Rt. 92 Foes, Allies Press Their Cases
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Serving South Brunswick since 1958 Vol.42^ No.38 Thursday, September 17,1998 www.packeloiilinc.com 60 Cents A Packet Publication Rt. 92 foes, allies press their cases Township consultant concludes Toll-road supporters criticize INSIDE proposed highway unnecessary opponents for rnisleading pubiic By Bonnie Freestone By J.C. Saccenti completed, the economic vitality and (|uality of TTMEOFF Staff Writer Residents man phones to aid fight Staff Writer life of the area will ilccline. i'rom J(u33in.. - “ ' Page10A They also said South Brunswick did notop The consulting agency hired by the town Supporters of Route 92 held a press confer pose the road until a small but vocal minority ship to identify the impact o f propo.sed Route ence Wednesday to respond to what they call roadway and bridge dc.sign. : o f residents expressed opposition' to an align 92 on the environment and traffie in town, con- misleading .statements made by various, envi ment that placed the 6,7-mile loll road through eluded there is not enough evidence to support The township submitted the study to the ronmental groups and the media. South Brunswick. ' a need, for the road, and that cheaper, less de federal Environmental Protection Agency, They also blasted opponents of Route 92. South Brunswick has said that the road is structive alternatives exist. which is considering whether to recommend such as South Brunswick ofticials, who claim unnccc.ssaryi w ill destroy rural areas and wet The .study, which cost the township the state grant wetlands permits to the N.J. the proposed highway would increase truck lands, and will create additional irallic. $50,000, was conducted by the Oregon-ba.sed Turnpike Authority for the proposed four-lane traffic on local') roads, and yet continue to ap The four-lane highway, which would link con.sulting firm Kimicy-Horn, which special prove construction of truek-tralfic-gcncrating izes, in environmental studies, planning and See FOES, Page 10A warehouses. Some said that if Route 92 is not See SUPPORTERS; Page 10A New Perspectives: Three Students ask contemporary Russian fiber artists bring their original vision to the gallery at Rider University. Also inside: town to nix Anne Meara's “After-Play” opens at the George Street Playhouse. See Time Off. school patrols HOME FOCUS Question need for. program Everything you need to By Steve Bates Mr. Kietrys. Although, he said the know about home improve S tM Writer students should have a voice, even if ment — in our special The South Brunswick High it’ s in an advisory capacity, Home Focus magazine. School Student Senate said “ no" to Steven Portnoy, student council the idea o f police officers assigned to president and writer of Resolution the schools. 98-3, presented it to the Township NEWS The Student Senate voted 48-11 Committee at Tue.sday night’s meet Tuesday to ask the Township Com- ing. He wants to let the committee niittcc not to approve police Chief know how the students feel before Michael Pac)uctte's rctiuest to hire the school resource program comes three new officers and one civilian so up.lor a vote. he could assign live olficers to work “ Taking the ultimate step of per in South Brunswick’s 11 schools. manently placing police into our pub The resolution also asked the school lic, and ultimately private, schools board to rescind its Aug. 31 endorse makes a sad statement about South ment of the School Resource Officer Brunswick,” according to the resolu Program. tion. The students of the high .school Believing that the program’ s ben arc not ready to make that statement, efits were underrepresented. Princi according to the resolution. pal Thomas Kietrys called an emer The students don’t oppo.se the in gency meeting ol the senate’s newly volvement of police officers in the staff photos by John Keating created commiitec ihiit w ill help schools; however they don’t wish to create the resource officer job des feel that they are being educated in a cription. police state, it further staled. The res Cbm m u n ity U n ity But, any decision made concern olution suggested that officers could ing the resource officer w ill be made AtJouri 0,000 to 12,000 people turned out Saturday for the annual Community Unity Day to cel by adults and not the students, said See PATROL, Page 7A ebrate South Brunswick and make a stand against substance abuse. Above,. Patti Pietrefesa helps her son Anthony ride Honey-Bun with help from Mary Lou Barrett of Pony Parties Unlimit Kingston concert ed; below, Ashley Youngman enjoys t|is sunshine on a swing ride. For story and more photos, see Page 13A. Kingston residents banded State grounds togetlier Saturday to listen to some Dixieland and rai.se money for the village’ s private buses 325-year celebration. Page 4A. St. A’s parents angry Campaign traii South Brunswick’s council about safety, poor service candidates discuss Route By Steve Bates school board,” said Mr. Longo. Jas 92, traffic solutions and the Staff Writer tyke has seriously jeopardized its township’s water suply. The state has taken seven private contracts and its ability to be a con Page 6A. ly owned buses serving St. August tractor in the district, he said. ine’s and Indian Fields schools off A bus route is worth between the roads, leaving the school district $14,000 and $22,000, said Mr. SPORTS scrambling for a solution and many Longo. parents worried and angry. The district w ill withhold pay Seven of eight buses owned by ment to Jastyke for every run it can One for the books Jastyke Transportation o f Princeton not completely cover, said Mr. The South Brunswick girls : were inspected by the stale Depart Longo. Jastyke has 14 public school bus volleyball team made histo ment of Transportation this week and taken out of .service, school Business runs and-six private school runs in ry this week ^ winning the Administrator Jeff Scott announced the district, said Mr. Longo. Jastyke first match in the school’ s at Monday’s school board meeting. has had been running buses in South history. Page 16A. The loss of the buses has affected Brunswick for the past 20 years, said Jastyke bus routes that take children Mr. Longo. to both St. Augustine’s and Indian No one answered at the phone Fields schools, said John Longo, di number the school district provided i ^ i c k d Oni.iiic rector of buildings, grounds and for Jastyke Transportation. , transportation for the .school district. Meanwhile, the South Brunswick Students have been late to .school and Board of Education said it’s working Taking a trip? Use the trans Jastyke has to make an appointment on solutions so children can gel to portation section of our with the DOT for re-inspection be school in a safe and timely fashion. fore the buses can return to the road. Tuesday morning, the school dis Useful Links .section: The most common problem , de trict used four of its own buses and wwwipacketoline.new/ lected during the DOT inspectionof district grounds employees to cover business/ulink.html Jastyke buses was the lack of a bolt routes that Jastyke could not cover, that helps attach the body of the said Mr. Longo. A ll grounds employ .school bus to the chassis, said Mr. ees involved hold commercial drivers Longo. INDEX ” rve askctl lor a hearing with the See BUSES, Page 7A Classified 1B Board sets date for vote on new K-5 school Community By Steve Bates ■ Authorization to provide for aichileciural plans cietited by the at upcoming back-to-school nights. Upeoniiiig back-io-.school nights Capsules 14A Staff Writer additions and renovations to Cioss- Spie/le Architectural Group, of Tren Parents can obltiin voter registration will be; Editorial 8A Voters w ill dciermiiic the faic on roads Middle .School to incrca.se Ihe ton, which was hired July 20 to de forms ;it back-to-school nights, as ■ Brunswick Acres— - .Sept. 24 Election ’98 6A Dec. 15 o f the .school hoard’s desire capacity from 1,200 to 1,400.siudcnis sign the school. The hoard hopes to well. at 7 p.m. to huild a new .school, renovate and '. ■ Authorization to install air con determine a dollar ainounl by mid- to In O lder to vote on the referen ■ Cambridge - - i'odiiy (Sept. Meetings 2A expand existing schools and change ditioning at the Upper Elementary late October, said Mr. Scott. dum, a resident must register to vote 17) at 7:30 ji.rn. the way grade levels arc organized, School. The vote on the referendum origi by Nov. 15, according to boaril mem ■ Consitiblo’- - .Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Police/^BIotter 3A the board decided Monday. , ■ Authorization to change the nally was slated for October, but was ber Anna Tupe. ■ Dayton — Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Religious Boiird members voted iinaniT grade organization from K-4 at ele- rescheduled because' there would be Residents who do not obtain reg ■ Deans --- Today (Sept, 17) tit mously to schedule the referendum in mentaries, 5-6 at Upper Elementary, no voting machines available; istration ■ forms at back-to-.school 7:.30 p.m. , News 15A December. Board member Harry 7-8 at Crossroads and 9-12 at the The machines w ill be .set for the nights can register at the township ■ Greenhrtiok -—Today (Sept. Delgado was not pre.scnt at the meet high .school to K-5 at elcmenlarics, November general election in Octo clerk’s office at the municipal com 17) at 7:30 p.m.' Senior ing.