Westfielders Share Eclectic First-Date Stories

I never thought it would warm up. I am guessing the groundhog is on to something, but I am keeping some sweaters, Snuggies and blankets all ready to go just in case. I hope you had a great Valentine's Day and here at Patch the love didn't end at midnight, because I've got some great first-date stories in today's column. Also, I have some news about a Hall of Famer here in town, a shout-out to a Washington parent and some news about an important event tomorrow night.

Here is what is going on About Town.

LOVE OF A LIFETIME

From eye surgery and a Springsteen concert to lost hikers to biking to the movies and telling a date to "shut up," it is clear that Westfielders' first dates have been pretty productive. They all led to wedding vows!

Ellie Mroz about first date with her husband, Mike:  "Me and Mike's first date was at the movie theater on Rte. 22, which was a Sony at the time. It was almost 14 years ago, we were 14. Mike couldn't get a ride, so he rode his bike there. I was very impressed with his dedication!"

Mona Ward, on her first date with her husband, Steve: " We didn't really have a first date. We were friends for about a year in college. He was graduating and I went home for winter break. We ended up talking on the phone everyday. He picked me up from the airport and we were inseparable from that day on.  So I guess our first date could be considered Newark Airport — real romantic!"

Peter Renwick, on his first date with his wife, Lisa: "Lisa and I met on a mountaintop in Acadia National Park in Maine. I was backpacking alone and Lisa was with a friend. They were in need of help because they did not have a map and I was in the right place at the right time. Almost two years later to the date, I asked Lisa to marry me right at the exact spot where we first met. She said 'Yes.'"

Lori Huber, on her first date with her husband, John: "Our first date is not that interesting. On September 24, 1983, John took me to the Parsippany Hilton for Dinner & Dancing at their night club. The only thing funny is that prior to our official first date I had met John at a party. He kept asking me for my number. I was  uneasy about giving it to him because the host, Randi, was a guy I had dated a few times. John didn't know this, but he happened to work with Randi. So on Monday at the office, he asks Randi about 'Lori Petti.' Randi said, 'She is nice. Why?' And John told him I had given him my number. Randi told he we'd been dating, but I never heard from him again. The rest is history."

Lisa Jackman, on her first date with her husband, Michael: "Dancing until the early hours at Studio 54 in NYC! How old do I feel?"

Joanie Schwartz, on her first date with her husband, Don Rosenthal: "We kissed on the steps at the Morgan Library across from my apartment and talked about getting married. no joke."

Mitch Slater, on his first date with his wife, Leslie Dickstein: "April 12, 1985- Philadelphia- Went to see Tom Hanks in his first film — 'The Man with One Red Shoe.' Remember that classic?. But our second date was a Bruce concert, big shock there,  at JFK Stadium. Leslie had to leave early after an eye injury but, being 24, I stayed for the encore. It was the first time Bruce did "Twist and Shout"! She had to go to Wills Eye Hospital and get a patch on her eye. Love at almost first sight." 

Laura Busch, on her first date with her husband, Peter: "Blind-date fix-up on Valentine's Day weekend."

Brett Druger, on his first date with his wife, Irene :"Irene and I met during our first year of dental school in 2005. We went to a Halloween party. I went as a chicken and Irene went as a cat. We've been together ever since."

Chris Aslanian, on his first date with his wife, Erin: "Love at first sight. That's all you get."

Kathy LaMastra, on her first date with her husband, Al: "Dinner at Houlihan's and the movie "Rain Man".....22 years ago."

Lauren Vernick, on her first date with her husband, Marc: "Marc and I went to Foccacia's in Summit and then drinks at the Marriott in Parsippany . . . we went out 32 days in a row after that first date!"

Liz Schultz, on her first date with her husband, Greg: "Greg and I met officially at a football game at our high school, Burnt Hills in Ballston Lake, NY, when I was a sophomore and he was a senior, and then went to Friday's for dinner. His parents met 35 years earlier at a dance inside the school, a few hundred feet away!"

Karen Doskow, on her first date with her husband, Jeff: "It was 1986, the year the Mets won the World Series. Anyway, it was a blind date. My best friend was dating his best friend. They both were on our first date — and in our wedding! We met up at his small studio apartment in New York. He served us wine, cheese and crackers and played some esoteric music. We instantly started to argue about what music to play. The arguing continued throughout the double-date at a quaint Greek restaurant in the Village. He told me to shut up a handful of times. I thought to myself, ‘Gee, he’s feisty! I think he could be the one.’ And he is. It's been 23 years and he hasn’t stopped telling me to be quiet ever since that night in August."

Sean Carroll,on his first date with his wife, Tanya: "Our first date really happened by accident one night in college. It was about 1 a.m., and Tanya, who was just an acquaintance at that point, told me she wanted to go to Perkins. I had a car, she didn't. I offered to take her to Perkins. We drove to two different Perkins, both of which were closed. We ended up at the City View Diner in Allentown, PA and talked for hours before returning to campus. I knew then that she was special."

Carolyn Buoscio, on her first date with her husband, Anthony: "Anthony took me to see 'Dumb and Dumber' - so embarrassing!  His cousins were sitting in the back, not so coincidentally, to check me out.  A nice dinner for two in NYC would have been just fine."

Carol Clyne, on her first date with her husband, Vincent: "I met Vin because my best friend wanted to meet him. I went up to talk to him for my friend and that was it. He was mine! On our first date, we went to the movies in his blue Volkswagon Beatle, which I thought was it. I just remember being so nervous and was scared if we even touched elbows by chance at the movies."

I can't leave the topic without reminiscing about how Joel and I spent our first date... We were set up on a blind date and I wasn't too thrilled with the idea! But he picked me up and we went to Chili's for dinner and then to the movies to see "The Hand That Rocked The Cradle".  After our date,  he said good night and dropped me off in the street. He didn't even pull into my parent's driveway! I was a little taken back, but I had this weird feeling that we may end up together. We got engaged nine months later!

CONGRATULATIONS, COACH BREWSTER!

The Brewster family has been the backbone of Westfield baseball – some could say Westfield youth athletics – for a half century. Sunday night, the Union County Baseball Association inducted Bob Brewster, the head coach of the WHS baseball team, in to the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame. The induction was part of the 75th annual Hot Stove League Dinner in Mountainside.

As you may know, Coach Brewster’s father, also named Bob, passed away last year and the Board of Education is in the the varsity baseball field behind Edison in his honor. What a great tribute to the entire Brewster family and congratulations to Coach Brewster on this honor!

WASHINGTON PARENTS SHOW IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Every year, the  proves to residents and visitors why it's one of  Westfield's best-loved traditions.

In last week's column, I who were involved in the weekend show. Whether it's performers on stage, in the show orchestra, behind the scenes or on the business end selling ads or creating programs, these people gave up what precious little free time they had to produce their original show, "Get Sm'Art." They all played a great role in staging this hilarious spoof and one parent in particular deserves a special shout-out!

Bill Fallon portrayed one of the lead roles, Winslow Wellington, the main curator of the museum who helped lead the search for the "Washington students" who stole Van Gogh's  "Starry Night." Fallon has an impressive range of acting credits behind him and was a great addition to the cast. Before getting into the financial world, Fallon first hit the boards as a high-school student and went on to perform in a number of off-Broadway shows. As Wellington, he showed off some impressive dance moves during a tap-dance routine to the song "Candy Man." The man's a hoofer, folks!

So, let's have one more curtain call for Bill and the rest of the Washington parents, who've no doubt begun cooking up some ideas for next year's show.

LEARN ABOUT EDUCATION EVALUATIONS

The PTC Special Education Committee has a great event coming up Wednesday night for parents who may need to seek an education evaluation for their child. Ellen Fenster-Kuehl, a psychologist based in Montclair, will be speaking about special education evaluations and how parents can interpret them.

The workshop starts at 7:30 p.m. in the library on the second floor of Edison Intermediate School. There will be a business meeting and parent support group starting at 7 p.m.