The Serving our Community Tools gone Since1888 Thieves break into MHS Item construction site. See A3 January 1, 2009 75 cents weekly www.theitemonline.com of Millburn and Short Hills Looking back: THAT’S THE WAY TO GET US STARTED what a year! By Andrea Hughes the title. and Harry Trumbore The Paper Mill is in the middle of The Item of its 70th season of programming, having presented “Oklahoma!” 2008 proved to be a contentious and a nearly sold-out stage version year with issues of housing con- of “Disney’s High School Musical.” struction, deer hunting, school Streets were closed off for the class sizes and the relocation of “Oklahoma Hoe-Down,” a town- large-scale retailers commanding wide event to kick off the season the front page of The Item of Mill- with square dancing, a petting zoo, burn and Short Hills. a pie-baking contest and other It was also a year of democracy attractions. in action as residents demanded to More than 150 students age 16 be heard and school and municipal and older showed up for “High officials offered a number of public School Musical” auditions in Sep- forums for the issues to be debated. tember, arriving alongside the the- Here are just a few of the high- ater as early as 4 a.m. lights of the past year: Thirty were chosen for callbacks and four earned the chance to per- form on the same stage as Bailey Paper Mill Playhouse Hanks, who starred in Broadway’s “The most exciting part of the “Legally Blonde The Musical.” year was establishing our new rela- Rehearsals are currently going tionship with the township of Mill- on for “The Importance of Being burn,” said Mark S. Hoebee, who Earnest” starring film actress and donned the official title of artistic dynamic personality Lynne Red- director of the Paper Mill in Janu- grave, Hoebee said. The season ary of 2008. will continue with “The Impor- The move allowed the theater to tance of Being Earnest,” “Master erase all its debt and start out with Class,” “1776” and “The Full Mon- a clean financial slate after the ty.” shortfall of last year, he said. Looking ahead, Hoebee said he In June, the township passed a hopes the community support unanimous measure to buy the from the township the Paper Mill Paper Mill for $9.1 million and has felt for 70 years will continue. also authorized a 75-year lease “We’re all still facing the agreement between the township downside of the economy, and the theater. and we’re reliant on the support of As for the promotion, Hoebee our patrons” both in attending STAFF PHOTO BY JIM CONNELLY said “I’m incredibly grateful to the shows and making donations if board of trustees for putting their possible, he said. Andrew Pineda of the Millburn High School varsity wrestling team receives a high-five from head coach Mike Artigliere after faith in me.” He had been acting as pinning Chatham’s Patrick Klugelman at 112 pounds to tie Saturday night’s Sachsel Cup match at 6-6. For more photos from artistic director before assuming SEE REVIEW, PAGE B5 Millburn’s 57-24 win, see C2. TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS Holocaust teacher to work on Sept. 11 curriculum By Andrea Hughes Originally planned for the Millburn Middle of The Item school cafeteria, the event was held School teacher Mary Students write at the Crystal Plaza through the Vazquez, center, goes Mary Vazquez, a reading spe- about meeting Janoffs’ donation of both the ball- over her experiences cialist who teaches a Holocaust room and catering services. Sur- teaching a class on Studies class at Millburn Middle survivors vivors dressed in their finest the Holocaust with School, is retiring from the district clothes, were escorted by middle Alan Janoff, right, to work on a Sept. 11 curriculum “I really did not know school students, danced and and his wife, Debbie. that will be suggested to schools by what people have gone shared tables and stories. The Janoffs offered the state. through by reading it in text- Students in the class showed Vazquez was honored at the books until I met them.” their appreciation for this year’s The Crystal Palace in Dec. 15 Board of Education meet- “One woman who I had event, held in November, in their Livingston for ing held at the middle school, talked to showed me her tat- final papers. Vazquez’ class to along with township residents too from Auschwitz. And “To dance with her made me so hold a prom for sur- Allan and Debbie Janoff, owners of that moment was a turning happy because I saw a smile on her vivors of the Holo- The Crystal Plaza catering facility point for me because I felt face,” wrote one student. Another caust. in Livingston. like I had witnessed the wrote, “Upon entering the building “I came to Millburn in 1987 for Holocaust myself.” I realized that I was becoming a six weeks, and I’m still here,” she “This event helped show small, yet imperative part of the life said humorously to open up her them that there are a lot of of a survivor.” address at the meeting. She told people out there who care Vazquez’s Holocaust studies the audience her career in the dis- enough to stop an atrocity students also regularly travel to trict spanned six principals and like this from ever happen- museums memorializing the Holo- eight vice principals. ing again.” caust in New York City and Wash- When reuniting with students ington, D.C. who had taken her eighth-grade first held in 2004, was one of the Millburn High School students writing elective on the Holocaust, defining moments for the course. Samantha Schoen and Danielle Margaret received an outpouring “I hope we stay friends.” Vazquez said there is usually a Survivor Marsha Kreuzman spoke Zwang, who were in Vazquez’s of support from the Jewish com- After leaving the district, she will the events. moment of silence as both the stu- to the class, expressing regret at Holocaust studies class, read a pre- munity, including recognition from be collaborating with the New Jer- A final guide for the curriculum dent and the teacher remember never being able to dance at a sentation they had written togeth- Israel. sey Education Association to cre- is expected by 2010 and what happened in class. prom. er about their respected teacher at “I do believe God has a purpose, ate a statewide non-mandatory sample lesson plans should The highlights in class each year As many survivors were perse- the board of education meeting. and his or her purpose was for me program about Sept. 11. be available in about three range from having Holocaust sur- cuted during their teenage years, “Before we took this class, we to be here teaching the Holocaust The idea came about when fam- months, according to published vivors come in and speak about they often missed out on this clas- never knew it was imaginable for class,” she said. ilies of the victims of the attacks reports. their heart-wrenching experiences sic rite of passage, she told the anyone to put so much passion Vazquez also showed gratitude contacted the New Jersey Com- In addition to her work with the to hosting events for the survivors class. In response, Millburn Middle into teaching,” they said. for the Janoffs at the meeting. mission on Holocaust Education, state, Vazquez is compiling a book at The Crystal Plaza. School students raised $480 for a The teacher expressed happy “They have brought sunshine stating schools were acknowledg- on Holocaust studies to be used The “Prom of Your Dreams,” dance. shock that a girl baptized Mary into the lives of survivors,” she said. ing but not teaching about in the middle school after she In Classifieds Vol. 122No. 1 CLASSIFIEDSD4, D5 MOVIESA6Musician sings a new tune COMMUNITY D1, D2 OBITUARIESB4Album from Fried is out next week. For more classifieds, see page D4, D5. For home delivery, On Time Electric To place a classified ad in The Item of Millburn call 888-504-4280. COMMUNITY EVENTSA4PUBLIC NOTICESD3See A6 No Job TooSmall/ Fully Ins. and Short Hills, and our other community All Calls Returned in 10 mins newspapers, call 1-800-891-9467. EDITORIAL A4 PUZZLESB4, C5 Highs and Lows Lic. #134042 1-800-711-2193 Pleaserecycle. EDUCATION B1, B2 RELIGIOUS NEWSB4Second half of 2008 sports year ➧ At least25% recycled newsprint reviewed. See C1 201-368-7776 100% recyclable ENTERTAINMENT A6 SPORTS C1-C6 Joanna Parker-Lentz Jodi B. 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Call David Dantowitz 973-376-0122 www.MillburnMac.com POLICE Apple Macintosh Consulting since1989 Locatedabove Starbucks in Millburn MillburnTownship Residentsince1994 Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist Thieves target contractor trucks Larry Ross ©2006 Are youbacking up your family's photos,music,and documents? at high school construction site Certified Member of the By Andrea Hughes en from another of the township In the second incident, a 44- reports.