Flickr: Garwood's old Water Tower Still Stands in Online Photo


Feeling a bit nostalgic? Take a ride down North Avenue circa 2007. This photo entitled Garwood Water Tower, by flickr user 4chewnahdoe, was posted online a while back. The point of view of the snapshot appears to be from the driver's side of the car!


GARWOOD DRIVE-BY

Garwood Gets a Glimpse into the Future on Leap Day 2012


Borough officials will hold an important meeting on February 29th at 7 p.m, incidentally Leap Day 2012, at the Municipal Building to present the results of a Transit Village Study performed by New Jersey Transit. The release of the findings could potentially shape the future of Garwood for decades to come on multiple fronts including its viability as a commuter destination, potential for residential growth in the future, and even the direction of the town's commercial core in Downtown. The meeting will include the Mayor, Council and Planning/Zoning Board.


New Jersey Transit will present, what it refers to as, feasible options for the borough to pursue in the future in regards to its status as a Transit Village. That term carries a hefty weight (and in the past state funding) in New Jersey in the eyes of the government and planning executives. If New Jersey Transit and the State Department of Transportation see Garwood as a viable transportation hub they will push that designation big time. And, if history repeats itself, like it has done in most other towns labelled Transit Villages, planning and zoning changes will make way for more walkable, "sustainable" centers, that almost always include large re-development projects. Some towns get it right: South Orange, Metuchen, some miss the mark like Bound Brook and arguably Cranford. 

Garwood "Station"

The meeting comes after years of a renewed cooperation between Garwood and New Jersey Transit. In 2010 the agency held two "vision" workshops in town. The meetings were intended to give residents and others the chance to share thoughts and ideas to help envision the area around Garwood's train station. In 2009, NJT added more trains to the borough, including weekend service.


Let's be clear- just saying a municipality is a Transit Village doesn't automatically mean good news for residents of the towns with that title. A recent study conducted by Rutgers and others found that the state's Transit Village designation is a helpful, but not necessary, program for towns to see an increase in property values.  


That said, the Leap Day meeting, unlike some of the most recent Council gatherings, may actually set the borough on a different course. Whether that's for better or worse is yet to be seen.

Westfield Area Y to Occupy Shuttered Washington School


Washington School has been given a new lease on life courtesy of the Westfield Area Y. Starting soon the non-profit organization is leasing the site for 5 years, according to the Garwood Board of Education. The Y told borough officials it plans on running the satellite Garwood location of its Westfield site as a pre-school and the secondary home of other childcare programs. The Y will also retrofit the old elementary school with a fitness center and yoga studio. The Y Senior Director of Childcare Services also told the Westfield Leader that the group is thinking of offering a summer camp program and a middle school after-school program, a recent report said.


The Y is entering into a half-and-half share with the town, according to the board’s attorney John Geppert. He said any proceeds the Y will make will be split with the borough and any deficits that occur on their behalf should not affect the borough, according to a report on nj.com.


While many in town are excited about the new deal, some Southside residents have expressed concern over the parking situation at the facility. Those concerns have prompted the borough to discuss changing the parking rules on the adjacent streets.


The Garwood Board of Education has also assured parents that the pre-school program to be offered at the Y will not affect the borough's own pre-school program for students currently enrolled in the program.  


The Washington School was closed in 2010 because of budget cuts, it is currently being used as a temporary location for a Cranford elementary school flooded by Hurricane Irene. The Y currently runs a childcare program at St. Paul's United Church of Christ on Center Street. 

In Print: Blazes Kept the Garwood Fire Department Busy in Feb


February is typically known as the peak of fire season and it has lived up to its reputation as a time for Firefighters to stay busy and on the move. Earlier this month two pesky fires tested the Garwood Fire Department. On February 16th two garbage trucks at the Bush Brothers Disposal Company on South Avenue needed to be extinguished. The fire did not spread to any adjacent buildings and nobody was injured, according to published reports. 


Earlier that week an electrical fire in the meat department at Garwood ShopRite forced the store to be evacuated and closed for a period of time. One employee was treated for a minor medical issue. ShopRite re-opened quickly after the minor incident.


The Garwood Fire Department was organized in 1903, and currently boasts a roster of 50 members, according to the town's website.


CALL THE FIRE DEPT!

Garwood's Auto- Pay Raises Still Being Debated 


Garwood's Council has again voted to eliminate longevity pay for non-union municipal employees who have worked for the borough for at least five years. The ordinance was originally adopted back in December, but vetoed by Mayor Quattrocchi. The issue has made for some odd bed-fellows in the governmental body pitting Republican vs. Republican and Democrat vs. Democrat. At times the debate has become quite heated.


Four police dispatchers and four borough office employees will take the financial hit if it ultimately passes, according to a published report.


That brings us to the results on our poll question: Should non-union borough employees be entitled to automatic raises? Garwood 365 readers seem to disagree with the Mayor. 61% of voters said that non-union employees should not be entitled to auto bumps in pay. 38% said the bumps should occur. 78 people voted in the unscientific poll. 


NO AUTO RAISES?

Italian Restaurant Undergoes Change in Garwood: Bensi's Out, Rudy's In


Bensi Restaurant, a chainlet throughout the Northeast, has closed-up shop in the borough and has been replaced by another Italian Restaurant- Rudy's. And while there are some changes to the new restaurant, the Chef appears to be the same man who was at the helm at Bensi. According to their Facebook Page Rudy's Ristorante and Pizzeria has been serving New Jersey for over 40 years. They go on to say, "our menu includes favorites such as crispy fried calamari, Rudy's special salad, chicken parmigiana, our famous meatballs, braciole over rigatoni, calzones and of course our pizza!" The new restaurant is located inside the Garwood Mall at 300 South Avenue. 


Before it closed, Bensi's Garwood lcoation was one of more than 20 in New Jersey. The restaurant claimed to offer an expansive Italian menu at reasonable, family-friendly prices. Bensi's also took part in local fundraisers and was a supported of various educational initiatives in the borough. 


CHANGE ON SOUTH AVE

Census: Garwood's Multiracial Population Jumped 71%


According to the 2010 Census Garwood is home to 4,226 people. Of that number 78 declared their background as "multiracial." That figure represents a 71% increase since 2000 when only 36 people in town identified themselves that way to the Census. Still, the population of people who identified themselves as multiracial only accounts for about 1% of the town's residents. White, non-hispanics, make up more than 87% of the town's population. 


Multiracial: 1% +71%
White: 87% -5%
Black: 1% +180%
Hispanic: 9% +80%
Asian: 2% +56%


CHANGING POPULATION

In Print: Garwood's Borough Administrator Files Lawsuit Against the Borough


Longtime clerk Christina Ariemma is alleging harassment, intimidation and illegal salary cuts in a suit filed against the borough and its officials. Ariemma, who makes more than $78,000, claims she was intimidated and denied raises the last two years, according to the suit, and reports in the Westfield Leader and the Clark-Garwood Patch.




ARIEMMA V. GARWOOD

Mangia for a Good Cause in Garwood


Garwood's First Responders are holding their second annual Spaghetti Dinner and Fundraiser on February 11th. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $5 for kids. The fundraiser will be held at the Knights of Columbus at 4 pm. For more information call: 908-789-0300.


HELP OUR RESPONDERS!

365 Poll: Shop Rite is Garwood's Favorite Supermarket

With 101 votes counted, Garwood's Shop Rite has been chosen as the borough's "best supermarket." Shop Rite received 57 votes, or 56% of the vote. Kings on South Avenue came in second place with 27%, with nearby Pathmark only getting 9%. Of course, this poll is deemed: unscientific and mildly informative.

Hey Garwood: What's the best supermarket in town?

ShopRite: 57%

Kings: 27%

Pathmark: 9%

THANKS FOR VOTING!