Henry, I worked your suggestions into an alternate route:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...o-Home-7-3-u-b

I thought Scotch Plains was a lot hillier than the elevation profile suggests. The couple of times I've bikes there, I always end up on narrow, steep, twisty streets where cars can't see youy until they're on top of you. But this looks like a nice ride. Thanks!