this meeting.

Type 'A' Light Design To Grace Westfield

By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

WESTFIELD – The Westfield business district will not only soon be getting brighter, but receiving a facelift as well.

Two new lighting designs, appropriately labeled "A" and "B" were displayed for two weeks at the intersection of Elm and East Broad Streets. The Westfield Downtown Corporation has determined that model "A" is the clear winner, based on opinions submitted via telephone and email from more than 50 people.

Model "A" was favored by a margin of 2 to 1 as the new lighting design for the downtown, according to Michael La Place, DWC Executive Director.

He noted that the DWC envisions that 200 or more of the type "A" street lamps will grace the business district over the course of the next three to four years, Mr. La Place said. The four corners at East Broad and Elm Streets will be the first area to feature the globes.

The area, referred to as Bank Square on the Downtown Plan developed by the DWC, will feature double globes while single globes will be installed in the rest of the downtown.

Mr. La Place said the new fixtures will sit atop black poles that are 12 feet in height. They will replace the current lighting fixtures that stand

25 feet off the ground. The new light poles will be placed 80 feet apart.

"We didn't want a mishmash with the old and the new (lighting fixtures)," Mr. LaPlace stated.

In order to accommodate the hanging of banners and holiday season decorations, two ornamental style poles free of light fixtures will be placed per block in the downtown between the new lighting fixtures.

The new lighting fixtures will be owned and maintained by Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE& G) and leased to the town, as is currently the case with the existing lighting. Mr. La Place said the lights will be added as the town receives outside grant money.

Town Administrator Edward A. Gottko said only the demonstration lights have been budgeted for to date. Mr. La Place noted that lighting for some additional locations has been funded.

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Enjoy An Afternoon of "Old Fashioned Holiday Fun"

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Sunday, December 5th • 12 to 5pm

Relax On A Horsedrawn Wagon

Ride Around Town From 12: 30– 4: 30 Starting on Bartle Ave.

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The Afternoon Visit The Historic Osborn Cannonball

House Museum Front St. off Park Ave.

Open House With Food & Refreshments

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Be Sure To Stop By The Craft Fair & Open House Sponsored by Resolve Community Counseling

Front St. off Park Ave.

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David, Marilyn Hart Receive Civic Award By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

MOUNTAINSIDE – The presentation of the local Mabel Young Good Neighbor Award opened the Mountainside Council meeting on November 23.

This year's civic award went to longtime Mountainside residents David and Dr. Marilyn Hart.

The award was presented by Bill Biunno, who represented the Mabel Young selection committee.

The annual Mabel Young Good Neighbor Award was started 17 years ago to honor Mabel Young of Mountainside, a longtime teacher and community activist. Ms. Young retired to Florida about 10 years ago, where she later died.

The purpose of the annual award is to "salute a member or members of our community who have made outstanding contributions for the betterment and welfare of Mountainside," Mr. Biunno said.

"Tonight, the recipients of the Mabel Young Award for 1999 follow in the tradition of Mountainsiders caring for Mountainsiders," he said. "People who have given their time and talents and love in unassuming ways, seeking no acclaim or recognition, but always giving and being their brother's keeper."

Dr. Hart, born Marilyn McGuire, was raised in Mountainside. Mr. Biunno noted that she started volunteering at a young age as a bandage wrapper for the USO during World War II. She then served as a volunteer at Lyons Veterans Hospital.

According to Mr. Biunno, Dr. Hart met her future husband while both

were members of the Catholic Youth Organization at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Springfield. The couple was married in 1951.

David Hart was born in Springfield and earned his undergraduate degree, as well as his master's degree in Education, at Montclair State University, Mr. Biunno noted.

Mr. Hart then taught in the Westfield school system. After he left Westfield, his wife and son, Dr. D. Michael Hart, established a scholarship honoring the educator, which is awarded to graduating WHS seniors interested in the environment.

Mr. Hart was Principal of the Deerfield School in Mountainside for two years before beginning a 27year career as a middle school Principal at Brewer and Carl H. Kumpf Schools in Clark, Mr. Biunno said. He retired in 1989.

Dr. Hart earned her bachelor's degree at Seton Hall University. She later obtained her master's degree in educational psychology and a doctorate in urban anthropology. She was then hired by Kean University as a professor.

Mr. Biunno noted that Dr. Hart served on the Board of Education for the nowdefunct Union County Regional High School district from 1976 to 1979 and that her husband served on that board from 1980 to 1982. He also stated that Dr. Hart served on the Mountainside Borough Council from 1979 to 1991, while Mr. Hart served as a Mountainside councilman from 1993 to 1998, including one year as

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

House Fire on Windsor Injures Two Residents

By KIM KINTER

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

WESTFIELD – Two people escaped with minor injuries after a fire broke out in the second story of a Windsor Avenue residence Tuesday afternoon.

Westfield Deputy Fire Chief Raymond Luck said that the fire began about 4 p. m. in a secondfloor bedroom of the splitlevel home on the south side of Westfield.

It was contained by the fire department within 10 minutes, he said, but the second floor suffered extensive heat and smoke damage.

Roger Gaiter, 77, the owner of the home, and Rita Short, 45, a relative of Mr. Gaiter, suffered minor burns on their hands after they initially tried to extinguish the blaze themselves, he said.

The Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad treated the two at the scene

and they did not require hospitalization. The Windsor Avenue home is uninhabitable, however, and the Westfield Chapter of the American Red Cross helped the two to find temporary shelter. Both will continue to be housed temporarily until they can make permanent living arrangements.

Deputy Chief Luck said that the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, although it may be electrical in nature and is not suspicious. He said that the investigation is continuing.

Two Westfield Fire Department engines and one ladder truck were called to the scene and firefighters required no assistance from neighboring municipalities.

Gail Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times SOUTH SIDE HOUSE FIRE… A fire Tuesday afternoon in a secondfloor bedroom of a splitlevel Windsor Avenue home was extinguished within 10 minutes by the Westfield Fire Department. Two people inside the home escaped with minor burns to their hands when they initially tried to put out the blaze.

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