SERVINO DAYTON, KENDALL PARK, KINGSTON, MONMOUTH JUNCTION INSIDE SPORTS TMMEOFF 7 I i y J E 0 I F Fairy taies ’Tis the season Junior Olympian auTOUAcr.ER V I “The Nutcracker” has become a tradition 'jiji'iE V I “An Old-Fashioned Holiday Erica Howell has earned a among holiday traditions. Also inside: in Princeton” offers a fulf,' spot on the U.S. Junior Former “Tonight Show” bandleader Doc - I calendar of holiday Olympic Luge Team. Severinson is still at the top of his form. t ■ .. happenings downtown. Page 1 8 A I n o O OO ui O JO H U) outh Brunswick Post60 Cents Vol. -43. No. 46 732-320-92 1 4 Thursday. November 1 8, 1 999 www.packotonlino.com Honoring American patriots Teens charged By David Weinstein Staff W riter with assault of True stories are far greater than fic­ tional stories, Navy Lt. Jared East told the crowd assembled at the Municipal Building on Veterans Day. The shear force of reality makes this so, he said. school officer ■‘These stories our veterans have lived are extraordinary, and true," Lt. East ex­ plained to the crowd. “These men and By Bernadette Yannacci tives of the National Association for the women who fought in wars overseas and Staff Writer Advancement of Colored People, the who then came home, they could seem New Jersey chapter of the American like everyday people when you see them Civil Liberties Union, Concerned Black today. We have to remember, though, Police, school officials and commu­ nity and civil-rights representatives Parents and Citizens of South Bruns­ when they were young, they .saved the wick. Township Manager Matthew world." gathered Monday in the wake of the ar­ rest Nov. 10 of three African-American Watkins. Police Chief Michael Paquette It was in this vein that community and schools Superintendent Sam Stew­ members paid tribute Nov. I I to mem­ South Brunswick High School male students by the school resource officer. art. bers of America's anned forces past and No one who spoke to the South present, alive or buried. The students — authorities did not Brunswick Post this week about the in­ Lt. East spoke not only of the men relea.se their names or ages — were ar­ and women who lost their lives to pre­ rested after they resisted the officer's cident has described it as being racial in serve the American way of living, but attempts to escort one of them to class, nature. also those 19 million veterans who today police said. Chief Paquette said the meeting was make up about a quarter of the population School district officials said school part of the Police Department’s on­ of the United States. administrators had asked the officer to going dialogue with the community re­ "It's hard to argue that this country intervene. garding the SRO program, which places would be the same strong democratic so­ The meeting, organized by the Rev. uniformed officers in district schools. ciety without the inlluence of those 19 Larry Williams of the First Baptist "Rev Williams contacted me and million persons living in America today Church of Lincoln Gardens in Franklin, who have been heavily inlluenced by the included New Brunswick representa­ See DFFICER, Page 13A military," Lt. East said. Quoting former President Calvin Coolidge, Lt. East finished his address with "the nation who forgets its warriors is the nation itself forgotten. " Bill would strip For the celebratory and somber occa­ sion. the South Brunswick High School Marching Band provided patriotic ensem­ bles proper to the day. and a moving ren­ dition of "Flander s Field" was sung by control of Rt. 92 the high school concert choir. South Brunswick Mayor Debra John­ son spoke of the sacrifices veterans in all walks of lifejiave made, and continue to from make, for the country. "These veterans that we honor today fought for equity and freedom. Because Staff photo by David Weinstein By Bernadette Yjnnacci public hearing in March that it would of their sacrifices, today we are able to Staff W riter issue the permits. The Corps responded continue to work towards those goals," Victor Kovacs and Tony Tomanek of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9111 in Kendall by asking the Turnpike Authority to ad­ Mayor Johnson said. Park participate in the ceremony at the Municipal Building Nov. 11. dress concerns raised by residents at the Mayor Johnson also was presented an Republican Assemblywoman Bar­ hearing. American Hag by Al Kady, a member of "We need to remember that freedom was ended as it was begun, with words bara Wright introduced legislation On Tuesday, Army Corps spokes­ the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9111, isn't free; it never was, and it never will from Victor Romatowski, commander of Monday to repeal the N.J. Turnpike- person James Haggerty said the agency Kendall Park. The Hag. Mr. Kady said, be, " Mr. Kady said. VFW Post 11219 of Monmouth Junction. Authority’s control over the proposed had not received a report from the will be flown at Veterans Park on Beek- After the benediction was delivered Speaking to the crowd, Mr. Roma­ Route 92 Turnpike Authority. man Road as a remembrance of those by the Rev. John Maltby of Miller Me­ towski said, “We simply ask that you re­ Assemblywoman Wright of Plain- On Wednesday, Assemblyman veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. morial Presbyterian Church, the tribute member." sboro sponsored the bill along with Re­ Lance said the bill was Assemblywo­ publican Assemblyman Leonard Lance, man Wright’s initiative.'but said he I who represents portions of Hunterdon, chose to co-sponsor it because he feels Warren and Mercer counties. If the bill strongly about protecting the environ­ does not pass by Jan. 10 — the end of ment. Assemblywoman Wright did not the current session — it would have to win re-election and will not be an As­ start the process over when the new leg­ sembly member in the new session. As­ Senior plan faces traffic hurdle islative session bdgins. semblyman Lance was re-elected but The bill now will be assigned to an declined to commit to reintroducing it, A.ssembly committee, possibly the en­ saying only that he would review the By David Weinstein mental and traffic issues and public com­ active open-space areas, according to the ap­ vironment or transportation committee, bill once again if needed. Staff Writer ment Nov. 9. Toll Brothers attorney Edward plication filed with the Planning Board. for further review. Linda Greenstein, a Democrat who Testino of Old Bridge said he expects there Residents of the area have voiced con­ The proposed 6.7-mile limited-ac­ will be representing the 14th District could be additional public comment and fur­ cerns over the PARC proposal, saying de­ cess road would link Exit 8A of the N.J. and a current Plainsboro counci|wom- The developers of a proposed 475-unit ther expert testimony on environmental is­ velopment of the area will destroy mature Tqmpike with Route I at Ridge Road. an, said she favors Route 92 and does mior housing complex plan to address wet- sues. woodlands, intrude on wetlands, cause a The federal Amiy Corps of Engineers not support the bill. nds and traffic concerns rai.sed by Planning The Huntington Vallty, Pa., company, traffic nightmare and could keep the area was given jurisdiction over a rev i^ of "I’m not in a position at this point oard members and residents when testimo- hopes to construct 475 detached, single-fam­ from receiving "hamlet" designation from the project in September 1998 follow­ to say 1 would support it," said Ms. y on the project resumes early next year. ily age-regstricted units on 225 acres east of the state. ing a decision by the federal Environ­ Greenstein. “It seems a bit like grand- Toll Brothers is seeking a change in zon- Old Road, and north of both Wynwood and Residents also are questioning why the mental Proteetitin Agency not to issue standing in a lame-duck legislature ' ig for the 225-acre parcel in Little Rocky Princeton Gate developments. township would consider a zoning change wetlands permits. The Assemblywoman-elect said she ill that would more than double residential The development would include a com­ — given that it downzoned the properly The Corps said it would not make a hopes to bring the opponents and pro­ jnsity. The property is zoned for one unit munity building, swimming pools, tennis from an R3 zone, which allows three dwell- decision on Route 92 until the state ponents of the plan together to find ;r acre. courts, exercise facilities, walking trails, DEP decided if it would issue wetlands See RT. 92, Page 9A The board heard testimony on environ­ bike paths, as well as various passive and See SENIOR, Page 9A permits. The state DEP announced at a 1 In d e x 1 Shopping mall in limbo Capsules 14A Editorial 8A M erchants wait for center's face lift Kids’ page 10A By David Weinstein ping center in the recent past, soon be on Staff W riter their way out. Obituaries 13A James Nuckel, owner of the Kendall Park Shopping Center, did not return repeat­ Ask business owners how business is Police 4A ed telephone calls over a two-week period going, and they’ll likely say it could be bet­ seeking comment about his merchants’ con- 18A ter. Sports cem i Representatives from IKLP Centers It’s the nature of the business game. Ap­ Viking Post 11A pearance, too, is a necessary component of Associates, LLC, the management company business success.