Watkins to Leave S.B. for Trenton Ing Communi- Manager Will Become Ties," Levin Director of Said in the Release
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Occasions Part II High riser A guide to planning all of life's social affairs North Brunswick's Jackson competes at Meet of Champions Page 29 Serving North and South Brunswick June 13, 2002 www.gmnews.com Your Local Connection 500 Vol. 9, Number 36 Watkins to leave S.B. for Trenton ing communi- Manager will become ties," Levin director of said in the release. local government division Watkins, 46, BY CHARLES W. KIM said that he is Staff Writer excited about outh Brunswick Township Manager the new posi- Matt Watkins is leaving the township tion. for a new job in Trenton. "The thing S that got me "It will be very difficult to leave South Brunswick," Watkins said, sitting in his excited was office prior to Tuesday night's Township when I met Council meeting. with Levin. We Watkins, who has served as manager have similar for the township since 1999, will become feelings on the the director of the Division of Local direction to Government Services under the take local gov- Department of Community Affairs. ernments," Watkins said. Gov. James McGreevey and Matt Watkins Department of Community Affairs Prior to tak- Commissioner Susan Bass Levin ing the job in South Brunswick, Watkins announced the appointment in a press worked as administrator in Burlington release June 6. City. "The Division of Local Government He also worked as an administrator in Services plays an essential role in financial Barnegat Township and Delran Township. oversight and assistance to local govern- Watkins credited his success in South ments," McGreevey said in the release. Brunswick with working with "outstand- "Mr. Watkins' knowledge and experience ing employees and an outstanding mayor in local government are invaluable assets and council." in our efforts to make state and local gov- "The mayor and council had a vision of ernments operate more efficiently." where they wanted to go. They wanted to According to the state, the division is get improvements done, purchase open one of the oldest agencies in state govern- space and keep taxes down. We have done ment and is responsible for the financial that to a large extent," Watkins said. integrity of local governments. Watkins said that it was hard to find one thing that he will look back on as his great- DAWNMARIE SANNWALDT "Matt is an ideal choice to lead the divi- A peacock rests quietly on a Deans Rhode Hall Road guardrail in South sion. He understands the tough issues fac- est accomplishment as manager. Continued on page 22 Brunswick Saturday evening. Index Business 30 Classified 34 Milestones 28 Graduation ceremonies ready to go Obituaries 26 Opinion 10 Classes of 2002 its graduation June 20 at 6 p.m. at becoming superintendent. He left have shown a great deal of pride in Police Beat 27 the facility on Raider Road, while the post in the summer, and Steve accomplishing something special. Sports 29 sfheduled to bid South Brunswick High School is Libro took over the position tem- It is sad that they are moving on Quote of the week: farewell this week scheduled to hold its graduation porarily until Robert Cancro was and leaving." June 19 at 6 p.m. on Ridge Road hired full time in January. Cancro Since joining the North "I don't see any way that BY DAVE GOLDBERG "I'm excited because this will said that graduation is an exciting Brunswick school system, Cancro NJ Transit would not be Staff Writer badly affected by a shut- be the First time I will be attending time. said he has a good relationship with down of Amtrak." orth and South Brunswick a graduation as a superintendent," "No matter how much you plan the students. high schools are scheduled said North Brunswick Schools for graduation, and you know what "I have dealt with them pretty U.S. Rep. Rush Holt N to bid farewell to their sen- Superintendent Dr. Robert Rimmer. is coming, you can never be fully fairly, and I feel that I have had a (D-12) ior classes during their respective "The kids have traditionally made ready," said Cancro. "It is a very short but positive relationship," Page 3 commencement ceremonies this this event a model of decorum, and exciting experience for everyone Cancro said. "They are all very Visit Greater Media week. I expect this year to be the same." and a bit of a sad time. The kids concerned families in North Newspapers' Web site North Brunswick Township Rimmer had previously served who have been here for four years Brunswick that want the best for wvw.gmnews.com High School is scheduled to hold as the NBTHS principal prior to are leaving. At the same time, they Continued on page 22 SENTINEL, JUNE 13, 2002 Family Farm & Greenhouses 9 Over 180,000 scf. ft. of Solid Flowers We grow 99% ©f our Flowers & Shrubs in our State ©f the Art Facilities, * lowest Prices and Superior Quality! • Loads & loads of Shrubbery! • Gift Certificates Available NEW GUINEA IMPATIENS 15 pots for EMERALD ALBERTA 8" HANGING ;?YtfF)[ GREEN SPRUCE BASKETS GtASSES SPIRAL SPIRALS $ 00 4 $ [>r 3 for 12 $W Y^ 79" ®r $5,0© ©nch '<$r $99.99 Reg. $129.99 @® w • Impatiens ® Begonias 1 ftfrtfeitiSWiR; O'OA ®SweedishIvy Impatiens lonias EARTH POT & MUCH MORE. PLANTERS M'l 2 flats for . -7 'AV(.J $6.00 each ii i.'. REG. $9.99 ea. [48 Plants per flat) '''"' 1/--1 * .1 liiL^ujjiiiifiiiiiMiBiMfiiminffl iVtf SALE BEAtnifUL '^f '(i|f; AlBBOA 1 / SPRUCE m 0 )®C»). ,:.il^ 7 %wtyt*ww> J1! ' ]From Freehold Rt 522 to right on Main Street (Englishtown) (Take Rt. 33 West (Freehold Raceway Mall) go "t -1 Left on Water Street, stay left on Lasatta Ave iapprox. 5 miles to right on Perrineville Rd., which turns into Federal Gaskos is up on the imake right on Federal Rd. Gaskos is approx. 3 right (approx, 3 miles) il lf From Summerhill Rd., East Rrunswick fromRt. 520 ^ tj-'i\^. Tf jSummerhilS l to end, make right on Main St •to Rt. 9 south to Gordons Corner Rd. into .(Spotswood) to 1st light make left on DeVoe Ave .JEnglishtown, make left on Main Street & right on 'Follow about 7 miles (cross over Rt. 522) to stop W hih turns make right on Federal - Gaskos is up on right SENTINEL, JUNE 13, 2002 3 Carrier threatens to end them for dispatching." Holt said that it should be a priority for service unless it gets the country to support Amtrak. $200 million loan "Last fall showed us the importance of a diverse transportation system," Holt said. BY CHARLES W. KIM Staff Writer Holt also said that it would be a loss if t is not clear if NJ Transit trains will Lhe carrier had to close its doors. continue running on the Northeast "It would be a sad state of affairs for I Corridor Line should Amtrak fail to America. We must support Amtrak." Holt obtain a $200 million bridge loan. said. Amtrak president David Gunn an- Holt, who uses the line to get to and nounced last week that the national rail from Washington, DC, said that a shut- carrier must obtain a $200 million loan in down would also affect his com mute. the next three weeks or be forced to shut "I don't know how I would get to down operations nationwide. work," Holt said. The effect such a shutdown would have Bassett Hackett said that the authority on the thousands of New Jersey com- has an agreement in place with Amtrak, but muters, however, remains unclear. would not give out the details of that agree- "We can't comment on the impact fa ment cither. shutdown] would have on commuter ser- "We don't want to go into that level of vices," said Amtrak spokesman Bill Schulz detail," she said. Monday. "We are right now focused on Warrington was the former head of securing a loan and insuring that Amtrak Amtrak until his appointment to the top services continue." post at NJ Transit by Gov. James E. Mc- Schulz said that Amtrak owns the corri- Greevey earlier this year. dor and the operating system for the line, Gunn took the reins of the financially including the switches and radio system. strapped carrier in May, replacing He, however, would not disclose the de- FILE PHOTO Warrington, who moved to the top post at tails of the carrier's agreement with NJ NJ Transit commuter trains may not be able to use the Northeast Corridor Line If Transit to use the line. Amtrak shuts down. NJ Transit. providing service on the Northeast Cor- have to be stopped because the system is According to a published report, Gunn The line runs through several eastern announced the $200 million shortfall to states and includes stops at Princeton ridor Line for its customers," Bassett owned by Amtrak. Hackett said. employees June 5. Junction and New Brunswick. "It is not just the rails, but The corporation is planning to use a An Amtrak spokeswoman, Karina Bassett Hackett said that the switching and dispatch," while Amtrak owns and op- the official said. $1.2 billion federal appropriation as col- Van Veen, said June 6 that she didn't think lateral for the loan. That money is slated to service would be interrupted. crates the line, NJ Transit will U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D- continue service. 12), a supporter of Amtrak, enter its coffers when the new fiscal year "We don't think the shutdown will starts Oct. 1, according to the report. occur," she said. "We don't want to worry agreed with that assessment.