Sisters Leah and Grace Haley take stock of the great book selection

Jean McFadden, an organizer of the sale says, "Every year different groups and organizations, as well as individuals, come to take the free books.  Last year a group from Long Hill Chapel filled a truck en route to Appalachia.  The Taiwanese-American Women's Association also sent children's books to Taiwan."

Carlo Haley loads a bag full of books

The Friends of the Library of the Chathams work to ensure that the remaining books are put to good use.  This year, a teacher picked up some books for her classroom in a small school in Elizabeth.  Groups from Summit and Rockaway took carloads for their own respective book sales.  There is a possibility that The Lupis Foundation may take everything that is left over so that no books go to waste.

Youngster Jessica Zhang finds some good reads

The library will be offering free books through tomorrow evening.  Contact the Library of the Chathams if you, as an individual or organization, are interested in any books.  The library can be reached at 973-635-0603.

In order to make the state-of-the-art aquatics center a reality, the community fitness center has filed an application with the borough Zoning Board of Adjustment, first heard Tuesday night, seeking variances to allow the 13,363-square-foot addition that would house the pool to be built.

The YMCA, which moved to its current location on Kings Road in 1960, needs zoning board approval because the center operates as a conditional institutional use in a residential zone.

Barry Kroll, president and chief execurtive officer of the YMCA, said in an interview Wednesday that concerns from a couple of neighbors about traffic, lighting and landscaping, would be addressed during subsequent meetings.

Kroll said a traffic engineer found the proposed parking lot's new configuration will actually lead to less traffic because motorists will no longer use the YMCA as a cut-through.

The YMCA also is seeking variances for shorter setbacks and to allow a narrower driveway. The proposed expansion also would exceed lot and building coverage standards in the zone more so than the existing structure already does, and would have fewer parking spaces than the zone dictates.

While the existing four-lane swimming pool does not adequately serve the YMCA's membership, it would remain and serve as a warm water therapy pool for people with injuries, osteoporosis or arthritis, and for children, Kroll said.

There are 125 swimmers on YMCA swim teams that have been renting pool time, sometimes at odd hours, at Drew University, the College of St. Elizabeth and Fairleigh Dickinson University, Kroll said.

He added that the YMCA has lost some of its more than 11,000 members to Lifetime Fitness in Florham Park due to the YMCA having inadequate swimming facilities.

The plan includes adding about 30 parking spaces, new locker rooms and a spectator area by the competitive, eight-lane pool. The proposed expansion is estimated to cost between $8 million and $10 million, Kroll said.

The Madison Area YMCA was founded in 1873 and serves the communities of Madison, Chatham Borough and Chatham Township, Florham Park, Convent Station, New Vernon, Green Village Harding, Millington, and Stirling. It turns no one away due to financial hardship.

If the project is approved, a capital campaign to raise the necessary funds will then begin, and they would hope to break ground in about two-and-a-half years, Kroll said.

Members of an advisory group proposed an ordinance in January that would establish a municipal style BID where properties would pay a proposed assessment of 2.33 percent per $100 assessed valuation that would raise $63,000 for the first year.

The proposal was tabled indefintely after meeting with opposition from local merchants.  (Daily Record)

Akhil Mathew

By LAURA BRUNO / DAILY RECORD

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Madison High School senior Akhil Mathew won a prestigious Intel Science Talent Search scholarship worth $50,000 Tuesday night, taking third place among 40 finalists.

The 18-year-old was one of two finalists in New Jersey to be tapped by the country's oldest and most prestigious national high school science competition, which annually awards the top winner a $100,000 scholarship. Linda Zhou, of River Edge, came in 10th place, also earning a scholarship. The two had been chosen as finalists from 1,700 applications. This is the second time in three years that a Madison High School student won an Intel scholarship. In 2007, senior Megan Marie Blewett received a scholarship worth $20,000. She had placed seventh.

For Mathew, this is the second major prize he's won as a high school student. In 2008 he was one of five students to win a $50,000 Davidson Fellows Scholarship. The Davidson Institute annually recognizes students under the age of 18 for work that has potential for a positive contribution to society in various disciplines.

Mathew, who is modest about his abilities, said prior to the announcement of his win that he would be happy take the prize — because it would help pay for college, but also because it would please his mentors at MIT, who helped him with the project. Mathew was accepted to the six-week Research Science Institute at MIT last summer, which is where his Intel project was born.

"The experience was a lot of fun. I got to discuss my project," Mathew said of the Intel competition.

His mathematics projects are so complex that they defy a comprehensible explanation for the average person. His Intel project combines algebraic geometry, representation theory, and category theory in work on Deligne categories of complex rank, according to a description provided by Intel.

In a video he created describing his project, Mathew says "I'm here to nerdify the world," and then launches into three-minute explanation of abstract math.

Mathew said he would like to become a professional mathematician, work on interesting problems and promote the sciences. He was accepted to attend MIT next year, but is waiting to hear from Harvard.

"Ideally, I'd like to promote science and technology and make the world a more science-friendly place," Mathew said.

Alan Candiotti, a Drew University math professor who has worked with Mathew for several years, said Mathew is firmly on the path to becoming a leading mathematician. The math he's undertaken is "extremely abstract math, the kind of math world-leading mathematicians do, he said.

"I can only compare him to professional mathematicians doing research," Candiotti said.

Mathew's Intel win came as no surprise to Candiotti or Madison High School principal Greg Robertson.

"He's just a super kid, unassuming, and obviously, brilliant," Robertson said.

"He is forever reading," Robertson added. "I see him at 7:15 in the morning waiting outside his class reading. He's in the library after school reading ... He puts in long days."

Mathew was learning algebra in the fourth grade, and advanced-placement calculus in the eighth grade. In high school he tackled graduate-level independent study projects and assisted Drew University professors in writing a math textbook. Candiotti said Mathew's name appears on the cover of a math textbook along with two of his colleagues who wrote the book.

"I said it'll be like having their names next to Albert Einstein's when he was 17 years old — 20 years from now," Candiotti said.

Despite his outsized mathematics abilities, Mathew is patient in tutoring children who are not as advanced. Since 2006 he's volunteered at the Madison Public Library, teaching children in grades two through six how to play chess. He also tutors fellow high school students in chemistry, math and French.

His parents have said his aptitude for math was evident from an early age. Both his parents are trained engineers. His mother taught Mathew algebra in the fourth grade and she said he digested it easily.

Mathew was able to broaden his appetite for math by finding books at the Madison Public Library. A regular library visitor, he stumbled into the math section one day and began reading general math books. He then sought out textbooks to study, interrogating his parents for even more details, until he exceeded their expertise.

His mother, Rama Madhavarao Mathew, has said his teachers both in the Madison public schools and at Drew have helped to make his success possible by recognizing his gifts and helping to guide and mentor him.

Despite his natural abilities, Mathew has said it's also hard work, studying and reading for several hours each day after school. In addition to his research project, Mathew is taking a full slate of advanced-placement courses this semester, including French, environmental science, English literature and economics. He does indulge in playing tennis, but he does not watch TV

Laura Bruno: 973-428-6626; lbruno@gannett.com

Beautiful day for a bike

(Photos courtesy of Madison Police Department)

Madison police are investigating a report of graffiti at 30 Myrtle Ave. on the restroom building at Lucy D. Anthony Field. The graffiti was on the north side of the building facing Myrtle Avene. On the east side of the building was a large marijuana leaf with “420” above it painted in black.

"420"

Anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers at 973-COP-CALL or 1-800-SHERIFF, where callers can remain anonymous. There is up to a $1,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of those responsible.

CrimeStoppers is a non-profit corporation that runs in cooperation with the Morris County Prosecutors Office, Morris County Chiefs of Police Association and the Morris Sheriff’s Office.

Kroum Perev has lived in Madison for 13 years, but there are still restaurants in town he hasn't tried.

On Monday, he tasted dishes from several more restaurants in a single evening.

He and his wife, Mariana, attended the ninth annual Taste of Madison, which featured about 30 borough restaurants serving their best dishes. More restaurants participated than ever before, organizers said.

Kroum Perev said he particularly enjoyed Chef Loryn's seared ahi tuna, which was served on a rice cracker with jicima salad. He also enjoyed Resto's basil and brie escargot in a savory tarte shell.

Both dishes were from restaurants he was trying for the first time. Kroum and Mariana Perev said it was their first time attending Taste of Madison, a fundraiser for three community organizations in Madison.

They loved the tuna, they said, and added that the money raised through the event goes to a good cause — supporting the Rotary Club of Madison, the Madison Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Commission.

Organizers said about 500 people purchased tickets for the event, which cost $65 for general admission and $100 for VIP tickets. VIP admission gave attendees a one-hour head start to sample the dishes and various wines. Wines were served by about 60 vendors who supply wine to four wine stores in Madison.

The event was held in the Ferguson Recreation Center of Fairleigh Dickinson University. As in previous years, Taste of Madison was organized by a committee of volunteers from the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Commission. Proceeds are distributed evenly among the three groups, which then use the funds to support community programs and other nonprofits. Attendance appeared to be down slightly from last year, when close to 600 people attended and the event raised $45,000.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day this week, Poor Herbies served corned beef, cabbage and "Mullins mustard," a homemade mustard that's a secret family recipe, said Judy Mullins, the pub's owner.

Robert Ubhaus, owner of the restaurants Resto and Rob's Bistro, which are next-door to each other on Main Street, served coq au vin at the Rob's Bistro table in addition to Resto's escargot.

In addition to providing food, Ubhaus participated in a silent auction by offering a five-course dinner for eight people, paired with wines selected by Gary Fisch, the owner of Gary's Wine & Marketplace, which helps sponsor the event each year.

"To support it is really a no-brainer," Ubhaus said.

Hamblet, a former college learning disabilities specialist and a published writer, will discuss the college environment for students with disabilities. Topics will include college accommodations for disabilities, student responsibilities, required skills, how to research disability services at colleges, necessary documentation and paperwork, and laws about admission and disabilities.

The event is free and open to the public. Following the presentation, parents of recent Madison High School graduates will discuss “The College Application Process for Students with Disabilities: A Parent’s Perspective.”

Children, accompanied by a caregiver, will gather at The United Methodist Church in Madison to make an Easter craft. Around 10:30 a.m., everyone will venture outside, weather permitting, for the children to look for Easter eggs hidden on the lawn of Drew University, adjacent to the church. In case of rain, eggs will be hidden in the church.

The event is free and the public is welcome. The event is sponsored by the Apple Seeds, a group that holds events for young children with a caregiver on Saturdays throughout the year.

The church is located at 24 Madison Avenue, Madison, N.J. For more information call the office at 973-377-1231.

In each 1.5 hour class, visiting instructor and life coach, Kerry Alan Rasp, will offer basic instructions in mindfulness meditation, leading a guided meditation, share simple techniques to calm the moneky mind, and allow time for discussion. This class itself is a relaxing and quieting, engaging experience.

2010 Honorary Canine Co-host Charlie, a St. Hubert’s adoptee owned by Lisa Lonergan of Mendham (Courtesy of St. Hubert's)

Dog owners and their furry friends are invited to attend a Canine Cotillion, sponsored by St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, at Hamilton Farm Golf Club, 1040 Pottersville Road, Gladstone.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception followed by a seated, gourmet dinner for two-legged guests, served alongside their canine companions, who will be treated to doggie delicacies.

Silent and live auctions add to the fun. Seating is limited. Tickets are $275 per person, which includes admission for one dog. This elegant fundraiser benefits homeless animals cared for at the St. Hubert’s shelters in Madison and North Branch. To receive an invitation, call 973-377-7094.

At the end of the game, Caroline Murphy, right, gets a ball from teammate Christin Campbell after scoring 1,001 points in her high school career. Photo by Karen Mancinelli

By SANDY SEEGERS / DAILY RECORD

DOVER TWP. — The objective of all teams is to stretch their seasons as far as they can go.

Chatham was pleased to do just that, landing a second consecutive berth in the NJSIAA Group II girls basketball final.

Although the Cougars fell, 53-30, to Shabazz at the Ritacco Center on Sunday, their quest to prolong their season was not in vain because it gave senior Caroline Murphy the opportunity to score her 1,000th career point.

"What a special moment to score your 1,000th before everyone in the state," Chatham coach Joe Gaba said. "A lot of our fans were here to see it. It's something Caroline will never forget."

Murphy, a 6-foot-1 forward and the Cougars' captain, reached the milestone on a free throw with 17.2 seconds left. She sank another foul shot to end her career with 1,001.

"I knew about it coming in," Murphy said. "I haven't been scoring as much as in the past. We made it this far so I kept chipping away. For me, it was the more games, the better."

Murphy's 15 points, 12 in the second half, topped Chatham (26-6) but weren't enough against Shabazz, ranked 13th in the nation by USA Today. Sophomore Amanda Berntsen, the Cougars' MVP, was the second Cougars player in double figures with a hard-to-come-by 11 points.

In once-beaten Shabazz, Chatham had a formidable opponent, one that converted baskets off second and third chances and one that came up with 12 steals. The Bulldogs (31-1) also kept their turnovers to 13. Shabazz's defense was responsible for forcing a significant amount of the Cougars' 28 turnovers.

Still, it was evident that Chatham, which graduated five of its top seven players from last year's squad, came to play and trailed by only eight points, 24-16, at halftime.

"We competed through the first three quarters," Gaba said. "We hung in there. We did a great job with their matchup zone in the first half. There were instances when we had a hard time holding onto the ball. I was worried about their ability to score. Shabazz didn't slow down in the second half and we did. Their talent came to the forefront."

Shabazz received 18 and 17 points, respectively, from sophomore Aliyyah Handford and senior Ka-Deidre Simmons. Handford came through with 12 points in the opening half while Simmons struck for 13 of her points over the final 16 minutes.

"I thought Shabazz's defense was impressive," said Berntsen, referring to the Bulldogs' man to man. "They pressured us a lot. They were quick and jumped high. We all got blocked."

The third quarter was pivotal for Shabazz, which claimed six Group III championships prior to moving to Group II this school year. It outscored Chatham 14-6 despite missing its first seven shots. Zantaya Davis, whose eight rebounds paced the Bulldogs, connected off a putback to commence a six-point unanswered burst 2:17 into the third quarter for 26-18. Handford, Shabazz's MVP, struck next and Simmons put the ball up and in off a putback.

All of Chatham's third-period points were by Murphy. She hit from close range, fired in a 10-foot jumper and netted two free throws.

"They're relentless on rebounding and it killed us," Murphy said. "It was the same with their dribble penetration. The Shabazz players got in the air, stayed there and made their shots. They're awesome finishers."

Handford had a big first half for Shabazz, registering the Bulldogs' initial six points off two layups and a jumper from mid-key.

Shabazz opened the second quarter with a seven-point run to pull ahead, 17-7, with 3:39 left before halftime. The Cougars then put together a seven-point run, highlighted by a Berntsen 3-ppointer and layup, and drew within three points, 17-14, with 1:45 remaining before the break. However, the Bulldogs outscored Chatham 7-2 to boost their advantage.

Vanessa Watson, the Bulldogs' coach, felt Chatham was more than worthy of its third state final appearance since 2004.

"Chatham played very, very well together," Watson said. "They execute well. You couldn't leave Berntsen open. When we did, we paid for it. Murphy, the big kid, was good inside. Chatham handled our man to man pretty well so we went to a zone press. That got us out of the chute more often and got us inside."

Gaba said he was disappointed for only one reason.

"I don't think the scoreboard indicates how competitive the game was," he said. "I don't feel like it was 23-point game."

Murphy, who teamed with Kelsey Hart for 19 rebounds, felt Chatham proved a great deal by performing well in its return trip to the Ritacco Center.

"I don't think people thought we'd be here again," Murphy said. "We proved a lot. In the first half, we showed what we can do. It was a pretty good game. I don't think Shabazz expected that."

Strong winds last night caused many downed trees and limbs.  The top of a tree cracked and fell onto a power line on the corner of Dunbar  and Vincent streets in Chatham, causing the wires to smoke and disrupting power in the neighborhood.  The Chatham Fire Department has responded to the situation.

Tree on a power line at Dunbar and Vincent in Chatham

The tree is causing the power lines to smoke

Chatham Fire Department has responded to the situation

]]> http://madison.injersey.com/2010/03/14/after-the-storm/feed/ 0 http://madison.injersey.com/2010/03/14/happiness-is-office-supplies/ http://madison.injersey.com/2010/03/14/happiness-is-office-supplies/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:00:53 +0000 Morristown This Week http://madison.injersey.com/?p=3716 What are we reading? Well, we just finished a few books on macroeconomics and plate tectonics. Now we plan to curl up and re-read our favorite book of all time: the Staples office supply catalog.

We can't help it. When Liquid Paper came out with the "pen and brush combo" dual applicator tip, we were ecstatic. Just how ecstatic? We bought three — one each for home, office and car. And how about those forest green file folders? Man, do they ever dress up our financial records drawer!

And look, here is our collection of mechanical pencils, sleek and compact. The Papermate Sharpwriter is a multisurface overachiever but with very short lead life, while the Bic Mechanical Pencil Available in .5mm or .7mm leads is eraser-tipped, contains three self-feeding leads and has a convenient pocket clip in assorted colors.

Yes, we are a recovering Office Supplyaholic, but let's be frank: There is no cure. Nor do we want salvation, not with all these wonderful tapes and clips, two-pocket portfolios and desk organizers, punches and trimmers to round out our collection.

Gotta run. We hear the new X-12 shredders are in. We can't wait to use one on our macroeconomic texts.

The other day, our 175-year-old sump pump had the nerve to malfunction. By that we mean it cycled on to expel water that had collected in the basement well but would not shut off on its own.

This meant we spent a delightful night (a) falling asleep, (b) arising every 45 minutes to a horrible grinding and (c) traipsing to the basement to unplug the infernal thing. If we waited a few minutes before reconnecting to the power, it would remain off until the water again rose.

(Fellow sump pump owners know we couldn't leave it unplugged without finding basement storage boxes floating in a few feet of snow melt.)

We broke down, buying and installing a new pump — one that featured a power cord for the motor and another for the water-level float. This one immediately demonstrated that it, too, could not shut off on its own!

Back at the plumbing supply store, and still in our pajamas, the friendly manager filled us in: If we plugged one power cord directly into the back of the other, the pump turned itself on and off flawlessly.

Which brings us to Rule No. 17 of home repair and improvement: The secrets of sump pumps, or laying Italian tile, or installing a French door, or building a deck are not easily gained by do-it-yourselfers. Sadly, once empowered with all the right moves, we find we don't need to make such a repair or improvement ever again.

The skills that come easily and require no special experience — painting a wall, hanging a painting, re-wiring a lamp — are as boring as they are endlessly part of home upkeep.

We guess what we're saying is: Does anyone need our help replacing a sump pump? We're quite good at it — really!

Madison's Super Stop & Shop recently presented a $5,000 sponsorship check to the Taste of Madison 2010 Organizing Committee. This is the third consecutive year in which Stop & Shop has been a major sponsor for the annual event. This year, the Taste of Madison takes place on Monday, March 15, at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Ferguson Recreation Center. It begins with VIP admission ($100) at 6 p.m. and general admission at 7 p.m. Valet parking will be available. From left, are Donna Bird of Gary's Wine & Marketplace, Mike Kopas of Drew University, Rocco Iossa of Rocco's Tuscany Grill, Chase Kruppo of FDU, Barry Kroll of Madison YMCA, Stop & Shop store manager Donn Calvano and event co-chairs Carmela Moeller of the Madison Rotary and Eric Range of FDU.

Greek-American

This week's Where Is It? photo features the oldest luncheonette in Chatham, Angie's, at 252 Main Street in Chatham.

Angie's Luncheonette

Angie's Owner Louiza Poulimenos is celebrating her 17th year in Chatham on May 1.

(L:R) Lifelong Chatham residents George Sweetin, Diane Conlon and Jack Conlon

Patrons George Sweetin and Diane and Jack Conlan have lived in Chatham their entire lives.  "We used to come here when we were kids, when it was called John's.  We come to Angie's for breakfast and lunch all of the time!"

Cynthia Wiese Manno and Jeff Manno performing at the Cornerstone Coffee House at Stanley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 94 Fairmount Ave., Chatham. This husband-and-wife team performed standards from show tunes to light jazz to pop tunes that were familiar to all who attended. For more information on upcoming Cornerstone Coffee House events and worship services at Stanley Congregational Church, visit www.stanleychurch.org or call 973-635-7723. (Photo: Carl Shesler)

Friends of the Library of the Chathams get ready for their annual book sale, which runs March 13 through 16. The library is located at 214 Main St. (Photo courtesy Sue Hoag)

Tens of thousands of books are being donated and sorted into more than 30 categories from autobiographies to Zen  as the Friends of the Library of the Chathams prepares for the library's annual book sale.

   The sale starts on Saturday, March 13. New this year, on opening day, anyone can pay a $20 fee for a preview sale from 8 to 9 a.m.  The sale opens free to the public at 10 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m.

   The sale takes place at the library, 214 Main St., Chatham, and will have books, video tapes, DVDs, CDs and audio tapes.  Rare and collectible books also will be available.

   The Bags of Books sale will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 14, and during library hours Monday and Tuesday, March  15 and 16. Fill bags with hardcover books, paperbacks, DVDs, CDs, video and audio tapes of your choice for $5 a bag.

   All proceeds from the book sale are used to buy new books and materials for the library.

Madison 
14 Academy Road,  Gary McElvany, Jennifer Archibald, $855,000 (Karen Day)
 2 Locust St.,  Michael Fajardo, Karen Langhauser, $385,000 (Ocwen Nonperforming I)
 2 Oak Court,  Angela Scafuri, $570,840 (NP Dodge Jr.)
 36 Loantaka Way, Apt. A,  Robert Corrington, $58,411 (Sara Henry)

Real estate transfers originate from public records compiled by the county clerk of each county. Transfers appearing in This Week are supplied by Superior Information Services of Trenton, which collects the city, address, buyer names, selling price and seller information. Questions regarding the accuracy of the information provided can be directed to the county clerk's office or Superior Information Services of Trenton.

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek with contestant Vijay Balse of Chatham. (Photo courtesy "Jeopardy!" Productions, Inc.)

An almost week-long winning streak on the Jeopardy television show finally ran out Wednesday night for Chatham resident Vijay Balse.

Balse correctly identified clues about Indonesia, foreign currency and authors on Wednesday's episode, but other contestants beat him to the buzzer in quiz categories about movie-making equipment and architecture in Jerusalem.

He had been the quiz show's champion for four consecutive nights, winning more than $80,000, before his fifth appearance on Wednesday night.

Balse, 45, works as a chemical engineer and is a trivia buff. While he was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was on the school's College Bowl quiz team.

He auditioned for the ABC quiz show six times starting in the early 1990s before being called to appear on the show in November. The shows were taped in December.

A native of Mumbai, India, where he attended undergraduate school, he said he's been watching the show since he moved to the U.S. in 1985 -- the year after Jeopardy debuted.

Balse said last week that the prospect of being seen by a massive audience didn't faze him.

"I didn't have time to be nervous. I just went there and played the game,'' he said. "There's going to millions of people watching you, but you just put it out of your mind.''

This Colonial at 34 Buxton Road, Chatham Township, offers 11 rooms of spacious living. The house is priced at $1,565,000.

Compiled by MadisonChatham This Week

This contemporary home at 34 Buxton Road in Chatham Township welcomes prospective owners to the 21st century in style. Every corner of this immaculate home says "modern."

   There are 11 rooms, which include four bedrooms and four full baths. That's plenty of room for the larger family or the family that enjoys entertaining guests.

   Some of the interior highlights include two wood-burning fireplaces — one in the living room and the other in the family room — an eat-in kitchen with a work island, pantry and separate breakfast bar, master bath with jetted tub and much more. The amenities are too numerous to list.

   Regarding the master bath, the current owner plans to replace the vanity and will consider a new owner's choice, if an offer is made soon enough. The adjoining master bedroom has a dressing room and walk-in closet.

   The home has a finished basement with a walk-out to a yard and patio. There are French drains in the basement area. There is a two-car, built-in garage. The nicely landscaped property has a sprinkler system for easy lawn care.

   A tour of the home includes a bedroom, bath, inside and outside entrance, recreation room, storage area, utility room and walk-out on the ground level. The first floor includes baths, living room, den, dining room, family room, entry foyer, kitchen, office and pantry. There are four — or more — bedrooms on the third level, plus additional baths and a laundry room.

   The house is selling for $1,565,000 through Weichert Realtors. Call agent Cynthia Tratnyek at 973-376-4545.

Chatham Borough police Sgt. Roy George is facing a department disciplinary hearing for allegedly leaving a backpack containing a loaded handgun on a sidewalk in Westfield after a night of drinking.

First, Westfield police at 11 p.m. on Oct. 12, 2009, got a call about an intoxicated person walking on Elm Street. This person, later identified as Roy George of Clark, was released to the care of a responsible person, a Westfield police spokesman said.

The following morning, Oct. 13, at 7:20 a.m., police got a call from a Sinclair Place resident in the Union County municipality of Westfield. The caller said he found a backpack on the sidewalk in front of his home that contained a handgun and identification. In the pack, police discovered police credentials belonging to Roy George of the Chatham police department and a loaded, .45-caliber handgun.

Chatham police were contacted, and no charges were filed against George by Westfield police for allegedly leaving the loaded gun on a residential street.

Borough labor counsel Jamie Plosia confirmed there is a pending disciplinary action against George. Plosia, citing confidentiality rules, would not disclose the charges or any background on the matter but he said the Morris County Prosecutor's Office reviewed it and transferred it back to Chatham to be handled as an internal, disciplinary matter.

''There is no indication he is not able to continue on the job,'' Plosia said.

George has remained on the job since the alleged incident and carries a service weapon, Plosia said. Attorney Fred Knapp, who is acting as hearing officer on the administrative action, did not return a call for comment.

George's attorney, John Whipple, would not comment in any way on the matter, calling it ''a confidential, internal affairs and disciplinary matter that is not a matter of public record.''

The Madison Police Department's school resource officer is expected to speak to classes about bullying and harassment in the coming days, Principal Michael Post said.

Three parents spoke during Tuesday's school board meeting about insults and physical abuse that they said their children were subjected to by classmates at the school. They said they had reported incidents to the principal and superintendent in the two weeks before the meeting.

Superintendent Richard Noonan said some of the most recently reported incidents, including a fourth-grade student being thrown into a snowbank during recess when staff members weren't looking, were quickly and aggressively dealt with after parents brought the bullying to the attention of school officials.

"This has now come to our attention in a big way and we're going to respond to it in a big way," Post said at the meeting. He said the reports are upsetting to him and that the bullying situation was not known to him until parents raised the issue.

"Obviously we have some work to do," School Board President Lisa Ellis said after listening to the parents.

Noonan posted a letter on the district Web site Wednesday outlining steps being taken at the school to eradicate any bullying and increase confidence that every student is comfortable and safe throughout the day. The steps include:

1. An expanded and more vigorous supervision of students in the lunch room, during recess and at dismissal;
2. Having the assistant superintendent of schools, Barbara Sargent, investigate current reports of bullying to determine what consequences or interventions are necessary;
3. Having School Resource Officer Wayne Reed speak to classes and help implement improved supervision;
4. Convening a parent and staff committee on bullying that will review and identify additional steps or programs that should be instituted to address concerns related to bullying and respecting student differences;

Sandra Hulik said her son was the target of hateful insults and slurs, and that some students are afraid to use the bathroom because other students hang out in the school bathrooms, making it uncomfortable for them to go.

Post, who has been principal at the school for five years, said having a safe environment is the school's top priority.

One of the parents who spoke, Rick Fabrizzio, said his son never talked about the violence he experienced at school, which he said occurred mostly during lunch and recess, until Feb. 22. His wife, Mary Lou, said it apparently started as teasing in September and became increasingly malicious, including regular punching, hitting, shoving and kicking. She said reported it to the principal the day after he told her about it.

According to the police report, Patrolman Wayne Reed, who is the school resource officer, called Fabrizzio to let her know he would monitor her son's lunch period. He also told her he met with Noonan and said he would assist the Board of Education in any way they felt necessary.

Mike and Tina Coppola, of Madison, enjoy a meal at Amici's, in Madison. (Photo: Alex Lewis)

By Jamie Duffy
MadisonChatham This Week

Amici's is the ultimate neighborhood pizzeria. Patrons can find it on Madison's Park Avenue, a good healthy walk from downtown proper. It's where locals who have a hankering for a great slice and a friendly word can stop in and see owners Louis and Theresa Camasta. It's a place to sit in or take out, but either way you get a taste of authentic Italian.

   But Amici's also is a great restaurant. Tucked to the side, as if it were leading deeper into a grotto, is a small, warm dining room dressed in colors reminiscent of a Tuscan hearth. On the menu is veal Marsala, chicken Francese and seafood.

   "If I go there to have dinner, I'll order soup de pesce," said Madison resident Sal Vitale, who happened into the place one day and now is there so much, he almost could be an employee. "It has clams, mussels, scallops and shrimp with a little filet of fish over linguine, angel hair, whatever you want. That's my favorite dish."

   Camasta opened Amici's eight years ago, deciding to branch out on his own and across the street from Broccolini's, where he was part owner. He started working for restaurants when he was 15, and at one point, he worked with a French chef in Hackettstown.

   But, really, he's been cooking all his life. "My mother and grandparents were from Italy," Camasta said. "There's a lot of history from my family, from Bari. They were great cooks, great bakers."

   His grandmother Nicoleta — known to all as Girdi — showed him how to make homemade pasta. Grandfather Louis — or "Hooks" — was the king of pasta fagioli. "There was always stuff on the table when you walked into the house," Camasta said.

   His signature dish is chicken Francese — chicken that is floured, egged and sauteed in olive oil, butter, lemon and wine. A favorite fish dish comes oreganato style, covered in seasoned bread crumbs and "baked off in the oven."

   A popular appetizer comes straight from the Camasta household: homemade meatballs topped with roasted peppers and a little bit of mozzarella cheese, served on toasted Italian bread. The calamari is another favorite among patrons.

   Working side by side is his wife, Theresa, who does everything but cook."What do I do? That's a big question. Monday and Wednesday I waitress, and I run the place because he goes home and takes care of the kids. I give him a little break. And I'm the bookkeeper. We're a team. When they ask: 'Do you have a partner?' he says: 'Yes, my wife.'"

   The Camastas grew up together in Fairfield. "We were friends back in the day," she said.

   "Amici" is Italian for "friends," which leads back to the idea of neighborhood.

   For Vitale, "neighborhood" and "friends" sum it up: "It's like a hometown feeling. I meet my friend, Joe Nestor. We have lunch there. I'm sitting there, and who comes in? The people I know in Madison."

 AMICI'S
 ADDRESS: 90 Park Ave., Madison
 TELEPHONE NUMBER: 973 360-9100
 HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday
 CUISINE: Italian "with a twist"
 LIQUOR: BYOB
 PAYMENT: MasterCard, Visa, American Express
 PRICE RANGE: Entrees or pasta dishes for lunch, $10; for dinner, $7.95 to $22.95; pizzas: large plain pie, 12.75; specials Monday to Wednesday, $8.75; specialty pizzas, medium 15.50, large, $17.95
 RESERVATIONS: suggested on weekends
 TAKEOUT: Yes
 CATERING: Full off-the-premises catering and in-house
 ATMOSPHERE: Dining room features Venetian-style hanging lamps over nearly every table, cream cloth tablecloths, a single rose on the tables. Ruby-color swagged curtains at the windows add warmth to walls, which are washed in a burnt siena. Pizzeria is standard with booth, table, soda cabinet and counter
 DELIVERY: Yes
 PARKING: Restaurant lot
 OWNERS: Louis and Theresa Camasta

Nancy DiPaola, left, and Polly Scott are the owners of the Learning Laboratory in Madison. (Photo courtesy of the Learning Laboratory)

Compiled by MadisonChatham This Week

Why did you start the business?
Polly Scott: This is a dream I've had for many years — a really full-service learning center, where students are viewed as individuals, and the services provided are comprehensive. As I worked toward my master's and my LDTC certification, I knew this was what I wanted to do. As not only an educator, but also a parent, I know what it is like to run from one center to another, trying to get your child what he needs and then trying to come up with a way to pay for it all!

Nancy DiPaoli: One of our services is the kindergarten-enrichment program. We saw a need in this area. So many of our local kindergarten programs are still half-day programs. It's hard to fit a lot of learning into such a short day when the students are capable of so much more. We really want our kindergarten-enrichment programs to be a special opportunity for children to extend learning.
 

How did you two meet?
Polly: We met at Baskin Robbins in Madison many years ago, and our sons hit it off immediately. As they became friends, we became friends and eventually coworkers at Rainbow Montessori School.
Nancy: Polly and I also cofounded the Special Needs Parent Resource Group in Madison. The group was extremely successful and ran for more than seven years.
 
If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
Polly: We looked at so many spaces locally, and this is really the largest and nicest space we saw. We have lots of room. But the more you have, the more you want! I'd love to have even more space to offer more services.
Nancy: Stop shopping! Polly and I have so much in the way of instructional materials, yet we continue to see things we really want to have at the center. You cannot say no to good teaching materials.

What's the best business advice your have ever received?
Polly: Know your product. Or, in this case, our service. As educators, I believe it's our job to make sure that we keep learning, too. There is always new research and information popping up and we need to stay current.
Nancy: If you put your heart in what you do, you will be successful.

 What personality trait helps you the most?
Polly: I think we both have a good amount of perseverance and determination, which is helpful. Also, as much as we are similar, Nancy and I have very different approaches and personalities. This works well for us because I think it helps us to have a well-rounded and comprehensive approach to the business as well as our classes.

 What's the most difficult part of the job?
Polly: The planning and the prep work. It's well worth it, but when you focus on the individual needs of each student, it requires a lot of advanced prep and planning.
Nancy: We want to serve as many students as possible but still keep our class sizes very small, so scheduling has required a lot of thought and planning, too.

 The easiest?
Nancy: Watching children learn and grow and knowing that you are a part of that.
Polly: When you see the light go on — they get it! They understand. That's very rewarding.

 What's your least expensive product or service?
Polly: Our goal is to keep all of our services affordable. Our basic services are all pretty comparably priced. Analyzed per session, I guess our kindergarten enrichment program is the least expensive service. It works out to be about $25 per day.
Nancy: But our tutoring and skill labs are pretty close. Skill labs work out to be about $30 per session.

 The most expensive?
Polly: Diagnostic testing, because to provide comprehensive educational assessment, you have to do a lot of data collection and observation, in addition to the actual testing. But still, I think we are more than competitive.

 When you leave the business, what will you do?
Nancy: I would still want to work with children and families in some way.
Polly: I don't think I'll leave this business!

 What is coming up in the near future at the Learning Lab?
Polly: We are offering an abbreviated kindergarten enrichment program for the spring, but next fall our program will expand to a full four-day-per-week session. We also have skill labs in reading, math and writing available this spring. Next fall we will be offering skill labs and subject-area minicourses for grades K-12.

 In one sentence, tell us why parents should bring their children here.
Nancy: We are offering quality educational services by licensed professionals at an affordable price.
Polly: I think we are the right choice in educational centers because in addition to knowing our craft, Nancy and I really, really love teaching.

 THE LEARNING LABORATORY LLC
 TYPE OF BUSINESS: Full-service learning center featuring tutoring, basic-skill labs, subject-area minicourses for grades kindergarten to 12, half-day kindergarten enrichment, school consultation and diagnostic testing and advocacy
 OWNERS: Polly Scott, Nancy DiPaola
 ADDRESS: 36 Main St. (second floor), Madison
 TELEPHONE NUMBER: 973-520-8245
 WEB SITE: www.thelearninglabllc.com
 FOLLOW US ON: We have a blog on Merchant Circle and N.J. Tourism
 HOURS OF OPERATION: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday
 FOUNDED: 2010

Softball 
North Jersey Christian Softball League  has openings for new teams. Teams must be affiliated with a church or other nonprofit organization. Players must be 16, and teams may be co-ed. For more information, visit www.njcsl.org.

Football 
The Indoor Sports Pavilion will host a New York Giants Youth Football Camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26 to 30. The noncontact camp is for children 6 to 14. Giants heroes Charles Way, Sam Garnes, Billy Ard and Eric Dorsey will be some of instructors. The facility is at 16 W. Hanover Ave. in Randolph. For more information, call 877-226-9919 or visit www.nygiantscamps.com.

Senior softball 
Four senior men's softball teams are seeking players for the softball season. The Tuesday Morning Senior Men's Softball League for ages 60 and older plays double-headers at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays in Randolph and West Orange. The Thursday Morning Senior Men's Softball League for players 67 and older double-headers at 9:30 a.m. Thursdays in West Orange. Applicants should call Gene Stracco at 973-361-3271 or e-mail genestracco@optimum.net or call Tony Ciavatta at 973-593-0059 or e-mail janandtone@verizon.net. The Saturday Morning Senior Men's Softball League for ages 60 and older plays double-headers at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays in Livingston. Call Sam DiBenedetto at 973-887-7941 or e-mail samdib@aol.com. The North Jersey Senior Softball League for ages 50 and older and 60 and older plays weeknights. Contact Tony Ciavatta.

Tayler Siegrist, right, is a Bucknell University Field Hockey athlete from Madison.

Compiled by MadisonChatham This Week

How did you get involved in playing field hockey?
Tayler Siegrist: I got involved in playing field hockey through the town summer camps. I started going to field hockey camp in third grade, but didn't actually start playing year round on a club team till sixth grade.
 
What other sports did you play growing up?
Growing up I played soccer, basketball, softball and lacrosse. 

 What do you enjoy most about playing field hockey?
The thing that I enjoy most about playing field hockey is the rewards that it has given me. I have traveled to three countries (Canada, The Netherlands, Argentina), I have made some amazing friends, and I have gotten the opportunity to participate in a Division I sport.

 What field hockey position do you think is the most demanding and why?
I think center midfield is the most demanding position because you have to be the fittest one on the field, you need to have good stick skill, you also need to have good passing skill and you need to be able to control the field offensively as well as defensively.

 How did playing on some great teams at Madison High prepare you for college competition?
Yes, Madison was a good team, but what prepared me most for college was my travel team. Morton Veerasawmy who was one of my old club coaches, and worked with us at Madison, also aided in my preparation for college competition as well. Being a scholar-athlete seems like a difficult balance.
 Have you learned any simple tips that have helped you out?

   Balancing field hockey, track and field and class work at a school like Bucknell hasn't been easy, but I have learned simple tips that have helped me be successful. For example being organized and managing my time has been key to my success, along with using the many resources available to me. I have also learned that if you do have a conflict you should get help immediately.
 Have you declared a major yet? What is your favorite class and why?

   My major is management, and my favorite class is Management 101, which is probably the best course on campus. It is a unique course. There is no other course in which your decisions and actions are real. Your class is actually a real company for the semester. You main objective is run a real service project, which is funded through a real business product that your company sells to real people. It has been so much fun and I have learned so much especially because it is applicable to everything.

 What is the best advice you've ever been given and who gave it to you?

   The best advice that I have ever been give was by my Uncle Kenny. He always tells me to have FUN with whatever I am doing, whether it's playing field hockey, throwing the javelin, or just living life because if I am not having FUN then there is no reason for me to be doing it.
 Where would you like to be and what would you like to be doing five years from now?

   I am not really sure what I would like to be, but if I had to guess five years from now I will probably be in grad school and hopefully be a graduate assistant for either field hockey or track and field at the university I am attending.