Nativity Scene-arama on view at Consoiata by Dave HaD someone from the region of the world tor comine to add an eerie quiet as each The Packet Groop that bore Leonardo da Vinci*. The meni- visitor is transported to a desert moun- pian view created by mis background tain for a look down on Judea. Malls and shopping centers are skill is hushing. One woman, visiting the mission, Highway traffic, stop and go. "It's in our background and culture to said, "We were in Bethlehem in 1964 creates a harrowing, tension-building make these scenes," Father Renato ex- and this is very accurate. The buildings animation of the Christmas scene. plained. "We appreciate the beauty and and landscape features look so true." Everywhere is not drenched in this feel the time spent in creating a work is There are about 100 sculptures of panic, however. time well spent." people and animals differing in size for One quiet place is the Consoiata In America, he wished to add to his location at various spots in the back- Mission Center. This building, far from know-how by learning electronic tech- ground. These hand-carved, wooden fig- any crowd, sits serenely back from nology; to be used only in tasteful ures have unique facial expressions and Route 27 in Somerville. amounts. "I tried to utilize the tech- poses. The forms are reminiscent of. that There, in a small auditorium. Father nology available in this country. I re- meticulous art work, inspired by the Renato SaudeUi has raised a nativity ceived a lot of contribution and advice Catholic Church, that came to life in landscape that absolutely glows. The from mechanical experts," the Father medieval Europe. - < 30-foot scene shows various events from added. ' Children are the best audience for this' the biblical record of the birth of Jesus. work, according to the builder. "We The set of miniature people and objects THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL hope that parents introduce their children is accompanied by an audio-visual show landscape, contains houses, constructed to beauty of Christmas. On their own, they can't know it. Once they are projected on to a stage backdrop. of wood, deftly colored to a sandstone acquainted with the story, they're at- Father Renato. a Consoiata missionary hue. Inside each building is an elec- tracted to it." k» • «. from central Italy; arrived in the United tronically-timed light that activates in States 20 years ago with a sound knowl- unison with the other parts of the scene. The scene-arama is open until Jan. 4. THE NATIVITY on deptey at Consoiata Mtestonarfes on Route 27, FrankHn Park. edge of die scene-arama craft. This timing allows sunrise and sunset Showings are scheduled every hour be- (Andrea Kane photo) An artist's understanding of depth in the holy land to be affected in each perception perhaps is a prerequisite for house. The overhead lighting and projec- " See NATIVITY, page ISA. TheFranklin NEWS RECORD U6PSS78400 *u. Thursday, December 24,1981 Vol. 29, No. 52 30 CSIltS Home worship case postponed bj Mao Lou StraMeadoriT Rev. Robert Cameron declined to say "Whatever you call what Rev. Cameron that the house was not suitable for the Special Writer whether or not the Mount Carmel Re- has, it whould be allowed," he said. people to assemble in and asked the formed Episcopal Church would be con- "This case involves the concept of board to prohibit continued use until "Ft> the season for litigation. 10 de- ducting services. fundamental fairness, religious freedom, after the Superior Court decision. spite tomorrow. Chratma*. being the State SupeaW Court last Friday re- freedom of speech and assembly," he •mm joyous of Chrttlun holidays, the served decision on whether or not a said, referring to the First Amendment. MR. FREDRICK asserted that three nunicipal court ruling ordering the mini- municipal court rulings said the use ster to stop conducting religious services A HEARING on an application for a should stop. in his West Point Avenue home is business guide 15A use variance was brought before the Attorney Cooper said that once an constitutional. classified I-12B township Board of Adjustment last appeal is pending, enforcement of lower Superior Court Judge Arthur Meredith Thursday, but was postponed until Feb. court ruling; is suspended and the mini- learning 4-6A said he would make his decision some- 18 after both the board an* Frank ster could continue to use his property letters ?>15A time ill January, according to Mor- Moreili. another attorney for Rev. OMil all his rights were legally decided. ristown attorney Larry Supp. who is Cameron, deckled that it would be best "Our basic feeling," said Mr. lifestyle '....8A handbag th« IITT' of Municipal Court to wait until after the Superior Court' Fredrick, "we — the residents — are obituaries I2A Judge Nicholas Bissel Jr.'s Sept. 24 decision. Zoning Board Attorney Wil- concerned that by granting an adjourn- decision for the church.' police blotter 2A liam Cooper said that he didn't want a ment for so long, of the traffic generated sports 16-I7A According to Mr. Supp, the superior conflict between the Superior Court by the use of the church." court judge, needed time to study the decision and the actions of the board". Board Chairman George Wade agreed town forum 14A case, for which there is little precedence: If Judge Meredith decides in favor of with Mr. Cooper but said, "We just "This is the first case of its kind in New weekly recipe 15A Rev. Cameron, that will be the end of hope the Rev. Cameron will minimize Jcney. maybe the first in the country," the case unless the township appeals the whatever problems we have to the best he said. decision. If the judge does not overrule • The holiday Mason is a of his ability." Because of financial reasons, the con- the municipal court, then the minister The minister said he was declining perfect lime to go to the gregation of about 20 has held services must obtain a use variance from the comment regarding Christmas services movies, and moviemakers arc in the minister's borne since last June. BOA. A variance allowing use of prop- because he didn't want to "advertise." ready with a cornucopia of The township zoning ordinance, how- erty for purposes not specified in the He said that he has stopped all advertis- films Cntk Thomas Simooet ever prohibits churches and other places zoning ordinance can be granted if the ing and has had his parishioners begin tell* you what'* up with of worship in Rev. Cameron's board finds that "special reasons" exist parking in his yard rather than on the what'* out See page 23 neighborhood. to allow use of this particular parcel of street to minimize any impact on the Attorney Supp, however, believes that land and if the applicant proves that this neighborhood. this ordinance is unconstitutional: use will not have a detrementa! effect on He maintains that despite Mr. the surrounding neighborhood. Fredrick's claim of a petition of 40 During the BOA meeting, Middiebush residents opposed to the church, that his attorney Leonard Fredrick stated that he neighbors have not complained to him: had been retained to represent about 40 "I have appealed to my neighbors and area residents opposed to continued use no one as yet has said exactly what's of dte home as a church. The lawyer said being objected to." HoKda Traffic data aired Susanner Burti;*?.s has the holiday spirit after she helped decorate the Christmas tree at Jumping Stone school in East Millstone. More photos and story inside. on Rubin proposal (Rich Pipeling photo) by Lob Cody section in the past three years. Special Writer But Mr. Cilo's statistics were lower. Rubin and Sons, who propose to build He said his study showed only 22 Teacher offers $200 a retail home and garden center at the accidents occurring near the site in the comer of John F. Kennedy Boulevard past three years. He blamed most of and Easton Avenue, heard testimony on these mishaps on drivers failing to yield a traffic safety report, a key issue of their to oncoming vehicles. Thirteen of those for tree thief capture relocation application. accidents actually happened between Friend and employees surrounded the Easton Avenue and the jughandle onto Rubin family as they listened to Some- JFK. "Most of them were rear-enders," by Sandra Lowich lawbreakers take control." rviOe traffic engineer John Cilo Jr. Mr. Cilo said. address the Franklin Township planning Managing Editor "THAT TREE BELONGED to all Board Wednesday night. In his testimony, Mr. Cilo said the Feeling "absolutely outraged," an of us," the special education teacher The crow of more than 40 people also proposal, which calls for an entrance was compiled of some residents op- Elizabeth Avenue School teacher is of- added, "We all ought to say we've had along JFK and a series of access lanes, enough." posed to construction of the "the safest (design) our technology has fering a $200 reward for information that 28,000-flquare-foot center. They were at this time." will lead to the capture and conviction of "We're not going to sit back wringing concerned that the additional business He cited the heavy vehicle flow as an a tree thief. our hands, feeling it's hopeless. We're wonid increase traffic to hazardous asset in the eyes of a retailer. "The Janet Dinitis told the News-Record going to do something about it. levels at the already heavily used inter- attraction of this site is the high visibili- that a 19-year-old Blue Spruce — a "Someone may have seen someone ty, and people will pay a premium to potential Christmas tree —- located near bring the tree in, someone will see the Mr.