The Week in Union County

Much of this week was spent reviewing what happened in 2011, but there's still a few new stories you might have missed as you prepared for 2012. Here we roundup the region's top stories from the past week throughout Union County. Happy New Year!

Cranford

Cranford is looking at ways to protect local historic landmarks. In a letter to the mayor, the Planning Board Attorney, Nicholas Giuditta III said "recent architectural losses have heightened the importance of designating and protecting the significant historic areas and buildings in Cranford."

In sports, the Cranford Boys Basketball team advanced to the finals of the Cranford Tournament with an easy win over Nutley powered by Reggie Green's dominant 23-point 15 rebound effort. The Cranford Hockey Team won a 6-5 thriller over Westfield in the semifinals of the Cron Tournament. For more: 

Scotch-Plains Fanwood

Episode 2 aired this week, featuring Fanwood Memorial Children's Librarian Susan Staub. Staub spoke about the changes that have been made to the department during her 16-year tenure at the library.

On Friday, Patch went inside the scrumptious world of cake pops. , supplying artistic treats to local functions and parties in the community.

In sports, SPFHS Bowling Team Captain Nick Stawicki bowled the second perfect game in Scotch Plains history on Dec. 23 against Roselle Catholic. With 12 throws and 12 stikes, Stawicki accomplished something some bowlers never achieve in a lifetime of playing the sport.

Summit

Summit Police played a part in the wild police pursuit of a carjacking suspect who was speeding at 90mph along Interstate 78 yesterday, according to police. The suspect was later apprehended by Newark cops after being shot several times.

Around 9:30p.m. on Tuesday, Summit Police received a call from New Jersey State Police that they were in pursuit of a 2005 Black Audi. "One of our officers took a position on 78 West," said Lt. John Dougherty.

You lost in your last year. Now that you're going to be mayor, do you feel vindicated?

Ellen Dickson: I knew that I would probably never win as a freeholder because the demographics are such that we are outnumbered by quite a large margin by Democrats in Union County.

But I knew it was a race where I could make some points about county government, and it was a year where I didn’t have to give up my council seat.

New Providence

New Providence teen Jack McDonald has set up The GI Tickets Foundation, a not-for-profit organization accepts monetary donations to pay for tickets to various events for active members of the military.

The junior at New Providence High School experienced the loss of a soldier through a coworker when the idea for his organization, the GI Tickets Foundation, came to him.

“A guy I caddy with, he lost is son in Afghanistan,” McDonald said. “He had two sons that were serving, the other one came back…and he took him out to a ball game.”

McDonald said that he had always wanted to do something for soldiers―both of his grandfathers were officers in the Navy―but after this experience, his idea transgressed into something larger. Seeing how much the man’s son enjoyed the game, it clicked.

“I had a path to take,” he said.

McDonald said most online donations are in the $100­–$500 range.

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Cassie Squeri led the Pioneers to a Hilltopper Holiday Championship Victory. Cassie Squeri led all scorers with 24 points as New Providence rolled to a 46-35 victory in the finals of the Hilltopper Holiday Tournament.

While both teams struggled in the first half, it was the Pioneers who came out of the break with a renewed energy and effort on the offensive end.

Although both teams struggled on the offensive end in the first half, New Providence found itself with a 15-6 lead. The team used impressive zone defense to force the Summit players into turnovers or poor looks at the basket. While the Hilltoppers too played strong defense in the half, they still were in a hole that they ultimately could not dig themselves out of.

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New Providence Boys Basketball Bounced Millburn in the Cougar Classic in Chatham. The Pioneers played a solid first half, working their passing offense to precision and then hitting seven-of-nine three-point field goal attempts. New Providence also committed just one foul and turned the ball over only five times in the first 16 minutes, in a quick first half.

Following two, small, early-game deficits, New Providence led the rest of the way en route to a commanding 53-44 triumph over Millburn in the Cougar Classic at Chatham.

Leading the way for the Pioneers (3-1) against Millburn was senior guard Seth Keller, who poured in a game-high 19 points. He made all three of his first-half three-point attempts and finished with five overall, including two more for the first six points of the third quarter.

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NPHS Marching Band was unable to play at Giants Stadium. The was supposed to perform Sunday, Dec. 18, at Met Life Stadium for the New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins game. But when Giants wide receiver Devin Thomas was carted off the field for a serious injury during the final play in the first half, that meant the band wouldn't get to march. Moving Thomas from the field took up the time that the New Providence High School Marching Band would have been performing on the field.

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Paolo’s Kitchen, owned by New Providence residents Paula and Paolo Vieira, has made a splash in the community. Paolo’s Kitchen is the Vieiras’ attempt to recreate that nostalgic Italian community grocer, where the unmistakable aroma of cheese, salami, peppers and other Italian ingredients fill the air while staff create a connection with the customers it serves.  Paolo and Paula are an integral part of the New Providence community in other ways;  the couple lives in town and Paula is graduate of New Providence High School and a teacher at Salt Brook School.

Because they are residents, the Vieira's conduct business with a strong sense of community. And it is that sense of community that drives their sense of what an Italian grocer and food establishment should be: friendly, built on fresh food, and infused with a strong sense of customer service with a homey feel.

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On December 17 at 3:09 a.m., New Providence patrols responded to Mountain Avenue at the intersection of Ryder Way on a report from a motorist that there was a driver asleep at the wheel.  Upon patrols arrival, they observed a white SUV with a driver that appeared to be sleeping.  As officers were on both sides of the vehicle attempting to check the welfare of the driver, the SUV began to accelerate away from the officers driving off the roadway crashing into a tree.  While the driver continued to spin the tires to the SUV, officers broke a window and were able to shut the vehicle off.  Steven Voytac, 25, of Berkeley Heights was arrested for driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.  He was released to a family member with a pending court date. 

Westfield

Westfielders mourned the loss of Anthony Grasso, Westfield High School's biology teacher of more than 23 years. A funeral mass was held at Holy Trinity church. Students and the Westfield Parent Teacher Council are collecting contributions to donate to Grasso's wife Jamie and four children.

Union County filmmaker Ken Castellano will debut his second independent film 'Return to Start' at the Rialto Theatre on Thursday, Jan. 5 and Thursday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. Following the one-hour feature, the writer and director will host a 15-minute question and answer session with the audience.

In part one of a two-part series, Patch profiled four of the eight candidates who have applied to fill the vacant seat on the Westfield Board of Education.

Frank Pace is the Westfield Post Office's new postmaster. Despite the fact that he's the youngest highest-ranking postal service employee in New Jersey, he boasts 25 years of experience.  

Clark-Garwood

Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) recently announced five New Jersey fire departments have received more than $1.7 million in federal funding. Eligible uses of this grant funding include investments in training, equipment, vehicle acquisition, health programs, and facility modifications.

After composing and delivering Thanksgiving letters to patients in the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Wards at RWJ University Medical Center in Rahway, students in the extra-curricular club extended the community service call to the entire school in December, hoping to get 70 letters to deliver for the holidays. Not only did the two intended wards receive letters for each patient, but every ward at Rahway Hospital received Valley Road's holiday cards for their patients, too.