Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-03
Ia VECCH|A NOW
PLAYGROUND HEAD
Elected to Succeed Former
Judge Sweeney-Hopping
Takes His Place.

Nicholas La Vecchia was unani-
mously chosen as president Of the
Fairgrounds Commission when that
body organized last night. Mr.. La
Veeehia succeeded former Judge Al
gernon T. Sweeney in the chair. The
latter's place on the commission was
taken by former Alderman w. Frank
Hopping.
In voting to adopt the rules of
1918. some amendments prepared by
Commissioner Charles A. Mccall
were unanimously adopted. The most
important of these provides for a
vice-president. The chairman of the
finance committee will be ex-officio
the vice-president of the commission.
President La Veechia chose Commits
sioner Mccall as chairman of the
finance committee, so that he becomes
the vice-president of the commission.
Another amendment to the rules
changes the time of meeting from
afternoons to evenings. The meetings
have been held at p. m. Hereafter
the official time for meetings will be
the second and fourth Fridays of each
month at p. m.
President La Vecchia. in accepting
the office, spoke of some features
of the Fairgrounds which he hoped
to see changed during the forthcom-
ing year He refrained from discuss
ing finances. He said:
There are one or two of the play
grounds that are not up to the high
standard we are all trying to main
tain. If you had to take visitors to
the Newton street Playground you
might feel that it's condition degrades
the level of the system. The Belle
vile Playground, on the other hand,
is nearly ideal. The Oliver Street
Playground is another that calls for
improvement.
Fourteenth Ward Ground
IF it is possible this year, 1 advise
that a new playground be opened in
the Fourteenth Ward. This is very
congested part of the city. Commits
sioner Milton Lowry and myself in
vestigated the section ana agreed
that there ought to be a playground
there.
THE baths committee should ar
range an item In the budgets for
swimming pools, those which were
abandoned years ago because 1t was
feared they would become unsanitary.
In three of the old baths where that
is the case refiltration systems could
be installed which would render them
sanitary. The cement pools should be
tiled, and / believe that could be done
at a reasonable figure by purchasing
secondhand tiles.
81 have been given to understand
that the Board of Education will pur-
chase the Factory street property
backing on the Seventh avenue school,
now owned by the Board of Works.
This commission should arrange to get
part of the ground there for the cree
ton of a recreation building with
gymnasium, shower bath, etc"
Following President La Vecchia's
speech Secretary ]. Leonard Mason
was reelected secretary. A horse
shoe of roses and poinsettias, the gift
of the employees of the Fairgrounds
and baths, which was exactly as tall
as President La Vecchia, was in the
office of the Fairgrounds Commission
when the commissioners arrived.
Contrary to expectations the COM
missioners did not take up the ques-
ton of the appropriation for the COM
ing year This may come up at the
regular meeting to be held next Fri
day night. AT that meeting Secretary
Mason will read his report. Commits
sioner Mccall was the only absentee
last night and he sent a message to
say that he is still convalesclng from
his recent illness, which led him to
take a trip south.
Makes Appointments.
President La Vecchia announced
the following appointments to COM
mittees.
Grounds and buildings, Commission
ers Lowry, MacCall and Hopping;
committee on supervision, Commits
sioners Owens, Lowry and MacCall;
committee on supplies, Commission
ers Hopping, Owens and Lowry;
finance committee, Commissioners
MacCall, Hopping and Owens.