Cranford Life - April 2023

— See Page 8 They took the Plunge! — See Page 14

A taste of Japan comes to Cranford

By David Jablonski Managing Editor

For some of the students in Cranford middle schools and high school, the world got just a little bit smaller, thanks to the Japanese classes of teachers Kristin Wingate and Catherine Fisco. Wingate’s students have been exchanging letters with Japanese students, culminating with a visit to Cranford at the end of March by 31 students from Japan. For Wingate and Fisco, this has been an exchange many years in the making.

The first part of this scholastic adventure began with Toshishige Yamasaki, a sensei, or teacher, at Shuyukan High School in Japan. Founded in 1784, one of the oldest high schools in Japan would go through relocations, remodeling and renamings, finally being renamed Fukuoka Prefectural Shuyukan Senior High School in 1949. An English teacher in Fukuoka, Japan, Yamasaki decided to reach out to schools in the United States, so students studying Japanese here could exchange bilingual letters with students studying English in Japan. Yamasaki has nine partner schools in the U.S. to correspond with his 400 students. One of the partner schools is Cranford High School. This is the first year for Cranford High School to participate in the project.

“I have a profile on epal.com, which links classrooms together, so you can write letters. You can monitor student emails or exchange letters. Yamasaki sensei reached out to me,” said Wingate, in an interview with LocalSource on Monday, March 13. “We’ve only been able to do it three times, so that’s six exchanges. They are on a different schedule so their school ends this month.

“Japanese schools typically go for 240 days. They have a summer of two or three weeks. Yamaski sensei is the polite way of referring to him.”

In addition to teaching Japanese and serving as the advisor to the Japanese Club/Japanese National Honor Society at

See CRANFORD, Page 12

state

Photos Courtesy of Kristin Wingate-Sensei Above left, Kristin Wingate, pictured, has been teaching Japanese in the Cranford school system for 11 years. Above right and below, students in Kristin Wingate’s class at Cranford High School hold up the cards they have written and received with their Japanese pen pals. The CHS and Japanese students have already written back and forth three times each. On Friday, March 31, 31 students from Japan will visit Cranford High School.

Cranford police officer recognized for his service

By David Jablonski Managing Editor

St. Patrick’s Day is a time for revelry and good spirits. It’s also when men of Irish descent are honored for their contributions to the community. On Saturday, March 25, at 7 p.m., the Cranford Knights of Columbus celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by honoring Msg. Timothy J. Shugrue as the Irish Man of the Year and Mary O’Connor as the Irish Woman of the Year, in addition to recognizing a member of Cranford’s Police Department and Fire Department, at St. Patrick’s School gym in Cranford. For the Police Department, the man being honored is Sgt. Timothy O’Brien.

In addition to serving on the Cranford Police Department for the last 24 years, O’Brien is also the president of Daniel O’Connell Division No. 2 of the New Jersey Ancient Order of the Hiberians, an Irish Catholic fraternal organization founded in New York City in 1936, although its roots trace back to 1919. Today, the AOH claims 46,000 members in 45 states, Canada and Ireland. The local division was founded Sept. 28 of last year, when O’Brien was chosen to be president. In a recent interview, he spoke fondly of the organization.

“We raise money for different organizations,” O’Brien told the LocalSource on Monday, March 13. “We just started and haven’t done our first fundraiser yet. We’re in the stages of deciding who it will be for. We could pick someone in the military, a group or a person in need. We’re there to help people in their time of plight.”

Helping people is something with which O’Brien is quite familiar.

“I was also vice president of my PBA sometime ago, so I’ve always been active with philanthropic organizations and I thought it would be good to give back to the community,” he said. “Where there seems to be so many divi-

sions in the country, it’s nice to come together with men of a similar heritage and expand on it.”

Although this local division is only in its first year, O’Brien said it already has about 45 members who meet the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Cranford’s Elks Lodge, located at 951 Lincoln Ave. E.

“You have to be Irish Catholic to join,” he said, “but you don’t have to have an Irish accent.

We’re a nonprofit organization and we help people who need help. Our group that we reformed was started in 1868 and is the oldest charter in New Jersey.”

Richard S. O’Brien, the state president of the AOH, and Bill Young, organizer and past state president of the AOH, approached Timothy O’Brien, who had largely set up the local division, and named him the division’s first president.

“Establishing a Hibernian presence in Union County was a commitment to my membership when elected state president,” said Richard O’Brien in a recent press release. “I am proud to say: mission accomplished. My grandfather was a member of the Elizabeth division and it’s great to see a strong and vibrant group up and running. I will ensure newly elected/installed President Tim O’Brien receives support to ensure he and his board have resources to serve their membership and flourish.

“I want to thank Tim for working on recruitment and logistics and making sure everything was perfect. Please be sure to look for these Hibernian men at the Union St. Patrick’s Day Parade with their new member, state Sen. Joe Cryan.”

The Daniel O’Connell Division No. 2 walked in Union’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 11.

“I’ve enjoyed being a Cranford police officer for the last 24 years,” O’Brien said. “It’s a great organization.

“I would like to thank Chief Harry Wilde for hiring me. It’s an honor to work with the men and women of the Cranford Police Department.”

Photo Courtesy of Timothy O’Brien Cranford Police Sgt. and President of Daniel O’Connell Division No. 2 of the New Jersey Ancient Order of the Hibernians Timothy O’Brien walks with fellow AOH members at the Union St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 11.

Union County’s 2023 high school softball begins

By JR Parachini Sports Editor

When Union and Cranford clashed at Kean University’s Cougar Field on May 11 of last year in the softball Union County Tournament semifinals, a berth in the championship game was on the line.

Cranford High School junior righthander Avery Toddings mowed down the fourth-seeded Farmers and kept them off the scoreboard.

Union High School junior right-hander Alexa Liquori was just as masterful, keeping the top-seeded Cougars off the scoreboard as well.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, Cranford found a way to break through as junior Katie Bendert drove in the game’s only run to send the Cougars to the final.

Cranford proved to be a bit more dominant in the championship game at Kean, rolling to a 9-0 triumph against second-seeded Elizabeth.

For the second time in program history, the Cougars repeated as county champions. Cranford won three straight UCT titles from 2006-2008, so the Cougars will be attempting to three-peat once again this spring.

Standout hurlers Toddings and Liquori are back for their senior seasons. Softball is back and another exciting Union County campaign awaits.

Pitchers and catchers reported Mon-

day, March 13, with practice beginning for the rest of the players Thursday, March 16.

The first scrimmages can be played on Thursday, March 23, a little more than a week before Opening Day on Monday, April 3.

Cranford finished 20-6 last year with first-year head coach Melissa Moreno, who became the first player and coach at Cranford to win a county championship. Moreno won a UCT title as a player as Cranford’s starting catcher in 2010.

“As the season went on, we were able to settle into what we were doing,” Moreno said. “To be here, where I started playing, and to be in this position now, feels really great.”

“As long as we stick together, focus, and play as a team, good things usually happen,” Toddings said.

Moreno gave Toddings the ball and Cranford’s offense did the rest last year, as the Cougars outscored four UCT opponents by a whopping 27-1 margin. David Brearley High School was able to produce a solo home run in the seventh

inning of its quarterfinal at Cranford. That was it.

Toddings tossed a four-hitter in blanking Elizabeth High School in the championship game. Samantha Brunton went 3for-3 with three runs and three singles, while Maddy DeLong and Sophia DeMarco both banged out two hits and scored two runs, each slugging home runs.

On its way to also capturing the Union County Conference’s Watchung Division crown with a 7-1 record, Cranford was just as dominant against Elizabeth in the regular season. Cranford won at Elizabeth 9-3 in early April and then downed the Minutemen 12-3 at home later in the month.

Cranford fell in its bid to repeat as North 2, Group 3 champs when the Cougars lost at home to West Morris Central High School 2-1 in the semifinals. Cranford beat West Morris in the semifinals the year before.

Union was also guided by a first-year coach, Shannon McMahon. The Farmers turned in a solid 14-10 campaign that included one state tournament victory at

home against Perth Amboy High School 7-0 in North 2, Group 4 play.

David Brearley won the UCC’s Mountain Division crown at 6-1 and went 11-8 overall. The Bears were sparked by senior Brianna Bowles, who led the team in hits with 26, home runs with two and RBI with 16.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School captured the Valley Division title with a perfect 7-0 mark. The Raiders finished 16-9 overall.

Linden High School and Kent Place shared the Sky Division crown, both coming in with league marks of 7-1. They split against each other in division play, both winning at home. Linden was 8-10 overall and Kent Place 9-9.

Another solid Union County senior last year was Linden’s Allisson PenaTavares. She paced the Tigers with 19 hits, 23 runs, two home runs and 14 RBI. Sophomore pitcher Molly McDonald fashioned a total of 129 strikeouts.

Kent Place was sparked by the play of senior outfielder Allie Sussman, junior catcher Kay Lyon and sophomore pitcher Cassie Miller.

Cranford UCT championships

2002: Head coach Terry Biunno

2006: Head coach Shannon Norton

2007, 2008, 2010: Head coach Bob Bruno

2021: Head coach Christine Pemoulie

2022: Head coach Melissa Moreno

‘As long as we stick together, focus, and play as a team, good things usually happen.’

— Avery Toddings

Newspaper welcomes new editor

To our readers,

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself.

My name is Joe Ungaro and I was recently named editor at Worrall Community Newspapers. I’ve been a Maplewood resident for the last 14 years and have been involved in various activities around town, including youth sports (baseball, football, soccer and wrestling) and activities at our church, St. George’s.

My wife and I have two children; one attends Columbia High School while the other is, well, let’s just say he’s “finding himself” right now.

I’ve spent more than 30 years in journalism, working at four newspapers, The Providence Journal, The Daily-Post Athenian in Athens, Tenn., The Norwich Bulletin in Connecticut and the Daily Record of Morris County, N.J. I also spent about 10 years with The Associated Press in the New York City bureau.

I’ve worked as a reporter, editor and most recently as general manager in Morris County. I also owned and operated a sandwich shop but that’s a story for another time.

I’m excited about this opportunity and I look forward to our being involved in the community. If you have informa-

tion you would like published and posted on the web or you have a story tip, you can email me at jungaro@thelocalsource.com or call me at 908-6867700, 129.

Best,

Pleased to annouce that Anthony has received the New Jersey Realtors Association Circle of Excellence Award. The last four years have been challenging times for the Real Estate market and its agents. Anthony has been consistenly listing and selling both residential and commercial properties locally and beyond. His services also include residential real estate appraisals. Anthony has served Union county and beyond since 1968. Has also received the Realtor Emeritis State for serving over 40 years. He is the owner broker of Village Green Realtors since 1972.

Joe Ungaro

Joe Ungaro

Tuition freeze continues for fourth year in a row at Union College

The board of trustees of Union College of Union County has approved to not increase tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year. The board voted on this decision at its January meeting. This is the fourth year in a row it has voted to freeze tuition.

Students who live in Union County and are taking a full-time schedule of 12 to 18 credits will pay a flat rate of $2,640 per semester. The board also elected to decrease the tuition for out-of-county students.

Students who are New Jersey residents may also be eligible for other aid to further offset the cost of tuition. Union students who enroll in at least six credits and have an adjusted gross income of less than $65,000 may be eligible to attend the college tuition free according to New Jersey’s Community College Opportunity Grant; partial funding is available for those with an income of as much as $80,000. Students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or NJ Alternative Financial Aid application are automatically considered. Additionally, the Union County College Foundation has awarded more than $1 million a year in scholarships to Union students for the past several years.

“At Union, we put our students and their needs first,” said Union College’s board of trustees chairperson, Victor M. Richel. “Rising costs are impacting every-

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one and we want to ensure that our current and new students receive an excellent education at the lowest cost possible. By

being careful with our budget, I’m proud that we are keeping our tuition and fees flat for the fourth year in a row. While

costs all around are rising, our students can rest assured that their tuition at Union is not one of them.”

Photo Courtesy of Union College

Lawsuit filed to block 30-year $60 million tax exemption for developer

On behalf of Cranford taxpayers and public schools, resident William Thilly has filed a complaint in lieu of prerogative writ on Friday, Jan. 27, in New Jersey Superior Court challenging Cranford Ordinance 2022-27, authorizing a payment in lieu of taxes for the 750 Walnut Avenue Developer Hartz Mtn. LLC for 30 years. The PILOT tax break is projected to cost taxpayers more than $60 million in tax revenue they would otherwise receive and take an estimated $54 million away from Cranford Public Schools.

The complaint alleges that the Township Committee is unlawfully using eminent domain to seize Cranford taxpayer’s monies without proper due process to subsidize a billion-dollar developer. Further, it alleges the Township Committee unlawfully donated tax exemptions to a for-profit developer standing to make a sizable profit at the expense of Cranford taxpayers when it enacted Ordinance 2022-27 in violation of the New Jersey Constitution.

The complaint alleges that, in violation of the New Jersey “Sunshine Law,” the Township Committee did not provide the public the opportunity to witness in full

detail the deliberation, policy formation and decision-making of granting a 30year tax break. Accordingly, Cranford residents were not able to comment or contest said policy formation and decisionmaking of the Ordinance.

“I filed this action to defend Cranford and its residents from having to pay unnecessary taxes, because the Township Committee has granted a billion-dollar developer an extra $60 million for the next 30 years,” Thilly said. “This PILOT program stands to take away over $54 million from our schools at a time when they need it most.”

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh is the assignment judge in Union County who is likely presiding before the case.

Sophomore takes third in state at wrestling finals

By JR Parachini Sports Editor

CRANFORD — Jordan Chapman got to the podium. Only two more names were announced after his. He’s that close to obtaining his No. 1 high school athletic goal, which is winning a state wrestling championship.

The Cranford High School sophomore could become his program’s fifth state champion and first since 2006. With two years to go, Chapman still has the opportunity to become Cranford’s first two-time state champion.

It’s all right there in front of him.

After Chapman advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament for the first time last year and just missed placing at 157 pounds, this past weekend, he went all the way to finishing third, this time at the same weight, to cap an outstanding 42-4 sophomore season, which included a 5-1 mark in Atlantic City.

Chapman went 35-5 last year and will take a 77-9 record into his junior year campaign. The school record for wins is 144 by 2015 graduate Gavin Murray and it’s within reach.

“Jordan had a good path,” Cranford head coach Pat Gorman said.

After winning his first-round and prequarterfinal-round matches on Thursday, March 2, Chapman, the seventh seed, pinned second-seeded senior Aidan Wal-

lace of Bergen Catholic High School in 4:47 on Friday, March 3, to advance to the semifinals. That same day, Chapman was edged by third-seeded Christian Brothers Academy senior Zander Silver 5-4.

On Saturday, March 4, Chapman wrestled back to get to the third-place bout, winning his only wrestleback match by forfeit in the wrestleback semifinals against top-seeded Paramus Catholic high School sophomore Zach Ballante. Chapman then pinned eighth-seeded Old Bridge High School senior Tyler Sagi in 1:35 to take the match to finish third.

“It was nice to see that Jordan was able to bounce back after losing a close one in the semifinals,” Gorman said. “His future is bright.”

Ballante had to forfeit again in the match to finish fifth and ended up placing sixth.

Fourth-seeded Delbarton High School sophomore Alessio Perentin defeated Silva 5-2 in the championship match.

Chapman won his first Union County Tournament title this year, repeated as a District 13 champion and then captured his first Region 4 crown before getting back to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall for a second straight NJSIAA Tournament appearance.

“Mentally, Jordan was more mature,” Gorman said. “What he did at the Beast — Chapman placed sixth at the Beast of the East in Delaware back in December — helped him mentally.”

Jordan was one of three Region 4 champions from Union County high schools that advanced to the states. The other two, Roselle Park High School sen-

ior Matthew Griffin at 120 pounds and Westfield High School senior Michael Murphy at 165 pounds, also reached the quarterfinals.

Griffin did not place and, after going 22 in AC, finished a fine season at 33-8.

Murphy, like Chapman, reached the semifinals before he was defeated for the first time. The two-time Region 4 champion lost in the wrestleback semifinals, which put him in the bout for fifth place. There, Murphy blanked eighth-seeded St. Augustine Preparatory School senior Jake Slotnick 6-0 to finish fifth at 165 pounds.

Murphy, who, including his 4-2 record at AC, finished 42-6 this year, will continue wrestling in college at the University of Virginia.

Chapman was one win away from becoming Cranford’s first wrestler to reach an NJSIAA Tournament final since Gavin Murray did so as a junior in 2014. Murray was defeated in the 138-pound final in 2014 by Ronnie Gentile of Paulsboro High School 7-6. Murray then moved up two weight classes for his senior season of 2015, wrestling that year at 152 pounds. Murray qualified for the states again and finished fifth.

Murray is Cranford’s all-time leader with 144 wins, 77 pins and 40 consecutive wins. Murray also held the school record for wins in a season with 40, until Chapman broke that last weekend in AC.

Photo Courtesy of Pat Gorman Cranford High School sophomore Jordan Chapman stands beside head coach Pat Gorman after finishing third at 157 pounds in the state championships at Atlantic City.

See CRANFORD, Page 9

Cranford wrestler finishes third in state at 157 pounds

(Continued from Page 8)

“As a freshman last year at AC, Jordan was just thrown into a bunch,” Gorman said. Chapman was the 16th seed and went 3-2, first falling in the pre-quarterfinals.

“This year, staying at 157 was a bit of a struggle for him,” Gorman said. “He has a big frame, so I would say that he’s not going to stay at 157. He could be moving up a couple of weight classes.”

Cranford had three other wrestlers compete in AC, including freshman Ryder Connors at 113 pounds, senior Lucas Esposito at 175 pounds and senior Shane Kanterman at 190 pounds. Connors went 0-1 to finish 32-9, Esposito also went 0-1 to come in at 30-10 and Kanterman was 1-2 to close at 36-8.

The last Union County state champion continues to be Christian Barber of Westfield, winning the 152pound crown his senior year in 2011. Union County has not had a state champion for 12 straight seasons, from 2012 to 2023. Since Jesse Boyden won the 215-pound title in 2008, Union County has been shut out 14 of the past 15 years.

Kanterman, who qualified for the NJSIAA Tournament three times, ended up with 102 career victories. Kanterman will play football in college at Southern Connecticut.

This was a special year for the Cranford Cougars, who went 23-4 overall and won another Union County Conference-Watchung Division title at 6-0. The Cougars also captured a record eighth straight Union County Tournament championship and at District 13 in their own gym finished with the most points of any team. Cranford was fourth in the team standings for Region 4.

Also, Cranford set a program record for a season with 23 dual wins and 217 pins or wins by fall.

Cranford has Connors and Chapman back from the NJSIAA Tournament and a total of four grapplers who

placed among the top six at Region 4, including freshman Luke Scholz, fifth at 126 pounds, and freshman

Michael Daly, sixth at 106 pounds. Scholz finished 36-5 and Daley 28-8.

Photo Courtesy of Pat Gorman

Cranford High School sophomore Jordan Chapman stands on the podium in the third-place position for 157 pounds at the NJSIAA finals in Atlantic City on Saturday, March 4.

Honored to be on the Mayors Wall

To the Editor:

I have never been put on a wall before. My service as mayor of Cranford during four terms was recently recognized on the Mayors Wall in the Cranford Municipal Building. The wall has photos of mayors starting in 1871. I served 18 years on the Cranford Township Committee between 1987 and 2011, not all consecutive terms, and four terms as mayor. We faced many issues and challenges including flood control, redevelopment, teen programs, environmental protection and keeping a balance between taxes and the local budget. As mayor, leading on those and other challenges, I hope I contributed to making a difference in a great community. There remain many challenges the community faces including:

• creating and maintaining more affordable housing without massive developments in flood zones;

• regional flood control, with upstream bypass and storage, while building greater river capacity in Cranford;

• community support for upgrades to school facilities to maintain schools as best in New Jersey;

• continued improvement of the township’s public safety efforts, focusing on the men and women who serve the community well; and

• long-term strategies to better balance local taxes and expenses.

There is nothing better than serving a community in any capacity, to make improvements or help others. I plan to continue to find new ways to make a difference.

Daniel J. Aschenbach Cranford

PUBLISHED BY: Worrall Media 1291 Stuyvesant Avenue Union NJ 07083 908-686-7700

Editorial@TheLocalSource.com

Publisher: David Worrall

Editor: Joe Ungaro

Managing Editor: David Jablonski

Advertising Manager: Joseph Farina

Photo Courtesy of Daniel J. Aschenbach

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Community overwhelmingly supports equity initiative

To the Editor:

Editor’s note: The following message is being sent on behalf of the Cranford Township Equity and Inclusivity Initiative.

We hope this correspondence finds you well. On behalf of the Cranford Township Equity and Inclusivity Initiative, we are excited to provide you with an update. As you know, the Equity and Inclusivity Initiative worked with all those who volunteered to help develop a Cranford Township Equity and Inclusivity Strategic Plan and then asked the community at-large for feedback. We received approximately 600 responses. Here are the results of that feedback:

• 86 percent strongly agree/agree that the draft Cranford Equity & Inclusivity Initiative Mission Statement is clearly stated, specific and easy to understand.

• 79 percent strongly agree/agree that the draft Cranford Equity & Inclusivity Initiative Mission Statement is wellaligned with the draft Core Values of the community.

• 78 percent strongly agree/agree that the draft Cranford Equity & Inclusivity Initiative Mission Statement is timely and relevant to the needs of all members of the Cranford community.

• 73 percent strongly agree/agree that the draft Cranford Equity & Inclusivity Initiative Mission Statement is realistic and feasible to achieve.

• 61 percent disagree/strongly disagree that the Cranford Equity & Inclusivity Initiative Mission Statement requires revision.

• 83 percent strongly agree/agree that the Cranford Equity and Inclusivity Initiative Vision indicators are clearly stated, specific, and easy to understand.

• 76 percent strongly agree/agree that the Cranford Equity and Inclusivity Initiative Vision indicators are timely and relevant to the needs of all members of our Cranford community.

• 80 percent strongly agree/agree that the Cranford Equity and Inclusivity Initiative Vision indicators align well with the draft Core Values and Mission.

• 76 percent strongly agree/agree that the Cranford Equity and Inclusivity Initiative Vision indicators are appropriate and set a high standard for our community.

• 81 percent strongly agree/agree that the Cranford Equity and Inclusivity Initiative Goals are clearly-stated, specific and well-defined.

• 73 percent strongly agree/agree that the Cranford Equity and Inclusivity Initiative Goals are timely and relevant to the needs of all members of the Cranford community.

• 78 percent strongly agree/agree that the Cranford Equity and Inclusivity Initiative Goals are well-aligned with the draft Mission and Vision.

As indicated in the results, a majority of the community members who responded support the Cranford Township Equity and Inclusivity Plan.

We will be providing additional information about programming and how to get involved in the near future. Thanks again for your continued partnership.

Be well and stay safe.

Cranford students write letters to students in Japan

Cranford High School, Wingate is also the New Jersey Association of Teachers of Japanese Award Ceremony chairperson.

Wingate said she has been interested in the Japanese language since she was in high school herself.

“I learned it ever since I was a senior in high school,” she said. “I studied it for a really long time and I went to grad school at Seton Hall and I thought maybe I want to do this and here I am in my 11th year.”

A big part of her teaching Japanese in Cranford is because of Fisco.

“I started the Japanese program. This is my 20th year,” said Fisco, who teaches Japanese at Hillside Avenue School and Orange Avenue School and is the New Jersey Association of Teachers of Japanese vice president, in an interview with LocalSource on Friday, March 17.

“It was originally only through TV. There was a live feed from Roxbury. Then they dropped their program and they needed a real live person and that’s how I got the job. I majored in Asian studies and lived in Japan for two years and Hawaii for two years.”

This is something both teachers have in common. Although Wingate hasn’t lived in Japan, she said she’s been over there 10 or 11 times.

The duo have another point in common: Seton Hall University.

“I was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University for a couple of years 18 years ago,” Fisco said.

“It’s all because of her that I’m here,” Wingate said. “I started at the middle school and then we switched. Japanese was the only language that didn’t have a middle school feeder program. And then we switched off.”

“All the other languages started in sixth grade, except for Japanese,” Fisco said. “You couldn’t start until high school, and we said if you want AP level, you need to start earlier. There are three alphabets to learn in Japanese.”

“We have Latin, French, Spanish and Japanese at Cranford High School, Hillside Avenue School and Orange Avenue

School,” Wingate said. “We teach separately. Catherine Fisco teaches sixth, seventh and eighth and I take care of the high school.

“I teach grades nine through 12, but we have a middle school program, too. So some go from ninth through 12th grade and others start in middle school and go to their senior year.”

The interest in studying Japanese is strong in Cranford, although it does ebb and flow from year to year.

“My largest class is 23 students and my smallest is 10 students,” Fisco said.

“I’m half Japanese, but I had to go to a Japanese school every Sunday to learn it,” she added. “Both Kristin and I are not native speakers.”

The teachers bring their love of the language to the classes they teach; however, Fisco insists the students themselves have a kind of passion for it as well.

“I think we get a different kind of student, who wants to march to their own beat,” she said. “It’s a great group of kids that we wind up with. We teach them a lot about the culture. We try to foster caring about others. It’s a lot more than just a language. They’re definitely into the cul-

ture, too — fashion, anime, martial arts.”

“That’s why it’s so fascinating, because it is so different,” agreed Wingate. “Every time I do culture with my students, they love it. I’m bringing them to Japan this summer and I’ve done that three times in the past. We go for 10 days. We’ve done homestays or a one-day visit to a Japanese class. It’s always such a great experience for my kids, to see a Japanese school.”

COVID-19 delayed taking her students to Japan, and Wingate said she’s thrilled to have the opportunity once again.

“Because of the pandemic, I had to push it off two years, and I was so upset. We’re definitely going this summer,” she said. “Getting to see them experience it for the first time is great. Watching a young person see all the things that I’ve talked about for the last four, five, six or seven years is wonderful.”

Part of that enthusiasm is the culture they study in classes throughout the year.

“The kids have been writing about what they like to do, sports and hobbies and what they did over winter break,” said Wingate. “A lot of my students asked about the Japanese new year, because that’s the most important holiday of the year, Jan. 1.

“Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar, so they celebrate New Year’s on Jan 1.”

Wingate said having students from Japan visit Cranford High School is especially exciting, and she’s looking forward to playing host.

“On March 31, 31 students from Japan are coming here,” she said. “At lunchtime,we’re having the 31 Japanese students here, giving a brief presentation in the library. There will also be about 31 of my students and teachers and principals. Then, in the afternoon, at noon and then at 2 p.m., I have all these games planned out.”

A big part of offering Japanese in Cranford through both the middle schools and the high school is preparation for Advanced Placement exams.

“I teach mostly language and a lot of culture. They all learn how to read and write,” Wingate said. “We have an AP program. Catherine and I work together to get kids to take the AP.”

“We are very close,” she added. “I am so thankful for Catherine.”

Not surprisingly, when teachers work together with their students for so many years, including trips to another country, they can grow very close as well.

“I know some of these kids better than a lot of their best friends do,” Wingate said.

Fisco agreed.

“Over the winter break, I attended one of my student’s weddings,” she said. “She now lives and works in Japan and married a Japanese man and she said this wouldn’t have happened if not for my class.

“Another student reached out to me and said he’s living in Japan now.”

If the two teachers have learned one thing through all their classes and travels, it’s that people are largely the same, wherever they are.

“I taught English for two years when I was in Japan,” Fisco said. “They go through the same things and laugh at the same things. Human nature is human nature.”

See photos, Page 13

Photo Courtesy of Kristin Wingate-Sensei Students in Kristin Wingate’s class at Cranford High School hold up the cards they have written and received with their Japanese pen pals.

Photos Courtesy of Kristin Wingate-Sensei

Students in Kristin Wingate’s class at Cranford High School hold up the cards they have written and received with their Japanese pen pals.

2023 Polar Bear Plunge is a winter delight

On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Union County Policemen’s Benevolent Association No. 73 sponsored the “Secret Squirrel 73” team to participate in the annual Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights. This year was the 30th year for the event and featured more than 7,500 plungers and 567 teams. A total of $2.6 million was raised this year to benefit the Special Olympics of NJ, far exceeding the fundraising goal.

The “Secret Squirrel 73” team featured 10 “plungers” that braved the freezing temperatures and bone chilling waters to raise money for a good cause. Union County Police PBA No. 73 current members, retirees and sponsors participated in the plunge and raised more than $1,200 for the Special Olympics. A special thanks was given to S Brothers Construction for its generous donation to help make the event a continued success.

PBA No. 73 President Kenneth Dalrymple said, “It was a frigid day to be jumping into the icy water, but it was worth it. We raised money for a worthy cause that will bring smiles and laughter to a lot of kids. I can’t think of a better way to spend a freezing February day!”

Photo Courtesy of Kenneth Dalrymple

Worrall newspaper editor honored

Yael Katzwer, an editor at Worrall Community Newspapers, was honored with a second place award from the New Jersey Press Association in the Arts and Entertainment category for her story “Hypnotism and Improv to Meet on UCPAC stage,” which appeared in the Union County LocalSource.

IN MEMORIAM

• BROWN – Annette G., of Atlanta, Ga., formerly of Cranford; Feb. 15. Was 81.

• BYELICK – Susan, of Daytona Beach, Fla., formerly of Cranford; March 13. Worked for Schering-Plough. Wife, mother, sister, aunt, 69.

• DEPAUL – Joseph A. Jr., of Cranford, formerly of Scotch Plains; Feb. 15. Professional musician, music teacher, pilot. Brother, uncle, 72.

• MADORMA – Ann, of Cranford; Feb. 16. Widow, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 90.

• MCLEOD – Ramon Gerald “Ray,” of Cranford; Feb. 16. Minor League baseball player, stock broker. Widower, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, 94.

• SOBELSON – Ronald Irving Joseph, of Cranford; March 5. Pharmacist, business owner. Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, 90.

• STROZZI – Mary Louise, of Edison, formerly of Woodbridge and Cranford; March 2. Teacher, CCD teacher, tutor. Wife, mother, 81.

• WELLEN – Jacquelin, of Brunswick, Maine, formerly of Westfield and Cranford; Feb. 23. Social worker. Widow, mother, grandmother, 90.

In Memoriam is a monthly feature compiled by the news staff from various sources. We also provide the opportunity for families and funeral directors to publish a more extensive, special notice about their loved one called an obituary. These notices are published on our website immediately and then in the next edition of this newspaper. To place a paid obituary send an email to obits@thelocalsource.com or fax to 908-688-0401. Family and friends’ submissions must include sender’s name, address, phone and the name of the funeral home. Call 908-686-7850 for assistance.

Join the Union County Commissioners’ Literary Circle in celebration

The Union County Board of County Commissioners has announced the launch of the new Commissioners’ Literary Circle Book Club, presented in celebration of Women’s History Month 2023 by the women of the Commissioner Board: Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded and commissioners Bette Jane Kowalski, Rebecca Williams, Lourdes Leon and Angela R. Garretson.

Union County residents who are interested in joining the new Commissioners’ Literary Circle Book Club can register online at ucnj.org/bookclub23 to participate in community discussions on Zoom.

“I fully support our women Commissioners in launching this new initiative, and what better month to do so than Women’s History Month,” said Commissioner Chairperson Sergio Granados. “This is a great way for all women across Union County to connect with like-mind-

ed readers, and a fantastic opportunity to hear different perspectives, ask questions and overall connect as a county. I encourage everyone who loves to read or is looking to meet new people in their community to join.”

“As commissioners in the first majority-female Commissioner Board in New Jersey history, we are proud to raise our voices in celebration of women writers who share their enriching insights with readers both here in the United States and around the world,” said Vice Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

Each month, members of the Commis-

sioners Literary Circle Book Club will read and discuss a book recommended by a female member of the commissioner board. Spanning works of fiction as well as biographies and other non-fiction, the selections will highlight strong female characters, authors and historical figures.

The first Commissioners’ Literary Circle book is “More Stories We Tell: The Best Contemporary Short Stories by North American Women,” selected by Williams.

“The theme of Women’s History Month 2023 is ‘Celebrating Women Who Tell our Stories,’ and ‘More Stories We

Tell’ conveys the rich variety of storytelling among contemporary women writers,” Williams said. “The collection includes 24 works by Joyce Carol Oates, Margaret Atwood, Mary Gaitskill, Alice Munro, Sandra Cisneros, Lorrie Moore and many more literary lights.”

“More Stories We Tell: The Best Contemporary Short Stories by North American Women” was published by Pantheon in 2004 and edited by Wendy Martin, chairperson of the Department of English at Claremont Graduate University in California. It is a followup to her 1990 collection, “We are the Stories We Tell.”

The Commissioners Literary Circle is a project of the Union County Office on Women in the Department of Economic Development. For more information, visit online at ucnj.org/women or contact the office coordinator Jen Erdos at jerdos@ucnj.org.

‘This is a great way for all women across Union County to connect with like-minded readers.’

— Sergio Granados