The Record-Press closes after 23 years

by The Record-Press

Friday September 26, 2008, 10:23 AM

Note: For coverage of the Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood communities, please visit the Union County page and remember to change your bookmarks.

The following was printed in the Sept. 26 edition of The Record-Press:

You are holding in your hand the final edition of the Record-Press serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood.

It is always a difficult decision to close a newspaper, and this is especially true for a paper such as the Record-Press which for 23 years has served three very special communities -- recording the full spectrum of our readers' lives and interests including the births and deaths, the public events and private moments, the youth sports and the senior citizen activities, and so much more.

However, the economic reality of shrinking revenues in the Record-Press and expanding expenses make this decision unavoidable.

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Moonglowers perform in NYC; appear on CBS News

by The Record-Press

Wednesday September 24, 2008, 11:06 AM

Alex Taner/The Record Press."The Moonglowers," a jazz band from the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School performed at the Race for the Cure 5k in Manhattan on Sunday morning in front of 30,000 people. Vinnie Turturiello, who supervises the band, said they were featured on CBS Morning News at 7 a.m. as part of their coverage of the event.

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Two garages burn down in grill fire

by Peter Rittweger/The Record-Press

Tuesday September 23, 2008, 3:05 PM

FANWOOD -- Two residential garages and a vehicle were destroyed by a grill fire at a Stewart place residence on Sunday.

The free-standing structure at 34 Stewart Place, where the fire originated, collapsed from the fire. The other garage, which was located next door at 28 Stewart Place, shares a driveway with the collapsed structure. It was destroyed in addition to a two-door 1997 Honda Accord, which was parked in the driveway, according to Fanwood Lt. Richard Trigo.

Police responded to the call at 7:43 a.m. and arrived to find both structures and the car ablaze. There were no injuries.

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Lance revives 'Stender is a spender' campaign slogan

by Peter Rittweger/The Record-Press

Monday September 22, 2008, 11:04 AM

FANWOOD -- Linda Stender, the democratic Congressional candidate in New Jersey's seventh district criticized her Republican opponent Leonard Lance for launching a new negative ad campaign on September 11 on Friday when she said that it's a day for remembrance, not for partisan politics.

"Like presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, I suspended my TV advertising yesterday out of respect for the victims of 9/11," she said. "It was a day to put aside partisan politics. It is disgraceful that Leonard Lance chose instead to use 9/11 to launch a new negative and blatantly false TV ad against me."

Stender is speaking of Lance's newest TV ad that rehashes Congressman Mike Ferguson's old anti-Stender rhetoric "Linda Stender is a spender."

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Changing assessment standards lower scores

by Peter Rittweger/The Record-Press

Saturday September 20, 2008, 9:04 AM

WESTFIELD -- Changes to the Intermediate School wrestling program were the hot topic of Westfield's Board of Education meeting last week, as the board agreed to allow sixth graders to participate in the program this year.

Prior to this year, only seventh and eighth graders participated in Westfield's wrestling program, though this year the intermediate wrestling school coaches, Glen Kurz and Vince Juliano, have requested the sixth graders be permitted to participate. Their request was founded on a number of factors.

The coaches informed the board that Westfield has, in the past, had to forfeit matches and points because they lacked wrestlers in the lower weight range of 70 pounds.

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SP pension contribution to increase 14.9 percent

by Peter Rittweger/The Record-Press

Friday September 19, 2008, 4:03 PM

SCOTCH PLAINS -- Pension contributions for next year that were outlined at Tuesday night's conference meeting, present a grim outlook for next year's budget.

Municipal Manager Michael Capabianco outlined an overall 14.9 percent increase in pension contributions for next year, which is significantly above the state average of 8.9 percent.

The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) which covers government employees will see its township contribution increase by $85,184, or 32.04 percent. Police and fire will see an $85,277 increase, or 9.5 percent from this year. This amounts to a combined increase of over $170,000, he said.

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Autumn is best time for planting

by The Record-Press

Thursday September 18, 2008, 6:25 PM

SCOTCH PLAINS -- Through the long, sultry days of summer may seem as recent as this morning's news headlines, the reality of a cooler season is upon us and, according to the professionals at Parker Gardens in Scotch Plains, that means one of the best times of the year to plant shrubs and trees.

Steve Parker, owner of the popular 14-acre facility, cites a combination of factors which play into the need for planting during the fall season.

"One of the best times of year to plant trees and shrubs is during the early fall," he explained. "Less humidity and less heat than during the summer months means newly planted vegetation will incur much less stress."

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WF Y to launch annual Activate America program

by The Record-Press

Thursday September 18, 2008, 6:12 PM

WESTFIELD -- The Westfield Area Y will kick off its annual seventh grade Activate America Program on Sept. 21 at 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Main Y facility, 220 Clark St., Westfield.

The program is available to all seventh graders in the service areas of Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside and Westfield and is intended to heighten awareness and combat youth obesity.
This Activate America program will run Sept. 2008 through June 2009 and will include the following:

All participants who do not currently have active Y membership will receive a complimentary limited pre-teen program plus membership to the Westfield Area Y that will last through June 2009. This membership includes:

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