The Westfield Leader Newspaper

OUR 109th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 44-99 FIFTY CENTS 232-4407

The Westfield Leader — Serving the Town Since 1890 —

Thursday, November 4, 1999 USPS 680020 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J.

Published Every Thursday

INDEX INDEX INDEX INDEX INDEX

Arts................Page 20 Classifieds ..... Page 19 Editorial ........ Page 4

Obituary ........ Page 8 Religious ....... Page 9

Social ............ Page 6 Sports ............ Page 11

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

As Newest President of Bell Laboratories, Mr. Netravali Seeks to Broaden Firm’s Horizons

By KIM KINTER

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

When Arun Netravali was growing up in India, he had an active curiosity about how electrical things worked.

“I’d always get in trouble for opening up radios,” Mr. Netravali recalled with a smile.

Now, as the new President of Bell Laboratories, the renowned research and development arm of Murray Hillbased Lucent Technologies, Mr. Netravali is responsible for making sure that everything works right in the quest for developing advanced products for electronic technology.

Mr. Netravali, a Westfield resident, was named to the post on October 26. He has become the ninth leader of Bell Labs, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2000 and boasts some 30,000 inventions.

He reports to Lucent’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rich McGinn.

He succeeds Dan Stanzione, who has been named a special advisor to

Mr. McGinn. The road to President of Bell Labs has been a fairly direct route from Mr. Netravali’s days of curiosity in India.

Mr. Netravali, now 53, said he grew up in what he described as a lower middle class family in Bombay. He said he knew at the time that one way of becoming economically secure was to obtain a higher education.

Pursuing his avid interest in electronics, Mr. Netravali received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay.

He also found time to play badminton — a popular sport in India – even becoming nationally ranked in the sport in his homeland. Mr. Netravali also took up acting and had supporting roles in some movies made by a low-budget film company that was attempting to compete with India’s established movie industry.

He said that at one time, he seriously considered a career in movies,

but the low-budget film company did not do well and he turned his attention back to engineering.

Cheri Rogowsky for The Westfield Leader

LUCKY 7’s...Greg Whitman, left, and Patrick Gessner dressed as a pair of dice during the Franklin Elementary School Halloween Parade last Friday.

Cheri Rogowsky for The Westfield Leader

THE FIRST COUPLE...Bill and Hillary Clinton were a hit during the annual Halloween Parade at Wilson Elementary School last Friday.

Area Residents Protest Bathroom-Storage Facility In Gumbert Park At Rec. Commission Meeting

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

By DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

More than 10 area residents showed up at the monthly meeting of the Westfield Recreation Commission on Monday, November 1, to protest pro

posed plans for a bathroom, storage and concession facility, to be constructed in Gumbert Park.

The Westfield Baseball League has hired architect Thomas DiGiorgio of Westfield to design the plans, and the

Recreation Commission agreed to hear the presentation.

According to Mr. DiGiorgio, the 1,200 square foot-building would be located directly behind the existing parking lot on the corner of Salter Place and Fourth Avenue. Area residents protested the proposal due to the unsightly location, which would be visible from their yards across Fourth Avenue.

Other objections included increased litter, loitering and vandal

ism, which is already a problem in the park, according to several area residents. They also pointed out that there are rat traps along the factory fence on the opposite side of ball field No. 3, and that a concession stand would increase the rat problems.

The building would be constructed of stone masonry and metal security doors and would stand approximately 10 feet, 8 eight inches high to the roof-line, 18 feet to the top ridge.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Republicans Retain Control of Various Mountainside Seats By KIMBERLY A. BROADWELL

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

There was another Republican sweep in Mountainside on Tuesday as Mayor Robert F. Viglianti was elected to serve a fourth term, while incumbents Keith Turner and Paul Mirabelli held on to their council seats.

Borough records show there has never been a Democrat elected to serve the municipality.

According to unofficial election results provided to The Westfield Leader by Borough Clerk Judy Osty, Mr. Viglianti received 1,026 votes, while write-in candidate Adele Mag

nolia, who is also a registered Republican, got 282 votes.

In order to vote for Mrs. Magnolia, a voter had to type the candidate’s name on a small keyboard provided in each of the polling booths. Polling place workers can instruct voters how to use the keyboard if the voters ask for assistance.

According to the unofficial election statistics, Councilman Turner garnered 980 votes, enabling him to hold office a fourth term.

Councilman Mirabelli walked away with 959 votes. With the win, he will begin a second term on the council.

Democrat contender Steve Brociner won 700 votes in his bid for a council seat this year. In an off-election year in a Republican stronghold, Mr. Brociner trailed his running mates by only a little over 200 votes.

Mr. Brociner also ran for a borough council seat last year.

There are 4,573 registered voters in the borough. Of that total, 1,716 actually voted during Tuesday’s election, Ms. Osty said.

During his victory speech, the Mayor thanked the members of the Mountainside Republican Club for their hard work on his behalf.

“I was a little concerned about tonight’s race,” the Mayor said. “I was afraid of what they (the opposition) had in mind for our municipality and that the complexion and attitude of our borough would change.

“I would like to thank each of you

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Republicans Sweep Council Races To Retain Majority on Town Council By PAUL J. PEYTON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

Calling it a sweet victory, Republican incumbents retained four Town Council seats in Tuesday’s election and maintained a 5-4 majority on the governing body for at least another year.

The victory is a far cry from last year when Democrats took three of the four seats, picking up a seat in the process. Westfield Mayoral and Council terms are for two years.

Republicans had a stronghold on Westfield government prior to 1996. That year Democrats were victorious in two of the town’s four wards in which they ran candidates but, most importantly, took the mayor’s office for the first time in 85 years.

This year was the second time in three years Democrats had the opportunity, but failed to gain the council majority.

Celebrating their victory at B.G. Fields Restaurant on Springfield Avenue, the Republican candidates cited their teamwork as a major factor in their win.

“Through the course of the whole campaign, we always said that it was a team and that if one of us were to lose, it would have been a total loss,” said First Ward Councilman Gregory S. McDermott, who defeated Marilyn S. Gulotta, 784-517.

He referred to the Republicans as the New York Yankees, now that the same GOP group of contenders has swept the two consecutive elections

while running as a slate in both 1997 and 1999.

Second Ward Councilman Matthew P. Albano, who won a third term while facing opposition for the first time, noted that the Republicans cannot take a campaign for granted.

“The Dems, we realize, will do anything to win an election,” he told supporters.

Mr. Albano was victorious over Joseph P. Stoner by a tally of 767538. He said he believed the 14 collective years of experience the four Republicans had on the council made a difference with voters.

Third Ward Councilman Neil F. Sullivan told the GOP faithful that, “All campaign long I’ve waited to tell you that I feel like a million

dollars.” Council seats pay $1 a year. His comment was a direct referral to his attempt at being a contestant on a television pilot game trivia show, called “Who Wants to be A Millionaire?” which aired this past summer.

The candidate needed, but failed to gain, a waiver from his opponent, Ms. Claire Lazarowitz, to appear on the show. Ms. Lazarowitz’s mother was ill at the time and Ms. Lazarowitz said she was unable to take time to examine and sign the waiver, but later did sign it.

Mr. Sullivan, who has been on the council the past five years, called the election results “a big win for Westfield.” He edged out Ms. Lazarowitz by 15 votes, 694-679, to retain the Third Ward seat that he has held since being named to an unexpired seat early in 1995.

“I think there is absolutely no place for negative campaigning between neighbors and friends,” stated Councilman Sullivan, referring to what GOP candidates viewed as a strong negative campaign staged by Democrats this year, especially over the weekend prior to the election.

“And by our victory here tonight, maybe we have finally put an end to the sleaze and negativity that has marked the last several campaigns and that has been directed at candidates who have done nothing but try to fulfill their civic responsibility,” he added.

Fourth Ward Councilwoman Janis Fried Weinstein, who won a second consecutive term on council, called Tuesday’s win “the sweetest victory of all.” The councilwoman has won two of the three races she has competed for the past four years.

Councilwoman Weinstein defeated

Arun Netravali

Paul J. Peyton for The Westfield Leader

A CLEAN SWEEP!...Westfield Town Council Republican incumbents celebrate their Tuesday night victory at B.G. Fields Restaurant in Westfield. Pictured, left to right, are: Third Ward Councilman Neil F. Sullivan, First Ward Councilman Gregory S. McDermott, Fourth Ward Councilwoman Janis Fried Weinstein and Second Ward Councilman Matthew P. Albano. By virtue of their victory, Republicans will maintain a 5-4 majority on the council in 2000.

Kimberly A. Broadwell for The Westfield Leader

ANOTHER VICTORY...The Mountainside Republican slate of Mayor Robert F. Viglianti, left, and Councilman Keith Turner, center, and Paul Mirabelli celebrate their victory at the Mountainside Elks Club on Route 22.

Sonia V. Owchariw for The Westfield Leader

FIVE STRAIGHT SWEEPS!...Union County Democrats celebrate their Tuesday night wins in the Union County Surrogate and Freeholder races at Nuno’s Pavillion Restaurant in Linden. Pictured, left to right, are: Surrogate-elect James S. LaCorte, County Democrat Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo, Freeholders Linda d. Stender and Nicholas P. Scutari and Freeholder-elect Angel Estrada. The Democrats have not lost a freeholder race since 1994. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Democrats Win Freeholder Seats Across-the-Boards for Fifth Year By SONIA V. OWCHARIW AND

SUSAN M. DYCKMAN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader

“Happy Days Are Here Again” played in the background Tuesday night as Union County Democrats, surrounded by red, white and blue balloons, celebrated winning three Freeholder seats at a gathering at Nuno’s Pavillion Restaurant in Linden.

Having gained the majority in 1997, the Democratic Freeholders once again made history by sweeping for five consecutive years, according to Freeholder Chairman Nicholas P. Scutari of Linden, who with 34,847 tallies, was elected to a second term on the board.

Democrats have not lost an election since 1994. In 1997, they held a 6-3 majority. With this year’s acrossthe-boards victory, they will continue to hold the 9-0 majority they captured in 1998.

“This is great! Even though it was raining, we still came out on top. This is the first time in history that we have won five years in a row,” Mr. Scutari exclaimed. “This signals a new era in democratic history.”

The top vote-getter among the Democratic victors, with just over

36,000 tallies, was Fanwood resident Linda d. Stender, who will begin her third term on the board in January. She was previously elected in 1993 and 1996.

When asked how she felt following her victory, the former Fanwood Mayor jubilantly said, “Great! It’s a privilege to serve. Our leadership was affirmed by this vote. We worked hard, and I believe we delivered our pledges and we responded.”

“This renews my faith to continue to do my job with integrity and voters didn’t tolerate a negative campaign (from the Republicans),” added Mrs. Stender.

A newcomer to the Democratic ticket, Elizabeth resident Angel Estrada, earned his own place in political history by becoming the first Latino-American to be elected to the freeholder board in Union County. He has served on the Board of Education in his home city since 1994.

“It’s truly an accomplishment to represent all people in Union County,” said Mr. Estrada, who garnered 33,600 votes.

Union County Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo spoke out after declaring Mr. Scutari, Mr. Estrada and Mrs. Stender the winners.

“I’m so happy about the election. These are a bunch of caring people despite the negative literature (by Republicans). I’m very proud of these people,” she said.

While no music played for the Republicans who gathered at The Westwood in Garwood to hear election results, spirits were high, particularly when GOP County Chairman Frank McDermott swept in shortly after 9 p.m. with word of local Republican victories in Westfield, Scotch Plains and Cranford.

The GOP also celebrated its surprise sweep of three races in Fanwood, including those for Mayor and two council vacancies, unraveling the Democrats’ 12-year majority on the

Page 10 Thursday, November 4, 1999 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

WESTFIELD FIRE BLOTTER

WESTFIELD POLICE BLOTTER

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21

· Six hundred block of Willow Grove Road – smoke condition.

· Seven hundred block of St. Marks Avenue – hazardous condition.

· Two hundred block of East Broad Street – alarm malfunction.

· Two hundred block of Prospect Street – service call, lock-out.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22

· Nine hundred block of Rahway Avenue – electrical hazard.

· Two hundred block of Sinclair Place – smoke condition.

· Two hundred block of Avon Road – false alarm.

· Six hundred block of Westfield Avenue – gas leak investigation.

· Twelve hundred block of Rahway Avenue – service call, lock-out.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23

· Two hundred block of Watchung Fork – unintentional alarm.

· Four hundred block of East Broad Street – electrical hazard.

· Two hundred block of Watchung Fork – alarm activation.

· Seven hundred block of Willow Grove Road – smoke scare.

· Twelve hundred block of Boulevard – fire outside of structure.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24

· Twelve hundred block of Summit Avenue – service call.

· Four hundred block of South Elmer Street – steam rupture.

· Eight hundred block of Coolidge Street – water condition.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mr. Netravali said he also began to realize “there is nothing like the United States for engineering,” and came to this country to obtain master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Rice University in Houston, Tex.

It was while he was in graduate school in the early 1970s that Mr. Netravali and his fellow students realized that Bell Labs was “the best place to be in electronics,” he said. He said many of the books the students read and inventions they studied originated from people working at Bell Labs.

Not everyone has a chance to come to Bell Labs to work, however, he said.

Mr. Netravali himself spent his first year and a half out of school at NASA where, as part of a team, he helped write some of the programs used in the space shuttle program. Some of those same programs are still being used today, he added.

In 1972, after one and a half years at NASA, Mr. Netravali joined Bell Labs.

“I think I was just lucky,” he said, modestly. “I don’t know anyone I went to school with who would not have wanted to work here.”

He began with hands-on research by working on the development of the picture telephone. Although he calls the product something that “came ahead of its time,” he said it was “an absolutely great project.”

Mr. Netravali’s next project was a study of the human eye and how it relates to the amount of material which can be transported electronically and how much a person can actually see.

Following those two projects, Mr. Netravali became involved in the “technology management” end of the research business, responsible for managing the research and innovation process. His philosophy was to put the best possible people on a problem, allow them freedom to come up with solutions and help market the resulting product.

It was at this point that Mr. Netravali got involved in the development of Bell Labs’ high definition television (HDTV) effort. He is regarded as a pioneer in the field of digital technology, and last year Lucent Technologies received an Emmy Award for his group’s work on high definition television.

For the last four years, he was Executive Vice President of Research for Bell Labs. He is particularly proud, he said, of his teams’ innovations that lead to improvements in the capacity of optical fibers, improvements in wireless technology, the development of the world’s smallest transistor and the world’s fastest switch.

Mr. Netravali himself holds more than 60 patents and has authored some 140

papers in the areas of computer networks, human interfaces to machines, picture processing and digital television.

The new President does not keep track of how many hours a week he works, because “a large part of what I do is fun. I don’t feel like it is work.” But he conceded that he probably spends 60 to 70 hours a week on work and is in the office many weekends.

Mr. Netravali’s family and his life in Westfield are equally important to him, however.

His wife, Chitra, is a pediatrician at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. He has two children, Ilka, a freshman at Princeton University, and Ravi, a fourth-grade student at Jefferson Elementary School.

Ilka graduated from Westfield High School last spring, where she was a member of the varsity tennis team. In fact, her father said, Ilka likes to tease him with a graph she draws showing how her tennis game has improved over the years, while her father’s is going in the opposite direction.

Mr. Netravali has volunteered his time with Dr. William J. Foley, Westfield Superintendent of Schools, on technological issues.

Dr. Foley said Mr. Netravali has been generous in helping the school district. The Superintendent noted that two years ago, Mr. Netravali offered space at Bell Labs for the district’s strategic planning meetings and contributed a laptop computer to a class participating in a national competition last year.

Mr. Netravali has also been in talks with the district about other ways Bell Labs can work directly with local schools. Dr. Foley described Mr. Netravali as “unassuming, friendly and welcoming.”

When named to his new post, Mr. Netravali said, “The prospect of leading one of the world’s premier R and D (research and development) organizations is both electrifying and a bit daunting, particularly at a time when the demand for new communications technology is at its zenith.

“Bell Labs is a powerhouse of innovation. The collective brain power here is awe-inspiring. It will be an honor to support the scientists and engineers here, many of whom are recognized gurus in their fields,” he continued.

Mr. Netravali said he has three goals. One, he said, is to invent and rapidly introduce new products. “There is a tremendous thirst for new things in home life and business life. Communication improves productivity,” he remarked.

Another goal is to become a “bigger magnet for the best minds in the world,” and the third is to ensure that the Bell Labs brand continues to be strong. Many residents suggested alternative

locations for the facility within Gumbert Park, which they felt would be less obtrusive to their neighborhood.

Frank Fusaro, a baseball league board member, who also happens to be an engineer, worked with Mr. DiGiorgio on the proposed design. Mr. Fusaro explained that locating the facility elsewhere in Gumbert Park would create engineering problems due to the location of existing sanitation lines.

Mr. Fusaro explained that for every 1,000 feet of sanitation line, approximately $250,000 would be added to the cost. Also, alternative locations would necessitate adding expensive equipment to pump the sanitation uphill, due to grading issues, Mr. Fusaro stated.

Recreation Chairman, Dr. Sy Koslowsky explained that a bathroom facility is needed to accommodate the more than 1,400 town children as well as visiting teams, who play in leagues in this park.

The storage facility is needed to store equipment used to maintain the fields and the baseball league requested that a concession stand be included in the facility for use during games, according to Dr. Koslowsky.

Salter Place resident Mary Jo Howell stated that the bathroom facility being proposed was similar to the one at Tamaques Park, which, “looked like an unsightly outhouse.” Fourth Street resident Joe Hyde stated that the town didn’t need a concession booth, “which would lead to more fat kids.”

Fourth Street resident Susan Long suggested that a smaller bathroom facility could be constructed near sanitation lines, and the larger storage facility could be placed elsewhere, away from residential properties.

Westfield Recreation Director Glenn Burrell explained that the building would be funded by matching funds from the town and county as part of the “Pocket Parks” program, as well as funds from the baseball leagues.

The building would be owned by the town, overseen by the Recreation Commission and maintained by the Department of Public Works. Several area residents scoffed at the idea that Public Works employees would maintain the building and stated that public works doesn’t do an adequate job of cleaning up the litter now.

Town Council liaison to the Recreation commission, Third Ward Councilman John J. Walsh, stated that Public Works had a shortage of personnel to maintain the parks adequately.

Recreation Commission member Bob Smith suggested that the Commission revisit the idea of submitting an increased park’s maintenance budget to the Town Council. However, Mr. Walsh pointed out that this would necessitate raising taxes two to three points for the additional $250,000 needed.

“Increased services means increased taxes. We are always trying to find a balance between those two needs,” Councilman Walsh stated.

The Recreation Commission voted to form a joint committee consisting of three Commission representatives, three area residents and one league representative in order to discuss the many alternatives to the plans, which were suggested by the public.

Similar joint advisory committees have been formed with residents from other neighborhoods who have had objections to park renovations.

In other business, Mr. Burrell reported that he had discussed the circular stone curbing recently constructed at Sycamore Field with the architectural firm of Kinsey and Associates.

According to Mr. Burrell, Kinsey confirmed that the circular stone wall is outside of the playground equipment’s fall zone and they stand behind it as a sound design plan.

According to Kinsey, this type of structure has been successfully used in many other locations without any problems or complaints. In previous Recreation Commission meetings, area residents objected to the abundance of concrete and the potential danger of the location of the stone curbing in close proximity to the playground equipment.

Mr. Smith reported that he met with Kinsey and Associates, who are also the architects for the Memorial Park and Pool renovation project, and that they did a walk through of the Memorial Park and Pool area, along with the residents advisory committee.

The committee, headed by Joe Penzack, was formed after a proposal met with staunch opposition by many area residents. The committee met with the Recreation Commission to identify and discuss areas of concern and to revise the plans, according to Mr. Smith.

Some of those revisions include moving the hockey arena, building a separate diving tank, retaining the wooded buffer and eliminating the adult wading pool from the original proposal from Kinsey. A few more meetings will be held to iron out those details and come up with revised plans that are more acceptable to area residents, officials said.

Mr. Burrell reported that a fence and plantings have been added around Mindowaskin Park’s pond in order to contain the geese away from the road. Once the new plantings mature, they will function as a natural barrier, and the fencing will be removed.

The Recreation Commission meets the first Monday of the month at the Westfield Municipal Building. Their next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Monday, December 6, at 8 p.m.

Bathroom-Storage Facility At Gumbert Park Opposed

for all your hard work, some making phone calls, some behind the scenes, some who put together and worked at last week’s fair and some who were just there for moral support.

“I will continue to work for the benefit of all of Mountainside and will continue to work together to benefit all ages of borough residents.”

Write-in candidate, Ms. Magnolia, told

The Westfield Leader that she felt her election results were appropriate, stating that she never “mounted an official campaign.”

She thanked those 282 voters who “expressed their confidence in me.” She stated that during the last few months residents had approached her, asking if they could write her name in as a candidate.

Ms. Magnolia also noted that she felt having almost 300 voters type her name on the ballot, gave the Mayor and council

something to think about. “This should send a message to the Mayor and council that some people of the borough are not satisfied with the job being done and that more time should be taken to listen to the people in the community,” she said.

She also noted that a future run for the mayor’s seat is “not out of the question.”

Ms. Magnolia said that she wanted to encourage others to consider running for office.

Mr. Turner addressed members of his party by stating that if the Mayor had lost his position, it “would have been a travesty.”

He noted that members of the council and borough residents “rely on the Mayor’s knowledge and past experience” to guide the borough. “The Mayor gives his heart and soul to the community,” he added.

Councilman Turner stated that he was looking forward to his fourth term and noted he participates in the local government so that “I can look back and say that I did something positive for my community.”

Mr. Mirabelli agreed with Mr. Turner’s sentiments and added, “I am glad that the residents responded to a positive rather than a negative campaign.”

“I am opposed to all the negative criticism we are constantly getting from the Democratic side,” Mr. Mirabelli added. “Our borough is just the way it should be. We live in a great place.”

When asked about the election results, Mr. Brociner stated that he was happy with the numbers that he received, especially in the eighth district.

“In that district, I beat even the Mayor with 87 votes,” he said.

Mr. Brociner stated that the Democrat campaign “keeps the Mayor and council members working hard for their positions.” He added that he was going to run again next year. Schuyler Quackenbush, 780-729. All

Westfield election results include absentee votes but are unofficial tallies.

Mayor Thomas C. Jardim, a Democrat, noting he was “obviously disappointed” with the election results, told

The Westfield Leader the voters “want us (the current council) to continue the progress we’ve made the past few years.”

He did express disappointment with the 30 percent voter turnout in town. Excluding absentee ballots, 5,595 of the

18,507 registered voters went to the polls in what was considered an off-year election year given the fact there were no statewide races in 1999.

“I tip my hat to Greg, Matt, Neil and Janis for running a great race,” Mayor Jardim said.

In addition to Westfield, Republicans had strong showings in Scotch Plains, where they won an expired seat to take the majority, and in Fanwood where they won the mayor’s office for the first time in 16 years.

Republicans Sweep Council Races to Retain Majority MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

· Orlando B. Cardenas, 27, of Elizabeth was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and with leaving the scene of an accident on Central Avenue, according to police. He was released on his own recognizance.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19

· Michael Ferrigno, 34, of Scotch Plains was charged with three counts of prescription fraud and forgery, according to police. He was released on his own recognizance.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21

· A resident of Birch Avenue reported that his lawn was damaged by someone who drove a motor vehicle over it.

· A Linden woman reported being assaulted by a co-worker at a local health care facility. No one has been charged in connection with the incident, police said.

· Burglaries were reported on the first and second floors of a two-family home on Walnut Street, according to police. In each case, pry marks were found at the point of entry.

The first-floor resident did not report anything missing, although the resident on the second floor reported the theft of her VISA credit card.

· A burglary attempt was made to a second-floor dwelling in a two-family home on Prospect Street, police said. Pry marks were found on a door, but entry was apparently not gained.

· A Hazel Avenue resident reported that his lawn was damaged by someone who drove over it with a motor vehicle.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22

· A North Avenue department store reported the theft of several pocketbooks, valued at $1,100. Police said no arrests have been made.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23

· Police reported that a traffic cone was set on fire at Jefferson Elementary School on the Boulevard, damaging some asphalt.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24

· Police confirmed that someone burned some styrofoam at Tamaques School on Willow Grove Road. It was unknown whether this incident was related to the one at Jefferson School a day earlier.

· A sign was reported stolen from Mindowaskin Park on East Broad Street.

· Jack Brown, 18, of Roselle Park was charged with possession of an alcoholic beverage underage. He was issued a summons and released. Also charged was a 17year-old female who was released to the custody of a parent, police said.

· Approximately $7 worth of gourmet popcorn was reported stolen from a Central Avenue convenience store. No one has been charged in connection with the incident.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 25

· Four World Series tickets were reported stolen from a business on South Avenue, West.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26

· Burglaries were reported on the first and second levels of a two-family home on First Street, authorities said. Jewelry and other miscellaneous items were reported taken from the second-floor dwelling. Nothing was reported missing from the first floor, although pry marks were found at the point of entry.

· A North Avenue, West, resident reported the attempted burglary of his residence. Pry marks were discovered on the rear door, although entry was apparently not gained.

Police believe the incidents on Walnut, Prospect and First Streets and North Av

enue are related, and said they have a description of a suspect. The individual is characterized as a white male, between 6 feet and 6 feet, 3 inches tall, with a large build and bushy dark hair. He was seen wearing a baseball cap and a blue flannel shirt or jacket.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27

· A Greene Place resident reported that someone damaged her car by pouring an unknown liquid onto it.

· A Roselle Park woman reported that a canvass bag containing a laptop computer was removed from her motor vehicle at a municipal parking lot off of Elm Street.

The bag was later recovered, minus the computer. Police said the missing unit was apparently recovered, however, and returned to an area company.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29

· Police reported that someone forcibly entered a Prospect Street restaurant during the night and stole $300 in cash.

· The owner of a Prospect Street hair salon reported the theft of a 20-inch Quasar combination television and videocassette recorder unit.

· An East Broad Street business reported that someone attempted to forcibly enter the establishment.

· A Westfield woman reported being struck in the face with a rock thrown from a passing vehicle in the 300 block of East Broad Street, police said. No one has been charged in connection with the incident.

· A Westfield resident reported that his daughter was struck in the back by an object thrown from a passing vehicle in the 700 block of East Broad Street. The suspect vehicle was described as a four-door, white Pontiac, according to police.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

· A burglary occurred at a Springfield Avenue business in which $400 was taken.

· The doors of a 1994 Nissan owned by a Westfield resident and parked in the 400 block of Downer Street were damaged in an attempt to burglarize the vehicle, police said.

· The front windshield of a 1984 Jeep Wagon owned by a Westfield resident was damaged while parked at the southside Westfield train station.

· A Grandview Avenue resident reported that a Motorola cellular telephone was removed from his motor vehicle while it was parked in his driveway.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31

· A resident of Lenox Avenue reported that the tires were punctured on two of his vehicles which were parked in the rear of his driveway.

· A soccer goal set was taken from Houlihan Field at Lamberts Mill Road and Rahway Avenue and placed on the nearby railroad tracks. The set was apparently hit by a Conrail train and damaged beyond repair, police said.

· Someone threw a pumpkin at a 1997 Ford belonging to a Jersey City engineering firm, breaking the driver’s outside mirror. The incident occurred on Tice Place.

· A Lenox Avenue resident reported being struck with an egg while on Saint Paul Street, sustaining a bruise. No one has been charged, police said.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1

· Eggs were thrown at a Honda owned by a North Brunswick resident, damaging the paint on the car’s exterior. The incident occurred on Harrow Road.

· Four windows on a business on North Avenue, East, were broken by having rocks thrown at them. governing body and the party’s 16-year

lock on the mayor’s seat. GOP supporters readily agreed that the team of Albert Dill, Jr. of Summit, who received 28,251; Richard Revilla of Elizabeth, who garnered 28,305, and Wally K. Shackell, Jr. of Cranford had presented a decent challenge to the Democratic lock on the freeholder board.

“It’s the first time I’ve been in a situation where I’m being congratulated on losing,” remarked Mr. Dill. “We sent them a good message. There are things people are concerned about. We know there are Democrats who voted Republican. They’re not happy and that’s why we did as well as we did.”

A former mayor of Cranford, Mr. Shackell garnered the highest number of votes, 28,490, among the GOP challengers bidding for a freeholder spot. All results are unofficial pending certification by the County Clerk.

“We knew we were tremendous underdogs going in,” he said. “This is quite a statement.”

The most disappointed-looking of the three was Mr. Revilla, who served as

Elizabeth’s Housing Authority Chairman in 1998.

“The Republican party needs to build on this. It was a good show, disappointing but rewarding,” he said.

“We proved we could swing the vote around. I look forward to next year,” he added.

In the race for the five-year County Surrogate post, Democrat James LaCorte defeated Republican Linda-Lee Kelly, a former two-term freeholder, by a tally of 34,612 to 29,226. Mr. LaCorte will succeed long-time Surrogate Ann Conti, also a Democrat, who died over the summer.

At the state level, incumbent Republicans Richard H. Bagger and Alan M. Augustine ran uncontested for their Assembly seats representing the 22nd District, which includes Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union Counties.

The GOP will maintain majority control, 45 to 35, of the 80-member house going into the year 2000, though three seats were lost to Democrats in the 4th and 14th Districts.

High School Posts Names Of Commended Scholars

WESTFIELD — Westfield High School (WHS) Principal Dr. Robert Petix has announced that 17 seniors have been designated Commended Scholars in the 2000 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Letters of Commendation from the high school and the National Merit Schol

arship Corporation, which conducts the program, were recently presented by Dr. Petix to the seniors.

The 2000 National Merit Commended Scholars at WHS are Stephanie Bistak, Brian Chiger, Samuel Fleder, Shana Golembo, Lisa Goodman, Valerie Griffeth, Laura MacNeil, Maura McMahon, Elizabeth Morrissey, Amy Ngeow, Elizabeth Nicol, Joshua Ray, Kathleen Russell-Smith, Yaron Sigal, Tanya Tran, Jennifer Woodbury and Douglas Yates.

As recipients of Letters of Commendation, WHS’s 17 seniors are among 34,000 students throughout the nation who are being recognized for their academic promise. The commended students at WHS placed among the top 5 percent of more than one million students who entered the 2000 Merit Program by taking the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

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IN APPRECIATION…Westfield firefighter Michael Giordano, left, and Lieutenant Kenneth Dannevig present a plaque of appreciation to Vicki Pavlou, former owner of Vicki’s Diner in Westfield, for her years of support to the Westfield Fireman’s Benevolent Association (FMBA) Local No. 30, the association that represents the career members of the Westfield Fire Department.

Special Notice: Local Post Offices will be

closed on Veteran’s Day, November 11. Therefore, our newspaper will be delivered on

Wednesday, November 10.

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Democrats Win Freeholder Positions for Fifth Year

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Bell Laboratories Names Mr. Netravali as President

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Republicans Still Control Various Mountainside Seats

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