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FOR THE BEST Franklin Focus Serving Somerset, Franklin Park, Middlebush, East Millstone, Griggstown and Kingston Vol. 7, No. 3 Thursday, January 19,1995 A Forbes Newspaper 25$ Focus on Franklin Sue crazy Girl Scouts collecting coats 'Frivolous' lawsuits spark Several Girl Scout troops based in Somerset are participating in a win- concerns from township ter coat drive to benefit children and adults in By ARMANDO DIANA ficers were exonerated, but the township was still responsible for Central Jersey. The used FOCUS CORRESPONDENT and laundered coats and reimbursing the police officers' de- jackets will be brought to FRANKLIN - Spending more fense costs. the Delaware-'Rantan Girl than $120,000 in lawyer fees in the In 1990, four police officers were Scout • Council in East past three years has led the town- accused of beating South Brun-. Brunswick Jan. '1\ to be ship manager to speak out against swick resident Kevin Chambres, distributed to local organi- a state mandate requiring munici- but were since vindicated of any zations. palities to reimburse police offic- legal wrongdoing. Still, the town- ship is facing the prospect of hav- The Shimallas, owners ers' legal defense costs. ing to reimburse these officers for of Sophie's Coin Laundry, In a memo to Mayor Richard the cost of their legal feels over a 900 Easton Ave.. Som-' Tornquist concerning the affect • four-year period. According to Mr. erset, have agreed to hold state.mandates have on the town- Ramsey, the township has set the laundered outerwear ship's operations, Township Man- aside $175,000. for this expense, al- and dry clean the woolen ager John Lovell said paying po- though he anticipates the total cost garments until the Jan. 21 lice officers' legal defense costs is is likely to go beyond this. deadline. an area that "has grown rapidly as a result of an increase in frivolous Mayor Tornquist said he would The public may bnng litigation." prefer a completely different sys- new or used (please sepa- According to Chief Financial Of- tem whereby the Township Coun- rate) coats, jackets., mit- cil decides if acquitted police offic- tens, gloves and hats to ficer George Ramsey, a review of professional services agreement ers should be held responsible for Sophie's Coin laundry paying their own legal defense and stipulate them as do- over the past three years indicates the township has paid and encum- costs instead of taxpayers. Al- nations for the Somerset though Mayor Tornquist feels the Girl Scouts. bered $122,041. in police defense costs. According to Mr. Ramsey, police officers in the Chambres Cleaning and collection the township was billed $67,282 in case should pay for their legal de- on a smaller scale will the 1992 fiscal year, $30,308 in the fense costs, he said each case continue through Jan. 31. 1993 fiscal year and $24,451 in the should be reviewed. Those with items to do- 1994 fiscal year in professional ser- "To me, the officers (in the nate but who are unable DAVID GIPSON/THE FOCUS vices agreements. Chambres affair) should be re- to meet the Jan. 21 dead-' Pine Grove student Michelle O'Brien analyzes the molecular According to Mr. Lovell, the un- sponsible for their own costs be- line may call 828-1762. properties of green goo under a microscope in the school's funded state mandate is another cause so many police departmen- new science lab. example of some state mandates ' tal procedures weren't followed," Franklin Fact that need to be revised because it he said. In 1994 the Building De- puts an unfair burden on township But Mayor Tornquist added in partment . issued 3,895 taxpayers. ' some cases it's appropriate for the building permits, most of Pine Grove unveils "After the Chambres case, every township to pay the legal defense which required two or time we made an arrest we were fees. more follow-up inspec- slapped with a lawsuit," Mr. Lovell He said he fears too many peo- tions by code enforcement said. ple believe they gan make easy officials. its new science lab He said in most instances the money by charging police officers charges against police officers with brutality in hopes of getting a By NANCY MICHEll ous scientific texts. were unfounded and the police of- (Please turn to page 3) Members of the staff have al- FOCJUS CORRESPONDENT ready had an orientation by teach- FRANKLIN — Pine Grove ers Chris Smith and Pat Burton. Manor School for the Fine, Visual The two teachers spent their sum- Inside and Performing Arts will now have mer at various workshops con- a science room. ducted by the Systemic Science •New head of Com- The science lab is the newest of Initiative (SSI) for the Improve- munity Development the changes to the school, which ment of math and science in the included a new library and com- state. Some of the funding foru Corporation talks of puter/media center two years ago. equipment has. come from the pro- revitalizing people. Principal Sandy Taffin is plan- gram, Mrs. Taffin said. ning a grand opening of the room The teachers have also brought ....Page 5 for students next week. The lab is back to the school all that they equipped with microscopes, a have learned about teaching sci- greenhouse, a pet rabbit, Legos, ence. Defensive change lifts and an ant farm, which is in need "Pat and Chris, wjlT train the Warriors .....Page 17 of new ants, an aquarium and vari- (Please turn to page 2) Franklin Focus January 19,1995 Pine Grove School unveils its new science lab (Continued from page 1) that they will use the lab at least in the science lab, solving science science and art lesson," Mrs. Taf- planting seeds and watching thorn other teachers so they can all once every two cycles (12 school mysteries such as "Who took Mr. fin said. "We want to give the kids grow into plants, and watching share what they learned at SSI," days)." Bear?" and looking at fabric lots of hands-on experiences. The butterflies emerge from cocoons. Mrs. Taflln said. "It's what we call Some parents have wanted to swatches under the microscope. focus of the lab will be discovery "These arc really neat experi- turn-keying,' and its very effec- see more science in the arts "Our art teacher, Virginia Oster- and investigation. We want the ences for children," she said. tive." schools, even though the adminis- kids to be excited about science." "Work like this also gives the As teachers' become familiar tration has always said the core gren, was excited about doing the with the lab, they will be schedul- science curriculum is the same in fabric experiment because it gave Mrs. Taffin said she is looking teachers an opportunity 'to be in- ing class time there as needed. the science and arts schools. her the opportunity to integrate a forward to seeing the students novative." Mrs. Taffin said there will not be a Bonnie Martin, vice president of specific period of time each class Pine Grove's PTO, said she's must spend in the lab, at least not happy to see the science lab go in. at first "I think people are glad to have "Initially, this will be at the the lab because people have al- teachers' discretion," she said. ways thought there's something "The activities in the lab have to magical about the science and be related to the lessons they are tech magnets," she said. currently teaching. My hope is Some students have begun work Township sponsors ski trips • Two ski trips will be sponsored Experienced skiers can register by the Franklin Township Recre- for a trip to Shawnee Mountain in Your IRA i dollars ation Department, in cooperation thePoconos. with Franklin Township Adult Cost is dependent upon the Continuing Education. skier's need and ability. Beginners Children in fourth-eighth grades are encouraged to take a "first day can participate in a Learn to Ski on skis" package. This would in- add upL- faster. program Sunday, Jan. 29 at the clude two IVi-hour lessons, equip- Craigmeur Ski Area in Green ment rental and a limited area lift Pond. Cost for the program is $40 ticket. Cost is $45. per child and includes instruction, For registration/information, call equipment rental and lift ticket. Parks and Recreation at 873-1991. Rowe Queen-Size Sleep Sofa Sale* ^ Any Style: $599 Crisp, tailored 86" Sleeper, Matching Loveseat $499 when you bank on extra earning power at New Jersey Savings Bank. You've worked hard deferred dollars for you for your money. Now every year And an even make sure your money bigger bundle when 1 Limited lifetime warranty on works just as hard for you. you're ready to retire. frames, springs, cushions & mechanislms. 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