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Since1947 EMERITUS TRUSTEES — Recognized for “their long and faithful service to
the Adult School” Robert Scott Miner, Jr., right, and H. Emerson Thomas, center, were each honored with emeritus distinction by the Westfield Adult School, a non-profit, independent, voluntary community organization, at its annual meeting recently. Lawrence Pargot, left, President of the Board of Trustees, stated: “As we celebrate our 60th year of service to the community, it seems fitting that we honor Bob Miner and Emerson Thomas – two outstanding, long-time, respected volunteers in Westfield.”
Additional Students Named to Honor Roll
At Roosevelt School
WESTFIELD — Carolyn E. Harbaugh, a seventh-grade student, and Henry H. Koehler, a sixth-grade student, at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, were named to the Distinguished Honor Roll. Their names were not included in the list submitted by Roosevelt.
Westfield Board of Health Plans Health Day Program
WESTFIELD — The Westfield Board of Health has announced that it will conduct a Health Day on Saturday, June 5, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Westfield Municipal Building, 425 East Broad Street, Westfield.
The Health Program will offer an extensive blood screening, consisting of a SMAC 26, CBC and HDL. Medical Laboratory of West Orange will conduct the blood testing.
The SMAC 26 is an elaborate blood analysis monitoring several bodily functions. The SMAC 26 is used in assessing total cholesterol results, to determine possible coronary risk factors.
The CBC test is a test including a red blood cell count, a white blood cell count and differential count. The CBC test may indicate the presence of such conditions as infection, anemia, allergies, lung disease.
The HDL test measures factors protective against coronary heart disease.
Robert M. Sherr, Director of Health, has noted that anyone taking the blood test must fast 12 hours prior, with the exception of water. Pre-registration for the blood test is mandatory and will be conducted by the Westfield Health Department from May 24 through June 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., subject to program capacity.
The cost of SMAC-26 test is $16. The following tests can be performed for additional costs; T4 (thyroxine
test) $5; TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) $10; PSA (prostate test) $30; Blood Group/Rh Factor, $10; Iron, $5; Sed Rate, $10; Hepatitis C, $25; Hepatitis B, $25. All fees must be paid at the time of registration.
The Health Day will offer a Blood Pressure Program. Hemmocult test kits will be available to test for occult blood in the gastrointestinal tract. Test packets/dietary restrictions will be distributed at the Health Program.
Note that the program is subject to cancellation, unless a minimum participation of 25 is achieved. The Health Day is open to residents of Westfield, Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, Roselle Park and Springfield exclusively.
Coalition for Hunger Awareness Thanks Police, Recreation Dept.
The Coalition for Hunger Awareness wishes to publicly thank the Westfield Police Department and Recreation Department for their kind support of our recent Rally Walk to End Local Hunger on May 2.
The Walk began and ended in Mindowaskin Park. The Police Department kindly provided an officer to accompany the largest group of walkers in crossing the many intersections along their five mile route.
The Recreation Department generously allowed the Coalition to reserve and use the park as a rallying point for the walkers and a venue for a fine program of entertainment and speakers.
The support of the town and its mayor, Tom Jardim, who was our honorary walk chairman, as well as the local press including newspapers such as this one, has aided the Coalition and the Walk in
its growth each year. This year, the Walk had almost 300 participants and 22 corporate sponsors. The Coalition is heartened by the growing level of support in this area as we work to eradicate hunger among our less fortunate neighbors.
Thank you to all for your assistance in helping the Coalition fight hunger in our towns.
Michelle Ehrich Coalition Co-chair Westfield Children’s Access to Guns, Violence
Plagues Our Society and Spirit
I understand that MSNBC visited the Westfield High School recently, though I did not see the discussion.
However, I did come upon the Westfield High School TV program featuring some students commenting on that visit and their feelings about Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
May I recommend to the students at the high school, their parents and all residents of the town that they visit the library and read the new book by Tom Diaz, “Making a Killing: The Business of Guns in America.”
The gun industry in America remains our only unregulated industry. Yet guns are a lethal and dangerous consumer product. Most of the guns are imported, from countries like Japan, Brazil, and Canada — and each of these countries have strict gun control laws in effect.
Australia, after just one school shooting incident, and Great Britain after just one such shooting event, both banned guns. We can do the same.
Columbine also shows us that we are unable to trace guns. It took investigators a week to find out where the guns came from. We have to empower the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) to regulate and control guns and investigate the illegal underground which exist where criminals trade and
“straw purchasers” buy for drug dealers and other felons or juveniles, and which is also where the product of thefts from gun stores is traded.
Additionally, like Coca Cola, Pepsi, Frito-Lay, and automobile manufacturers, the gun industry makes deals with Hollywood to get their merchandise displayed on the movie and TV screens. “Miami Vice” was a particular favorite.
Sales of rifles and shotguns continue to fall. Most of the market is handguns which are continually made more lethal. And like the tobacco industry, the gun industry is trying to appeal to youth. The gun industry has gotten grants in excess of $300,000 from government (Wildlife/Interior Dept.) to put educational materials about guns in our schools from fourth grade onward. Taxpayers are funding the next generation of gun users.
Whatever the violence of our culture — and we should certainly speak out about that issue — our culture is one thing, but our culture – plus guns — is another!
Statistics also show that our children are a peaceful community despite the media hype — except when they have free access to guns.
Barbara Briemer Westfield
Letters to the Editor
next school year, the district would begin a “peer mediation” program in which eighth-grade students are trained to help other students work out their problems.
Under the program, he said, the eighth-grade students then will train the seventhand sixth-graders. Role playing is an important part of the program and students will be encouraged to put themselves in the position of others, he said.
Mrs. Taeschler agreed how children treat one another is crucial and is an issue she hopes will be discussed tonight.
“Feeling comfortable about being different and being accepted for who you are is an issue with many parents,” she stated.
At the same time, Dr. Schaller, who is the father of a 16and 18-year-old, hopes that schools will not be blamed for all the problems children have.
“Unfortunately, schools get dumped on. Parents have to know what their children are doing, who they hang with and what they are looking at on the computer,” he stated.
As for safety, Dr. Schaller said that the district has been addressing that issue all along. The sole school in the district, Deerfield, has had surveillance cameras outside the building for some time and, after the Colorado incident, had one added inside the building. He
Mountainside BOE Seeks Opinion From Parents
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said school officials continue to monitor other safety issues and are considering whether a buzzer for entry to the building is necessary.
Coincidentally, Dr. Schaller also recently developed a comprehensive crisis management plan. The plan, which had been in the works before the incident in Colorado, was recently introduced to the board and will be shared with staff curing an inservice day in June.
Panelists for tonight’s forum will include Dr. Steven Tobias, a psychologist and director of the Center for Child and Family Development in Morristown; Union County Prosecutor Thomas V. Manahan; Mountainside Police Chief James Debbie, Jr.; Randy Palmer, the district’s computer coordinator and Dr. Schaller.
Available to take questions during the forum will also be Lynne Ash, school psychologist, and Barbara Komoroski, school guidance counselor. Other school board members and borough councilmen also are expected to attend.
Mr. Perrin said that the Board of Education tried to reach a variety of people to inform them about the forum. Parents of pre-school age and high school age students, members of the clergy and representatives from various organizations all received literature, he said.
Westfield Foundation Assets Reach Seven Million Dollars
WESTFIELD — The Westfield Foundation’s assets reached $7 million and more than $200,000 was awarded in grants to 23 local nonprofit organizations in 1998, it was detailed in the community foundation’s annual meeting earlier this month.
Two long-time dedicated volunteers, Mary and E. Alfred Herberich, also were honored.
At its second open-to-the-public annual meeting, Frank MacPherson, president of the Board of Trustees, summed up 1998 activities and achievements of the 24-year-old community foundation.
In a first-time event, The Foundation honored two Westfield citizens who have been outstanding volunteers during their 46 years of residence – Mary and Al Herberich.
Al Herberich was recognized as the very first volunteer executive director of The Foundation. During the
eight years that he was executive director, the foundation’s assets increased 14 fold and the number of managed funds increased from 4 to 26.
Mr. Herberich’s role in establishing the Summer Youth Employment Program in Westfield was also cited. The couple have started a fund at The Foundation to support this unique program.
Mary Herberich was cited for her 23 years on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, 20 years as its chairman.
As a token of gratitude for all that the Herberichs have done for the Foundation and for the Town, The Foundation will purchase a bench in their name for Mindowaskin Park. Mr. Phelan presented a photo of the bench to Mr. and Mrs. Herberich.
Assemblyman Richard H. Bagger, a member of the Board of Trustees, presented the couple with a resolution of the New Jersey State Assembly in recognition of their community service.
Among Mr. Herberich’s other volunteer activities were heading a long range planning committee for the United Fund of Westfield, which involved a major demographic study of the town; an active member of the Westfield “Y” Board of Trustees and trustee, elder and deacon in the Westfield Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Herberich’s other volunteer activities include 37 years of active service with the Children’s Specialized Hospital Auxiliary, recipient of the College Woman’s Club “Pride Award,” former chairman of the Ginkgo Twig of Muhlenberg Hospital Auxiliary, member of the Westfield Day Care Auxiliary, Wellesley Club of New Jersey and Garden Club of Westfield.
She also was a deacon and elder at the Presbyterian Church and chairman of the Revolutionary War Cemetery Committee. Mr. and Mrs. Herberich are also members of the Westfield Historical Society and Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library.
Representatives of 3 of the 23 local non-profit organizations that received grants from The Foundation in 1998 spoke about the impact the grants have had on their agencies.
They were Dr. Wallace Smith, on behalf of the Union County College L.I.F.E. (Learning is ForEver) program, which offers free college-level courses to senior citizens; Dr. Anita Weinberg, executive director of the Visiting Health Services of Union County, Inc. and Nancy N. Jackson, on behalf of the Westfield Symphony Orchestra.
The three speakers were introduced by Barbara Ball, outgoing Trustee and chairman of the Grants Committee who was thanked by Mr. MacPherson for her service on the board.
The Board President noted that in 1998 The Foundation began a “planned giving program to reach out to people who some day, may wish to ‘give back’ to our wonderful town” and announced two bequests. One is from the Charles Anderson Fund, which is expected to exceed $1 million and will be the largest single individual gift in Foundation history, and the second is a $50,000 scholarship fund in memory of Helen McMartin to benefit a Westfield High School student.
Robert Dillon, chairman of the Investment Committee, reported that The Foundation holds some $7 million in funds, of which $2.5 million are managed for other non-profit organizations at less than 1 percent administrative costs. He noted that the overall portfolio return in 1998 was 14.7 percent and that Foundation assets are allocated 60 percent to equities, 29 percent to fixed income and 11 percent to cash and equivalents.
For further information about The Foundation, please call Betsy Chance, executive director, at (908) 233-9787.
A TASTY TRIBUTE…Tamaques Elementary School in Westfield hosted a luncheon in the school gym May 10 for senior citizens from the Westfield Senior Housing complex. “It was an opportunity for the students to talk with senior citizens and for our guests to spend part of their day in one of their community schools,” said Tamaques Principal Dr. Faith Divisek. The lunch was provided by J & M Market, with desserts supplied by parents on the committee.
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Local Police Join Forces Under ‘Operation 3-D’ To Saturate DWI Efforts
By PAUL J. PEYTON
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
FANWOOD — Fanwood, Scotch Plains and Plainfield police will kick off a new, cooperative summertime program this weekend aimed at combating drunk driving.
The message behind “Operation 3-D” is simple and to the point: “Don’t Drink and Drive.” The coordinated effort will be launched this Saturday, May 29, with three revolving patrols, one from each of the municipalities, out on the roadways looking for intoxicated drivers.
The dates for future patrols will be randomly scheduled throughout the summer. Patrols will focus on both preventing intoxicated persons from driving as well as making driving while under the influence of alcohol (DWI) arrests.
Sergeant Thomas Jedic of the Fanwood Police Department developed the concept for the program.
“The idea behind this program is to get first-time drivers and those home from college (for the summer) to be a little more responsive behind the wheel,” said Sergeant Jedic.
The patrols, which will operate from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., will operate on random nights. The premise is that all three units will be out those evenings, which will saturate local
roadways with police. The program, which is being funded with grant money available through the DWI Enforcement Fund, is aimed at deterring persons from driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“This is the first time in the 18 years I’ve been on the force that we are coordinating our efforts in mass,” said Sergeant Jedic, noting that the program will continue through the spring and summer months.
In terms of future locations of the patrols, Sergeant Richard Trigo, also of the Fanwood Police Department and a participant in “Operation 3D,” noted that the program will constantly be reviewed for its success. Based on these results, the three departments will coordinate future patrol efforts.
Sergeant Jedic emphasized that “Operation 3-D” will not result in a decline in regular DWI patrol units, noting that the cooperation of the three police departments “will help meet the challenge of summer traffic,” in addition to individual DWI efforts by each of the three police departments.
“We want our citizens to enjoy safe roadways, and want those who do not heed our warning to be aware we will be out in sufficient numbers to apprehend violators,” he explained.
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