Union County Week in Review: Juvenile Crashes Car Into Storefront; Summit Hosts Girls Night Out

Berkeley Heights

Berkeley Aquatic Members Elected at U.S. Aquatic Sports Convention

At the recent United States Aquatic Sports Convention held in Greensboro, North Carolina Sept. 10- 17, three members of the Berkeley Aquatic Club family won elected positions, one received a prestigious award and another participated as an athlete representative.

Berkeley Heights PTOs Fund $236K in School Enhancements

The six PTOs that serve the Berkeley Heights Public Schools funded a combined total of $236,000 in enhancements during the 2011-2012 school year. This amount comprises more than $10,000 in teacher grants, more than $53,000 in enrichment programs and assemblies for students, and $114,000 in equipment gifts to the schools.

Clark

Clark BOE Hosts 'Showcase of Success'

At the Oct. 9 Clark Board of Education Meeting, the Board held a special “Showcase of Success” to celebrate the many accomplishments and honors bestowed upon students and staff alike, as well as the District’s climb from #101 to #40 in New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s ratings of public schools in New Jersey. On hand to honor, speak, and hand certificates to the staff and students were Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, 18th Legislative District Assemblyman and General Assembly Education Chair Patrick Diegnan, and 22nd Legislative District Assemblywoman Linda Stender.

UNICO Hosts Italian Festival

Last weekend, the Clark chapter of UNICO held their 6th  Annual Italian American Feast. The feast consisted of many favorite Italian foods including sausage, pizza, zeppole, eggplant, and much more. There were game trailers, rides, craft vendors and a 3D Flat Screen TV was raffled off. Clark residents were entertained by Brother John Brown, live band on Friday night and Sounds of the Street doo-wop band on Saturday night. 

Cranford

Township Committee Candidates Will Participate in Forum

The two candidates running for a seat on the Cranford Township Committee will have an opportunity to share their views on local issues during a Candidates' Forum that the League of Women Voters will host on Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. in town hall.

Fanwood

Former owner of Fanwood Pub Launches Convertible High Heel Shoe Company

Sean Flannery, resident of Mountainside and former part-owner of Flannery's in Fanwood, launches a high heel shoe company that converts a single pair of high heels into flats with just one click. Flannery's company, Camileon Heels, has been featured on numerous talk shows and in multiple magazines, celebrity Rachel Ray was quoted saying, "now woman can compete with James Bond."

Fanwood Police Department is looking for a woman in her 30's who was reported stealing a $5,000 wedding dress from Seng Couture on South Avenue on Sept. 28. Nearby security camera footage shows the woman walking down the street wearing a pink or red dress and carrying the $ 5,000 dress in her arms.

Garwood

Councl Discusses Zoning Change Notifications

The bulk of Garwood Council's Tuesday night discussion centered on a question posed by resident Al Delconte: Should residents be notified of zoning changes in the master plan? The borough is required to adopt a master plan every 10 years, and the 2009 plan formally adopted by ordinance on Oct. 25 of last year changed several of the borough's multi-family home zones into single-family home zones. Legally, the borough has no obligation to individually notify residents of the change.

New Providence

Chatham Minor Drives Car Into Adam's Fine Clothing in New Providence

Pieces of shattered glass still sprinkled the storefront of Adam’s Fine Clothing For Men in New Providence on Monday afternoon, one day after a 16-year-old Chatham resident with a learner’s permit drove through one of the store’s large, double-paned glass windows, causing thousands of dollars in damages to the storefront and merchandise.

New Providence Borough Council members moved one step closer toward making $300,000 in improvements to three fields in the borough, following the introduction of a $190,000 bond ordinance on Monday night. The $300,000 would finance “various field and park improvements, consisting of grading, reconstruction of fields, drainage, irrigation, fencing and backstops for Hillview Field and the design/engineering projects for Lincoln Field and Oakwood Park, including all work and materials necessary,” according to the draft ordinance.

Springfield

Police: Two Men Arrested for Stealing Cooking Oil

Springfield police reported that two Newark men were arrested for attempting to steal waste cooking oil from the West 22 Diner. On Oct. 1, Officer Michael Wlazlo arrested Daniel Avilez and Omar Juarez at the West 22 Diner after they were allegedly seen trying to steal from a waste cooking oil container. Police said the men used a van outfited with a tank and pump to siphon oil from tanks. Both were charged with theft.

Multiple Drivers Land in Hospital Following Route 78 Accident

Emergency workers from Springfield, Summit and Berkeley Heights responded to a multi-auto accident on Interstate 78 on Oct. 8. The accident occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m. at mile marker 38, on the border of Summit and Springfield. The the accident involved a tractor-trailer and eight cars. New Jersey State Police said that the injuries sustained in the accident were minor.

Summit

Merck Announce It Will Move Its Global HQ to Summit

The company will close its current headquarters building in Whitehouse Station, N.J. The transition process is expected to begin in 2014 and be completed in mid-2015. 

Girls' Night Out Another Success for Downtown Summit

Over a 1,000 people reportedly flocked to Summits for the second Girls' Night Out event of the year. Check out the photos from this event.

Westfield

Westfield Man Charged in Philadelphia Wedding Brawl

Matthew Sofka, 26, of the 500 block of Edgar Road in Westfield has been charged with assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and riot by Philadelphia Police in connection with a wedding brawl that took place early Sunday morning in Philadelphia. Sofka, who was attending his brother's wedding, was freed on bail Monday and his lawyer, Fortunato Perri Jr., said he will fight the charges. Vincent Sannuti, 57, of Huntingdon Valley, the uncle of Sofka's brother's new wife, suffered a heart attack as he attempted to avoid the melee that involved as many as 100 guests, according to reports.  

Westfield Police Capt. Rodger, Officer Swiderski Sworn In

Surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, Westfield Police Capt. Scott Rodger and new officer John Swiderski were sworn in at Tuesday evening's Westfield Town Council meeting. Westfield Police Chief David Wayman was also recognized for graduating from  the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. Also, during the meeting Mary Robinson, executive director of Imagine, announced the center for coping with loss will host a Night of Remembrance on Nov. 15. She also mentioned that Imagine would like to partner with the Town of Westfield and the Friends of Mindowaskin Park to create a reflection garden in the park. Speaking of gardening, Jane Curtis of the Garden Club of Westfield, announced the club will be celebrating its 90th anniversary with a luncheon on Oct. 30 at Echo Lake Country Club. Westfield resident Greg Kasko also addressed the Council to dispute recent attacks against his veracity.