Westfield Patch: Latest Articles

School, teachers agree to new contract

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:30:00 -0500

Changes help the district save about $1 million in 2010-2011 school year

By Deborah Levine

6:30am

The Board of Education agreed on terms for a new three-year contract with the district's teachers and support staff that will help Westfield Public Schools cut more than $1 million from the 2010-2011 school-year budget.

The bulk of the savings include changes to health insurance, including eliminating traditional indemnity insurance, increasing office visit and prescription co-pays and require contributions from employees into the plan.

"The positive reaction by our teachers to recognize the fiscal challenges facing the district and taxpayers was evident," said Board of Education President Ginny Leiz on Tuesday.

The Westfield Education Association, which represents about 500 teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses and others, also agreed to eliminate increases in first-year teacher salary from the current school year, and to no increases in stipends for the first year of the contract.

Members of WEA must ratify the new contract and then the school board will vote on it at the next meeting on Tuesday, March 16.

The annual salary increases in the contract of 3.9% are below the state and county average, Leiz said.

Still, both the association and the board recognized that the savings, while helpful, may not completely remove the need to cut jobs in the coming year, depending largely on how much aid the state provides.

"It's an uncertain and difficult time and we don't know what's going to happen" with the budget, said Kim Schumacher, president of the WEA and a guidance counselor at Roosevelt Intermediate School. "We knew we needed to work together to save the district money."

The state Department of Education is expected to announce state aid figures on March 18, two days after Gov. Chris Christie unveils his budget for the coming fiscal year. Christie is anticipated to make cuts to state aid for school districts. The governor announced cuts to the remaining state aid payments for the current fiscal year, including $196,000 for Westfield.

"We didn't go into these negotiations expecting to create an ironclad way of avoiding cuts," said board member Richard Solomon.

PolitickerNJ: Plainfield Councilwoman Gains Key Backing for Freeholder Seat

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:02:00 -0500

Assemblyman Green backs Carter to replace Van Blake on Democratic ticket.

By John Celock

March 9, 2010

Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) has endorsed Plainfield Councilwoman Linda Carter for the Democratic nomination for county freeholder this year. Carter is being endorsed to replace Freeholder Rayland Van Blake of Plainfield on the Democratic ticket. County Democratic officials informed Van Blake on Monday that they would not be supporting him for reelection.

If backed by other county Democrats, Carter would join incumbents Dan Sullivan of Elizabeth and Bette Jane Kowalski of Cranford on the ticket.

WHS Student Releases First CD

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:30:00 -0500

Gaglioti releases CD after winning National High School Teen Idol.

By John Celock

March 9, 2010

It's been a big week for Westfield High School junior Catalina Gaglioti. Later this week she'll be lighting up the WHS stage in "The Mystery of Edward Drood," just a week after the world release of her first CD.

Released during a WHS student filled party Friday night at the Westwood in Garwood, Gaglioti's self titled CD mixes a bubble gum pop theme amongst six songs. The songs were developed between Gleason and a team of song writers, mixing in Gaglioti's own life experiences and her musical philosophy.

"I've always liked that sound, like Kelly Clarkson or Leslie Ray," Gaglioti said of her musical philosophy. "They are very powerful girl singers. My music is very bubble gum pop with a rock edge. It's an upbeat fun melody."

Gaglioti's road to musical stardom started in 2008 when she applied to be a part of National High School Teen Idol. Too young for American Idol, Gaglioti applied for the teenage program, where she worked with a team of music coaches during the experience. Going through the process and working with mentors, Gagalioti won the competition and the ability to work with a music producer, Blake Althem, to develop her own CD.

Gaglioti's CD release comes on the heels of another group of young Westfielders' musical success. The Static Jacks, an independent band consisting of primarily recent WHS grads, released a new CD last year along with signing a contract to have their music featured on MTV shows.

Gaglioti, whose CD is available on iTunes and CD Baby, has been singing and involved in music since she can remember. Working with a voice coach since early childhood, she is looking to continuing to pursue music in her life after she graduates in 2011.

"It's always been my biggest passion," she said about music. "It is amazing that you can start see the pieces coming together.

After Spirited Debate Zoning Board Approves Connecticut Street Pergola

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0500

Board develops definition of tressle like structure with no enclosed roof.

By John Celock

March 9, 2010

A Connecticut Street family is getting a new pergola following a debate among the Zoning Board of Adjustment Monday night.

Vassil Mihaylov presented a case to the board requesting the pergola, an open air tressle structure, for his at 105 Connecticut Street. He said his family wanted the decorative covering to provide some shade and decoration for the family gatherings they hold in the backyard.

The request ignited a spirited debate among board members, who discussed how under the law, a pergola, even though not enclosed can be treated similar to other enclosed living spaces such as family rooms. Mihaylov was asking for a variance regarding land use laws governing the amount of enclosed living space on the property. Several board members questioned if the Mihaylov pergola would set a precedent regarding future living space structures and how would the board handle future requests for pergolas.

"We should take each pergola separately," board member Chris Masciale said to his colleagues as part of a discussion on future pergola policy.

The board granted the request, noting that Mihaylov said the pergola would not attach the house and cover the existing patio and not be raised above ground. This would not make the pergola a distraction to neighbors enjoying their backyards, according to board members.

"The pergola will be on the ground level and not raised higher," board chairman Willian Heinkel said. "That is an important distinction."

The pergola discussion did not end with approval as the board wanted to attach to the application a policy setting that the variance only covered a pergola on the property and not a future enclosed structure if Mihaylov or future home owners desired. Research by board attorney Vincent Loughlin showed that the town has not written a law governing pergolas in town.

The board voted to append it's own hastily written definition of a pergola to the application. The board's decision defines a pergola as a open air tressle like structure with no permanent roof and open on the sides.

Police Arrest Westfield Resident for Car Thefts

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 -0500

Resident found looking into vehicles before breaking into car.

By John Celock

March 9, 2010

Westfield Police arrested a 19-year old resident Friday for theft from vehicles on the south side.

Police Captain Clifford Auchter said that Akeem Noray was arrested after police received a call of an individual looking into numerous cars parked in the area of Park Street and Summit Avenue. Upon responding to the scene, police found Noray, who met the description provided to police.

Noray is accused of fleeing the scene on foot and later being found in the back yard of a home on the 600 block of Boulevard. Auchter said Noray is accused of holding property belonging to a resident on the 600 block of Boulevard at the time of his arrest.

Noray has been charged with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest. He was transported to the Union County jail in lieu of $25,000. The case has been turned over to the county prosecutor for prosecution.

The arrest comes a week after a report of an unlocked car on the north side of town being broken into in the driveway of a private residence. The owner of the car reports that a mink coat was stolen in that case. It is not known if there is a connection between the two cases.

The car theft arrest comes after a string of home burglaries around town over the past year. Most of the home burglaries have been centered in north side and south side neighborhoods near major highways including Route 22 and the Garden State Parkway.

Photo Gallery: Girl Scouts Celebrate in Mindowaskin

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Westfield's Girl Scouts kick off National Girl Scout Week in Mindowaskin.

By Vadim Rud

March 9, 2010

As the 'Friends' theme song blared in Mindowaskin Park Monday night, Westfield's Girl Scouts heard that "it may not be your day, your week, your month or even your year," when in fact it is their week.

Westfield's Girl Scouts kicked off National Girl Scout Week with a lighting ceremony at the band stand in Mindowakin. Over 100 Girl Scouts from around Westfield attended the simple ceremony which kicked off with a flag ceremony and ended with a luminary lit friendship circle.

Girl Scouts collected canned food items during the ceremony, which featured Mayor Andy Skibitsky speaking to the Girl Scouts about the importance of what they do in the town. The Girl Scouts were excited to view a video montage of current and historic photos of the Girl Scouts in Westfield set to pop music, with the Friends' theme kicking off the popular video.

Stop & Shop Expansion Discussion Delayed Til May

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:30:00 -0500

Scheduling conflicts between board and supermarket's witnesses cause delay.

By John Celock

March 9, 2010

The Zoning Board of Adjustment decided Monday night to push consideration of the proposed Stop & Shop expansion to a special meeting on May 12.

The delay came after the supermarket's attorney, Howard Geneslaw, informed the board that he could not be present at the March 24 special meeting first proposed by the board. The amount of testimony and public comment likely to occur in the Stop & Shop issues necessitates the need for a special board meeting. Geneslaw and the board could not agree to an acceptable date in April, with May 12 being the earliest date available to both sides.

The board had limited dates available in April, given several other cases requiring special meetings, along with the part time nature of the board member jobs.

Stop & Shop has applied to expand the store, and parking lot, to include two additional properties along Elm Street. The supermarket has purchased the building's at 195 and 203 Elm Street for the proposed expansion, which will include an extension of the store's existing parking lot.

Monday's discussion did not touch on any of the land use and traffic issues expected to dominate the application, but rather on the procedural issues, including the date of the special meeting. The board is expected to tackle the issue of what variances are needed for the expansion project.

Stop & Shop is appealing to the board a decision by the town's zoning officer to require more sizable variances for the expansion project, which pushed the decision from the Planning Board to the Board of Adjustment. The decision of the board in the procedural case could lead to the Board of Adjustment to hearing the full case following the appeal vote.

Geneslaw used his comments on Monday night to preview his case to the board, saying he intends to call a professional planner and a project engineer to testify before the board. He also said he will question the zoning officer before the board.

He said that the procedural nature of the current case does not require the full cast of witnesses needed for the full case for a variance. He said that witnesses of that type would likely come after the full board makes a decision on the procedural case. This could include a traffic consultant to discuss the traffic impact an expansion would have on Elm Street.

"Being this is simply an appeal of the zoning officer, a traffic officer is not needed," Geneslaw said.

French Government Honors WHS Teacher

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:46:00 -0500

Hoffmann receives award created by Napolean

By John Celock

March 8, 2010

Marie-Laure Hoffmann did not set out to become a French teacher.

A native of France, Hoffmann holds an MBA and worked in business, dividing her time between France and New York, before she got married and settled in the United States. Looking for a career that would work with being a mother, Hoffmann settled on teaching, looking forward to less travel in a new line of work. She has been teaching at Westfield High School for 12 years after nine years at Summit High School.

On Monday night, Hoffmann is being honored by the French government for her teaching career. During a ceremony at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in New York, she will be presented with the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques.

Hoffmann is being honored for the award for her contributions to the teaching of the French language in the United States. Outside of her career at WHS, she has spent the last decade as the president of the American Association of Teachers of French chapter in New Jersey. In this role, she has been one of the state's leading advocates for the teaching of French, along with promoting French culture and coordinating awards programs.

"I've done workshops with them to supervising the awards to give out to students," Hoffmann said of her work with the association.

Hoffmann's award comes with a long history. Founded in 1808 by Napoleon, the award was designed by the French emperor as a "governmental esteem" for "devotion and accomplishment in the field of education," according to documents supplied by the French Embassy. At the time of the original decree, Napoleon set the award up as an esteem, which was later upgraded in 1955 by the French government to be an order, on par with other awards, including the Legion of Honor.

Hoffmann's was nominated for the award based on her work with the French teachers' association. Initial decisions were made by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in New York, before the finalists were sent on to Paris. The final award was made by French Education Minister Luc Chatel.

Hoffmann is clearly an advocate for the French language and the continued teaching of French. In a time where many encourage Spanish in classrooms or a move to Japanese or the Chinese languages, she said from a business perspective, French remains one of the best to study at the high school level

"French goes back a long time," Hoffmann said. "There has always been a close tie with the countries the United States has been allies with. French is spoken on all continents and it is the language of diplomacy. The United States' top trade partner is Canada and we do a lot of trade with Quebec. There are a lot of Quebecois and French companies in New Jersey. French has its place of value."

Hoffmann said the WHS French program has remained strong with many students coming through the program and continuing the study of French at the college level, along with traveling in French speaking countries. Hoffmann maintains a close relationship with many of her former students and follows their future French interests.

During the Monday night ceremony, Hoffmann will be honored alongside three other recipients, all teachers. The award has been the talk of the high school, with many teachers and students celebrating the honoring of one of Westfield's educators by the French government.

"We're very proud of her and we're glad her efforts have been recognized," WHS principal Peter Renwick said.

Hoffmann said looking back at her decision to switch from business to teaching, she is glad she made the choice, noting she has enjoyed her entire education career. Looking at the award, she said someone once mentioned it to her, but she did not think it would be something that she'd end up receiving.

"A long time ago, someone said 'you will receive this' and I thought that would be nice," Hoffmann said. "As time went by, I did not think about it. When I heard I was being honored, I was thrilled."

PolitickerNJ: Democrats Drop Freeholder Van Blake From Reelection Ticket

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:31:00 -0500

Plainfield resident says the nomination will go to a Linden resident.

By John Celock

March 8, 2010

PolitickerNJ is reporting that the Union County Democratic Committee has decided not to back Freeholder Rayland Van Blake of Plainfield for a second term in the fall. Van Blake said the decision was made in order to nominate a Linden resident on the ticket to assist a party backed candidate for Linden mayor. The only Linden resident on the freeholder board, Nancy Ward, is now a Westfield resident.

Freeholder Chairman Dan Sullivan of Elizabeth and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski of Cranford, both Democrats, are expected to run for reelection. County Republicans will nominate candidates on March 27.

Letter to the Editor: Slater Stresses Finance and Budget Experience

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0500

Board of Education candidate discusses platform.

March 8, 2010

To the Editor,

As a parent of two, I have been fortunate to see my children experience many wonderful aspects of a Westfield education. When my son, Harrison, entered first grade at Tamaques School in 1999, he had an extraordinary teacher named Miss Loesner (now Mrs. D'Onofrio). Miss Loesner made Harrison feel like a million bucks— her warmth, dedication and enthusiasm provided the perfect foundation for his journey through the Westfield Schools. My daughter, Georgia, has a seventh grade English teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate School who brings her "A game" every day. Miss Hodges' intelligence and creativity encourages students to to dig deep—to stretch their minds and to write with great passion. It's teachers like these, and the many other fine educators in town, that have inspired me to run for the Westfield Board of Education. I want to make sure every child in Westfield has the opportunity to experience the magic of a superb teacher.

My decision to run for the BOE started just a few miles down the road, in Springfield, New Jersey. My public school education led me to George Washington University, in Washington D.C.. After graduation, I had a brief but exciting career in broadcast journalism, working for Larry King, Charlie Rose and National Public Radio. I learned a lot in those early days: the ups and downs of the non-profit world, how to set priorities and how to make the most of limited resources.

As a financial advisor for the past 23 years, I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse clientele. That experience has shown me that everyone has different values and goals, and different groups of people have different financial priorities. My experience has also taught me that effective financial management is only possible with proper planning. I believe this holds true for public finances as well. I am very proud of the detailed financial plans I have prepared for my clients and their families over the past three decades.

Unfortunately, even effective financial planning has become more difficult and complicated in this economy. Many people are out of work, and the debt levels, on personal, town, state, and federal levels, have soared. Proper financial management needs to start with financial literacy. This, I believe, will be our gateway to a brighter future – understanding our financial constraints and creatively working within those constraints to maximize the benefit of those dollars. Those who know me and have worked with me know that one of my biggest concerns is our childrens' lack of financial responsibility. We have one of the lowest savings rate in the world and our children do not seem to understand the need to save. They have lived their entire lives in an economy of plenty and have not learned, in my view, the concept of saving for a rainy day. I am personally gratified to see new legislation that will mandate teaching financial literacy in our high schools. This is an excellent first step, but I feel action must be taken so that our children learn financial skills at an even earlier age. That's the only way to stop the current trend: Last year, more than 120,000 people age 18-25 declared bankruptcy. To put that into perspective, more people declared bankruptcy last year than graduated from college. This is a challenge we must face. We will have ever more limited funds to use to educate our children, and we must incorporate into that education an appreciation of the value of money and an understanding of fiscal responsibility. The best way to do that is by setting a good example – in the way we run our schools and our households.

Westfield has a great education system and a caring and dedicated Board of Education. Many members of the Board have served for nearly 9 years, and they should be commended and thanked for their service. I believe, though, that it is time for new and creative ideas to manage the fiscal emergency that our state education system is facing. I believe that we need a board member who has experience with budgeting and financial responsibility who can bring new ideas on how to manage within our financial constraints. I can bring those facets to the Board and, equally important, I am passionate about properly educating our children and preparing them to become informed and civic-minded citizens of our future. I hope you will support my candidacy. Please contact me to discuss any of your education concerns at slateronboard@gmail.com or on my Facebook page (slateronboard2010).

Mitch Slater

Candidate for the Westfield Board of Education