The Week in Union County

Every week, Patch takes a look back at the region's top stories. See below for town-by-town coverage.

Clark-Garwood

To fill vacancies in the department after recent retirements – and the promotion of Lieutenant Bruce Underhill to Chief – Probationary patrolmen George A. Suggs and Andrew M. Chuddy were sworn in at the last borough council meeting, while officers Mario Morelli and Samuel Rocco were promoted to Sergeant. The council also approved the promotions of James Wright and Douglas Stoffer to Lieutenant and James Pipala to Captain. They will be sworn in at the Sept. 13 meeting.

which consisted of questions asked on the spot and a humorous prepared speech. The group is one of 156 public speaking clubs in District 83 of Toastmasters International. Phil Munkacsy of South Bound Brook took 1st place in the District Humorous Speech Contest. Munkacsy’s speech was called "California vs. New Jersey, Tofu vs. Pork Roll."

Summit

The Summit Police Department is looking for more witnesses of an altercation at a gas station where a 15-year-old Summit resident was stabbed on Thursday evening. According to witness accounts, the youth and a gas station attendant named Ryan Zahn became involved in a physical altercation on Thursday evening, at which time Zahn brandished a knife and stabbed the youth in the abdomen. The youth, who had been in a verbal beef with a gas station employee for weeks, is in critical condition at Morristown Memorial Hospital Trauma Center.


In other Summit news, the Overlook Medical Center opened its doors on the Thomas Glasser Caregivers Center this month. The center is a place of respite and resource dedicated to caregivers of loved ones with extended hospital stays. Reminiscent in appearance of a hotel suite, the center provides a quiet place to rest, reflect, and conduct private conversations; a resource library for caregivers; and a kitchenette for snacks and beverages and computer use, all free of charge. In addition, the center offers relaxation therapies, guided meditation, massage, and pet therapy; referrals for nutrition, exercise, wellness, and financial counseling; pastoral care; and support groups led by a licensed social worker. 

Springfield

Two people were taken to Morristown Hospital with injuries following
a two-car accident in the parking lot of Jonathan Dayton High School on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Reportedly, a driver lost consciousness while driving in the school’s parking lot. The car rolled into a parked car—which hit a pedestrian—before hitting the school.

On Thursday, Aug. 18, former Springfield resident and convicted swindler Carlo Chiaese was sentenced to just short of five years in prison. Chiaese, a financial advisor with a practice in Westfield, told his clients he was placing their money in conservative investments when he was actually using it to fund a lavish personal lifestyle. For stealing more than $2 million from his clients, he received a 58-month sentence.

Cranford

Police arrested six people in connection with an that led to the delayed opening of the Orange Avenue Pool on August 13. The arrests were made following an investigation by Detective Sgt. Christopher Polito. According to Sgt. Gerard Quinn, the vandalism was discovered on Aug. 13 at 1:09 a.m. during a routine security check of the pool facility. Police found that numerous items of furniture and other property had been placed inside the swimming pool. One adult, Connor DeMars, 18, of Cranford was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Four Cranford juveniles ages 16-17 were also arrested. All of the suspects have pending court appearances.

About a week after concerned residents began to guard their small pets after learning that local police were forced to kill a coyote on Mitchell Place, residents are starting to realize another problem that is occurring. Though less menacing than coyotes, deer are starting to become an issue in some neighborhoods. Residents have complained of deer eating their plants and vegetable gardens. Deer wandering into the roadway is also a concern.

Police announced that last October’s of a Cranford woman near in Westfield remains an open police investigation. Westfield Police Captain David Wayman said last week that the Oct. 10 case continues to be investigated by the detective bureau and that no arrests have been made. At the time of the incident, the victim said that two men were involved. The case involved a 20-year-old female resident walking home from Westfield in the early morning hours of Oct. 10. The victim said that as she was walking along South Chestnut Street towards North Avenue around 4 a.m., a white man, described as 35 to 40 years old started following her. The woman told police that a white minivan pulled up next to her and the man forced her into the van.

Westfield

Ferraro's, the landmark Italian restaurant downtown, is one step closer to being reconstructed after the after a three-hour hearing Thursday night. The board had delayed consideration on the matter after a contentious July 18 hearing, where the company presented plans for a three-story restaurant that ran contrary to the town's liquor laws. The revised plans include a two-story restaurant that will sit 190 dining guests on the ground floor and 50 on the second floor, while the third floor will be a "separate entity" that the family will lease out to a yet-to-be determined tenant. The original Ferraro's was destroyed in a fire in May.

At Tuesday's Town Council meeting, Mayor Andy Skibitsky discussed the recently-released report regarding the effectiveness of the controversial pedestrian activated stoplight near the corner of Central Avenue and Clover Street. He said the report at meeting its three primary goals: providing a safe walkway for pedestrians, minimizing traffic congestion, and preventing cut-through traffic on nearby side streets. Despite the report's findings, several residents continued their 11-month opposition to the location of the light and continued to request that it be moved to the intersection of Central and Clover. Emotions got the best of both residents and board members, as excessive shouting caused Skibitsky to temporarily adjourn the meeting until order could be restored.

An armed robber at 801 South Avenue, near the corner of Cumberland Street, on Sunday afternoon. A police report indicated the robber showed the station's attendant a small black handgun before telling him to hand over the money. The police department is actively investigating several leads into the matter. No injuries were reported.

New Providence

, New Providence police officers handled a report of a stolen motor vehicle from 890 Mountain Ave., a report of damage to the security window gates at the  snack bar, damage to street signs in various locations anf reports of graffiti around the borough. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact the New Providence Police Department at 908-665-1111. 

The New Providence Zoning Board of Adjustment  Monday night, while tabling two applications until more details could be provided. Board members unanimously approved construction of decks at 58 Whitman Dr. and 12 W. Third St., and construction of additions at 195 Union Ave., 284 Runnymede Pkwy., 977 Central Ave. and 451 Charnwood Rd. Items tabled for the Sept. 19 meeting include an application to enclose the underside of an existing, second-story deck at 25 Seven Oaks Dr., and an application to erect a 6 ft. fence at 31 Osborne Dr.

Berkeley Heights

Police arrested three 15-year-old-male juveniles, all from Berkeley Heights after responding to a burglar alarm at Columbia School on Thursday August 11. Upon their arrival, police headquarters advised officers that motion detectors had been activated throughout the school. Officers then found three bicycles at the rear of the building at which time the juveniles were seen inside the building.  One juvenile was taken into custody at the scene while two others were taken into custody outside of school grounds soon after. All three juveniles were brought to police headquarters, processed and released into the custody of their parents. The matter is under further investigation by the Juvenile officer.