Garwood Cares

Garwood residents are raising money for the family of Corrections Officer Frank Congiusta who tragically killed himself last month.

Officer Congiusta was a Garwood resident and a 16-year veteran of the corrections department. His friends and neighbors are asking anyone that wants to help out the family to make donations the following way:

Checks should be made out to "Denise Congiusta". If neighbors would like to donate to the Congiusta family college fund you are asked to notate that on the check. If not, leave the comment section blank so that the family can use it now if they need it to get by.

Congiusta is survived by his wife, two sons, and one step-son.

If mailing, send donations to:

Coleen Hay
527 Willow Avenue
Garwood, NJ 07027
Attn: Denise Congiusta

If walking by:

Drop off the donation in a sealed envelope in the milk box on the porch at 527 Willow Avenue.

County Defends Itself

In response to 2 articles Garwood 365 posted on the Obama Federal Stimulus-- and its local reach (or lack there-of) into the borough-- the County responds.

A County Spokesperson posted a comment on 365 that explained Garwood is getting its fair share. Responding to the stories he said, "I wish you would (have) put your story into a proper perspective (rather) than comparing yourself unfairly to bigger cities such as Rahway and Hillside that have far different issues than a small, suburban town such as Garwood."

Instead he said, comparing Garwood to Fanwood is much more accurate. But, even when comparing the County's version of Apples-to-Apples it seems Garwood still doesn't get the same when it comes to infrastructure improvements (the cornerstone of the Obama plan). According to County Officials, most likely, Fanwood will see more dollars for road improvements. The County Spokesperson said that's because it shares so many county roads with the City of Plainfield.

The County Spokesperson also pointed out other ways Garwood is getting funding- but they were non-stimulus related items.

County officials are currently looking into whether certain roads that pass through Garwood may be getting funding. They say that information could come as early as next week.

Followup: No Soup! Just Boxed Lunches...

While Union County has received a monetary shot-in-the-arm from the Obama Administration's Federal Stimulus program-- Garwood, along with two other county towns, have all but been left out of the cash wind-fall.

In an exclusive examination of the recent stimulus offerings Garwood 365 has found that residents of the borough will not be enjoying much of the infrastructure improvements that other towns in the County will be receiving. In fact, other than countywide human services programs that benefit all Union County residents, like unemployment programs and foreclosure assistance, the Borough will not see much in the way of federal help.

However, in a telephone interview, a County spokesperson said unlike Clark and New Providence which won't be receiving any direct benefits from the feds, Garwood will be getting tangible items from Obama dollars: Boxed Lunches.

So, while Rahway gets Downtown improvements, Cranford gets drainage assistance, Plainfield gets new roads, and Winfield gets new sidewalks--- and while 22 million dollars will trickle down to Berkeley Heights, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, Westfield, Roselle, and Hillside-- Garwood will get boxed lunches.

The spokesperson for the County went on to explain the stimulus dollars will buy boxed lunches that will be handed out to the elderly-in-need at the Garwood Senior Center, part of the funding supplied to Meals on Wheels.

The close examination of stimulus funds came last week after Union County Officials boasted that the County will see a large infusion of cash from the federal stimulus.

So, for Garwood, it appears, the only real question- other than, "how did the borough get left out?"- is "mustard or mayo on your boxed sandwich?"

Remember Garwood?

The start of September has Freeholders boasting that the County will see a big infusion of cash from the Obama Administration's Federal Stimulus program. But, upon close examination Garwood is NOT mentioned once in the county's official brag sheet of projects coming to Union County.

In a release, the Freeholders boast that 22 million dollars is being pumped into various towns. The release mentions by name Berkeley Heights, Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, Westfield, Plainfield, Roselle, Winfield, and Hillside.

Only three towns in the county are not mentioned: Clark, New Providence and Garwood.

According to County Officials, the towns (apparently, not Garwood, Clark and New Providence) are said to be getting, amongst other things, 12 miles of newly paved roads, intersection improvements, rental assistatnce, affordable housing for seniors and other goodies like Downtown improvements and better drainage.

The release makes it clear that Rahway's Central Business District will be a big winner, as well as tiny Winfield (the only town in Union County smaller than Garwood) that will get extensive sidewalk improvements.

Now Garwood may get some of the 42,000 meals provided to seniors that will be funded by stimulus dollars through Meals on Wheels and Jewish Family Services. But, concrete (literally) gifts seem to be absent for the borough.