D ram a clu b Campers spent last week learn­ ing about historical theater at the Merchants and Drovers Tavern in Rahway. Page 3 LINDEN, N.J WWW.LOCALSOURCE.COM 75 CENTS VOL. 89 NO. 28 THURSDAY JULY 2 0 , 2 0 0 6 Historic home razed for development By Kitty Wilder building near waterways and wet­ tory and years later, an intricately ‘Day at the Races’ to Managing Editor lands. carved printing block, used to print aid scholarship fund RAHWAY — A River Road home Jimmy Lynch, president of the wallpaper, was discovered buried on The John “Butch” Kowal Memo­ built in 1839 was torn down last week Rahway River Association and a River the home’s grounds. rial Scholarship Fund will host its to make way for three new homes Road resident said the neighborhood Other historic items were also annual “Day at the Races” Friday at planned for the site. was sorry to see the historic home go. reportedly found in the garden, includ­ Monmouth Park in Long Branch. Crews demolished the home for­ “It’s the loss of a little piece of gen­ ing American Indian arrowheads and a grinding stone. The cost of the donation is $25 merly located at 651 River Road tility here in Rahway,” Lynch said. According to local historian Alex These items were uncovered by per person and includes admission after the state Department of Envi­ to Monmouth Park, a program, bar­ ronmental Protection approved a Shipley’s book, “Rediscovery of Rah­ Kenneth Ritchie and his wife. The becue, beer and soft drinks. permit for the new project in mid- way,” the home was built in 1839 by couple purchased the home in 1936 Tickets are available at Butch June. Scotsman Archibald Jardine. and spent time researching the old Kowal’s Tavern or by calling 732­ The permit process ensures devel­ Jardine came to the United States home. In their research, the Ritchies 574-8457. Ask for David. opers comply with regulations when to work in his brother’s wallpaper fac- The John “Butch” Kowal Memo­ learned the home was once known as rial Scholarship Fund is a local Rah­ “the commons,” a public tract of land way charity that provides merit and used by the local American Indian need-based higher education schol­ community. arships to the youth of Rahway. Previous to the Ritchies, the home was owned by George McIntyre, a To date the scholarship has whale hunter who came to Rahway to File Photo donated nearly $100,000 to deserv­ The former home that stood at 651 River Road in Rahway. ing students in the area. settle down, according to Shipley’s book. The developer who purchased the you know will get overturned in court. Although the home had significant property created a plan that met the You’ll just be wasting taxpayer Nonprofit groups may ties to the past, modernization to the city’s specifications for lot size. Any money.” register for fund-raiser interior and exterior prevented it from attempt to prevent him from subdivid­ City Planner Lenore Slothower Jersey Gardens, New Jersey’s being protected as a historic site, ing the lot for the three-home project said the developer followed the neces­ largest outlet mall, will host Magical according to Planning Board member would have likely landed the city in sary steps and permitting processes to Day of Giving Nov. 9. Jeffrey Robinson. court, Robinson said. demolish the home, adding that the Magical Day of Giving is Jersey Lynch said not only the home, but “We looked for ways that we could state is protective of waterways and Gardens’ largest fund-raising event the garden, was an asset to the neigh­ possibly stop him. But there was nothing wetlands. benefiting local nonprofit organiza­ borhood. “That stuff took 70 years to we could legally do,” Robinson said. Before new construction can begin, tions. Last year, non-profit organiza­ grow and in five minutes it was all Planning Board member Robert project plans must be finalized by the tions raised more than $100,000 gone,” Lynch said. Simon agreed. “Our vote against city engineer, Slothower said. through ticket sales to the holiday Photo By Sean Havey Robinson also said he was sorry to approving that application would not Kitty Wilder can be reached at 908­ shopping event. Crews demolished the historic home last week to make see the home go, but added that the Plan­ have passed the legal muster,” Simon 686-7700, ext. 127, or theprogress@the- Nonprofit organizations can reg­ way for new development. ning Board’s “hands had been tied.” said. “You can’t reject an application localsource.com. ister to participate now by calling 908-436-3005, ext. 205. Once registered, tickets will be available for distribution to these Reaching Court to groups in mid-August. Magical Day of Giving is a holi­ day shopping extravaganza with, to new hear ballot one-day-oly discounts, door prizes and family entertainment. Tickets heights issue are $5 and can be purchased from participating organizations, which By Dan Burns By Dan Burns retain 100 percent of the proceeds. Staff Writer Staff Writer LINDEN — Alexis Marzulla, 7, ROSELLE — The complaint filed Poll results walked down the hall of the Linden by defeated 5th Ward council candi­ Multi-Purpose center Monday, listen­ date Christine Dansereau calling for In the July 6 issue of our Union ing to an apparent fib her friend was several absentee ballots from County papers, we asked readers telling her. When the single-file line Roselle’s Democratic Primary elec­ what they thought of Gov. Jon she was in reached its destination, tions to be thrown out will be heard in Corzine’s decision to shut down the Marzulla had to know if it was true. the Union County courthouse tomor­ state government. “Mrs. H,” Marzulla called to her row morning. Sixteen respondents, or 57 per­ instructor, her voice full of doubt, “she Superior Court Judge John Malone cent, said the governor was justified said that tomorrow, we’re going to will decide whether there is sufficient in standing firm. Mars.” evidence to support Dansereau’s Eight respondents, or 29 percent, “No,” instructor Christine Hudak claim that many of the votes her said the governor should have given responded. “We’re not going to Mars opponent, Rosemarie Bullock, gar­ up on his plan to raise the sales tax. until Thursday.” nered in June’s Primary Election were And four respondents, or 14 per­ Marzulla’s jaw dropped. obtained by means of deceiving vot­ cent, said the governor should have Monday was the beginning of the ers. compromised with the legislators. fourth and final week of the Linden Bullock’s attorney, Allan Roth, This week, we are asking readers Department of Recreation’s Aerospace believes Malone will dismiss the case about the Open Space Trust Fund. and Technology Academy Space once he’s heard all of the evidence. See the poll question below and visit begins with lessons on the history of John Street building’s computer room aviation history and the arts, according Camp. The camp is a hold-over from “My feeling is the complaint is a www.localsource.com to cast your aviation. Hudak teaches students that during the camp, according to Hudak. to Hudak. By the end of the week-long the Linden Public School District’s sham and it’s frivolous,” Roth said. vote. man’s fascination with flight began They were playing a flight simulator camp, students will have virtually Summer Academy Program, which “Everything they say, everything they Also, see Page 17 for part one of when they started admiring birds mil­ video game Monday, which forced explored the terrain of Mars, learned was axed in May due to the district’s allege within the complaint, is a lawful our series on the fund. lions of years ago. By 1903, when the them to pay attention to their speed, all the parts of an airplane and built failed school budget, according to Lin­ Wright brothers debuted their air­ altitude, fuel supply and other factors their own rocket ship. act. It’s a shame there has to be this den’s Assistant Superintendent of Pub­ plane, spectators exploded into cele­ real pilots must consider. They “This camp is awesome. We waste of time, for purposes of the lic Schools Rocco Tomazic. The camp bration when a human finally mas­ returned to the computer room Tues­ learned about planes so far, the techni­ board of elections, and of taxpayer "„W TTW JTtl is now funded by the city. tered the science of flight — even if it day to run a helicopter pilot simulator. cal names for things like the body of dollars.” Campers don’t “go to Mars” until was only for 12 seconds. The camp mixes hands-on fun with the plane. It really does interest me,” Dansereau and Mayor Garrett Speak: Out later in the week, because the camp Students spend a lot of time in the lessons in math, science, nutrition, See ACADEMY, Page 2 Smith believe their complaint is any­ What do you think of the thing but frivolous. county’s Open Space They contend several absentee bal­ Trust Fund ? lots were distributed illegally, mostly As temps soar, cities find ways to chill out to people who thought they were reg­ • Preserving open space and By Dan Burns lar with children this summer, accord­ Multi-Purpose Center on John Street, need a helping hand,” Corzine said istering to vote, not casting a vote for encouraging recreation are Staff Writer ing to Roselle Library Director Keith however, are open to the public during during a visit to the Hamilton Senior a specific candidate.