A Look Back at Summer: July

July in Scotch Plains and Fanwood was all about summer sports. Local youth participated in a variety of workshops and clinics to strengthen their skills, including baseball, soccer, and even Hannah Montana camp.

• Scotch Plains' native Ashton Gibbs spent early July in New Zealand, playing on the USA Basketball Men's Under-19 National Team and ultimately helping lead them to the big win.
• District 22 Assembly Candidate Martin Marks, along with most of the area's other Republicans, got together in Brookside Park on July 4 to read the "Declaration of Independence."
• Several Scotch Plains and Fanwood groups joined the North Plainfield Fourth of July Parade.
• Local youth strengthened their baseball skills during the Raiders Baseball Clinic camp the first week of July.
• About 100 other Scotch Plains and Fanwood youth took part in the Fanwood Baseball Camp, taught by high school baseball coach Tom Baylock.
• School district world languages supervisor Linda Materna shared her story after returning from a trip to China with other educators, where she learned more about the Chinese school system.
• Downtown Scotch Plains was hopping during the annual Summer Block Party on July 9.
• Local girls spent July 13 to 17 rocking out in the recreation department's "Hannah Montana camp."
• Fanwood's mayor and council decided to use cancel out several old appropriations to free up money for the 2009 budget.
• The Stage House Restaurant won AAA's Four Diamond Award.
• Area teachers spent the week of July 13 to 17 getting learned in all things green at the county's "Green Boot Camp" at the Vo-Tech Schools.
• The Rotary Club announced during their July 15 meeting that the Frazee House property in Scotch Plains is nearly secure from further deterioration.
• Highland Swim Club beat rival Willow Grove in a tense game on July 15.
• A wave of home burglaries in the area prompted police to increase patrol and warn residents to lock their windows and doors.
• The Scotch Plains Cultural Arts Committee's Summer Concert Series kicked off on July 16, with a performance by magician Eric Dasher.
• Recent Scotch Plains-Fanwood High graduate Anthony Taylor competed against some of the state's other football stars in the Snapple Bowl on July 16.
• "Angela's Ashes" Author Frank McCourt died on July 19. Writer Cindy Loh shared a reflection on what it was like to have him as a high school teacher.
• Several SP-F youth participated in the Paper Mill Playhouse's Summer Conservatory.
• Union Catholic came out on top against Rutgers Prep in the Union County Junior American Legion baseball playoff on July 20.
•  Scotch Plains and Fanwood runners participated in the 5k/Pizza Race in Westfield on July 22.
• Local politicians spoke out against the NJ Corruption scandal in late July.
• Local youth were treated to a lesson in short track racing during the Scotch Plains' day camp on July 23.
• The Scotch Plains 4th Annual Charity Cup raised $17,000, when the St. Barts All-Stars went up against the Scotch Plains PBA #87 on July 26.
• The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA swim team finished first place in the Overall Team Championship at the recent East Field Long Course Championships in Berwyn, Penn., in July.
• Budding soccer stars improved their skills during the Raiders Soccer Camp from July 27 to 31.
• A drunk driver crashed into the children's department at Scotch Plains Public Library on July 30.