Mysterious Empty High
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Summit Herald ... Summit's only, real newspaper VOLUME 98 NO. 19 December 15,1984 Price: Mysterious empty high By PAIGE TUNSTALL Construction work is currently to places where people had pass- SUMMIT-Students at the high being completed at the school, ed out from trauma induced, by school here may never know what but, according to Principal mass hysteria," Molinini' hit them. Donald Geddis, could riot have reported. "It can be' that Twelve people were taken to been the source of the trouble. serious." Overlook Hospital last Tuesday Fumes were variously describ- Molinih does npt think it likely after noxious fumes closed the ed 'as similar to nail polish, the whole thing was a prank with high school early. So far, the pesticide, and acetone. a "stink bomb" at the bottom of source and nature of the fumes "We're doing a general scan," it. "But anything ispossibleV'he remain a mystery. said Lou Molinini, a vice- said. " \ However, all twelve were sent president at Gollab. Several students received prank home the same day. "We can't Molinini said the tests have/not calls on Wednesday morning to . find evidence of anything harm- determined anything positive yet. the effect that school was closed ful in the short term or in the long for the day. L . term," noted Wayne Longworth, But, he,.claimed, the human About fifty students received M.D., specialist in Emergency nose is the rri'ost sensitive tester of calls that school had in fact been Medicine, on Tuesday afternoon. all. "We're testing for parts per cancelled, fqr the day--eyen Curiousity, not distress, several million, but the ...nose though all students had earlier prevailed among evacuated can detect parts per billion," been notified that school was on students. Even the eight students Molinini averred. as usual. taken to the hospital for "We're testing for observation and testing seemed in Chloradane, for instance," he I Students" good spirits, some giggling and said. Chloradane is used in the in the reading lab on the second waving from their stretchers. chemical treatment of wood to floor were the first to notice a FIREMEN carried testing equipment into Summit High School last Tuesday after unidentified noxious fumes sent eight Air tests by Ciba-Geigy, Inc., prevent terrriites. Parts of the strange smell at about fOam. students, one policeman, the school nurse, and two assistant principals to the emergency room with symptoms including of Summit and Gollab Analytical school were treated with /When they began to nausea, dizziness, and pressure behind the eyes. Below, a student enters the Summit First Aid Squad ambulance to be Service, Inc., in Berkeley Heights Chloradane last August. experience dizziness, nausea, and taken to Overlook Hosptil's Emergency Room. have yet to identify the fumes. Something might have been pressure behind the eyes, teacher spilled on the radiator and then Marcia Glasser took them into Dead air space burned off, Molinini conceded, the hallway. Superintendent of Schools but he does not consider it likely. Geddis was notified and called Richard Fiander said two of the "It's not likely that the radiator the local First Aid Squad. Squads exhaust fans in the ventilating would have become so hot that from New Providence and system were found to be "not smething spilled would vaporize Chatham also came to the scene, working as well as they might." completely, and we haven't as did two fire engines, a ladder Malfunction of fans could create found any residue on the truck, the Board of Health, and "dead air space," in which radiator," he said. three police officers. students might be overwhelmed One of the designated smoking All students and faculty were by the same carbon dioxide they areas is nearby a vent leading to evacuated at 11:05am and, soon were exhaling, This theory does the affected area, Molinini after, dismissed for the day. They; not account for the gaseous stated, and smoke may have were allowed to re-enter the smell, sjnce carbon dioxide is filtered into the room. building, monitored by school of- basically odorless. "You know, we've even gone ficials, to retrieve their coats. .. ...,„,,....,.,,._..,,sell. , __^.,,,.-„, ,,r....^,.A^b^nt^g'oyerj>nie>njt;4sssor^pJ[ i^jdiWdi^propSriy^^^ ^'ntly worth abQut$kl-biilibn';:~-~1iaiiiKTr~an^^ ^n^^^fc^l^iari^assembly That's the county's estimate of freeholder arid former mayor of from Trie League* of Wornen our taxable worth. Our ''equaliz- Summit. Voters last Monday. "County ed'! valuation is $1.5 billion. As property values go up, the politics are, as Roosevelt said, People are willing to pay a lot county balances taxes in accor- that 'vast; dark continent of to live here. And the more they're dance with the going values of American politics,' " Lehr con- willing to pay, the*, more local properties that have been sold. tinued. residents will be charged in coun- "But remember, if you get a Nonetheless, Lehr argued, ty taxes. tax increase, it means your local local taxpayers should get the government must be doing "Those who live in Summit are Continued on page 8 very proud of the town and they something right," Lehr noted. Council authorizes study of police department ByPEGTHURLER study of the Police Department," SUMMIT — After more than a at a cost of $24,777. The award year of deliberation, planning of the contract was made for and screening of possible con- "professional services" without sulting firms, a special committee competitive bidding. The study is under Common Council has in- expected to take several months. itiated a study of the Police Committee members who Department. chose RMA for the job were The idea was under discussion Mayor Robert Hartlaub, Coun- long before the controversial cilman Thomas Kent, McLen- Feb. 9 student file seizure inci- don, Business Administrator dent involving local police and Kenneth DeRoberts, Chief of schools, according to committee Police Frank Formichella, police members. officer Robert Lucid, and police "We're going to make a very officer John Sofie. good police department into an Other council headlines even better police department," Golf registration fees have said councilwoman Judy McLen- gone up, the first increase in three don, committee members, as she years. Adults will pay $7 to moved that the study resolution register, juveniles will pay $4. be adopted at last Tuesday even- Use of a computer was ing's council meeting. authorized to aid the Fire Depart- McLendon told The Herald ment dispatch program, after the meeting that jobs will be Rates for tier parking garage evaluated, recommendations have been changed. Rates for a made such as whether to hire an six month period will be $174 for NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH—The Student Activities Council willoffer a porty for Summit High School students on Dec. 31. Tickets are on sale at the additional juvenile officer, and uncovered parking, $198 for cafeteria and main office. Bottom row, left to right, are Dom Guida,- Ethel Meola; and Dave Guthrie. Second row, left to right, Karen Everling,- that all results will be made quantity discount (35 or more), Chuck Cornish; Lisa Redson; Matt Schwartz; Enzo Catullo, Richard de Reyna; Brooke Abbott. public. "We hope to find other and others will be $210, the last ways of doing things," she noted, two for covered parking. "and also to improve morale." Six month contracts will be Research Management given, for Monday through Fri- Associates, Inc., of Alexandria, day parking at the garage behind New Year's Bash for high school kids VA, has been hired to "conduct Springfield Avenue along the an operations and management railroad tracks. Subletting shall be allowed to the end of the cur- SUMMIT — Youth of high graders who reside in Summit be TV and a VCR movie in the tickets will be sold at the door. rent quarter only. school age here are looking for- (and their guests), is scheduled Benson Room. Ample, snacks, Chaperoncs for the event will Subscriptions ward to unexciting event that will for December 31, from 8:30 pm sandwiches, and desserts will be include: be a first in the area. The until 1:30 am at Edison Recrea- provided all evening. Nancy Stek (HS); Fred Stewart $10 per year Municipal Youth Guidance tion Center, 100 Morris Ave. The cost of the gala is $5.00 (YC); Dave Zwickl (Young Life); Speak your mind... Council and the Board of Recrea- Dress is semi-formal. which includes door prizes for Father Dennis Cohan (St. Out-of-state tion, along with the help of The committee is planning to many lucky winners. Tickets will Teresa's). — Write a letter students, are combining efforts have the noted D.J.'s, Paul be on sale at Summit High School $13.50 per year Brown and Dave McCray, as well from Dec. 12th through Dec. 21st For further information call to the editor — to sponsor a New Year's Eve as a live band for dancing and at the Main Office and during Dave Guthrie (MYGC) 522-0700 Bash. listening pleasure. In addition to lunch periods near the cafeteria. or Dom Guida (Board of Rec.) The party, for 10th, 11th, 12th the music in the gym, there will Only 300 tickets will be sold. No 277-4119. PAGE 2, The Summit Herald, Saturday, December 15,1984 No better luck on second time around for one-family conversion ByPEGTHURLER Gaucher, who lives next door at living at No. 15 Park Ave. since SUMMIT — The request for No. 10, asked about the parking World War II, and Nicola and single family conversion had a in the street and noted difficulties Maria Piscioneri told the board familiar ring to it Monday, in getting out of his driveway.