M eet Your Seraphs roll Run ‘til It Sells! Mater Dei gets their first win Now Add A Photo! $4 5 Merchants AUTOMOTIVE CLASSIFIED of the season Find out what your local businesses have to offer (each additional line $7.00) some restrictions apply P a g e 2 8 1-800-660-4ADS Serving Aberdeen, Hazlet, Holmdel, Keyport, Matawan and Middletown SEPTEMBER 22,1999 4 0 c e n ts VOLUME 29, NUMBER 38 Residents angered e ve r lack of parking Mayor says problem nance, which was designed to address safety issues, “will most will only get worse certainly cause a reduction in the at train station number of parking spaces avail­ able in the area.” BY CATHERINE I. AUMACK Herschman, who addressed his Staff Writer concerns at the Sept. 7 council meeting, said that one of the rea­ esidents are crying foul sons he moved to Matawan sever­ as the Matawan Borough al years ago “was the availability Council considers an Rordinance that could further oflimit the train station as a way of commuting to my job in the city.” the availability of commuter He said he was shocked to find parking near the Matawan Train Station. that the waiting list for a space in the local commuter lot was Since its introduction on May 18, the proposed ordinance has “almost 10 years.” Herschman then began a per­ received poor reviews from local sonal odyssey to find parking and commuters as well as from busi­ began knocking on doors asking ness owners and residents in the if he could rent space in residen­ train station area. AUGUSTO F. MENEZES tial driveways. According to Matawan resi­ Students at the New School on Middle Road in Holmdel had a lesson in participatory government Continued on page 18 last week when they held a protest against a proposed 7-Eleven and Citco gas station at the cor­ dent Gil Herschman, the ordi­ ner of Laurel Avenue and Middle Road in Holmdel. See page 7. New Jersey gun laws W ater restriction s m ay be lifted United Water companies are all The 1999 drought was the 3 water companies asking customers to conserve third state water emergency still recovering and to boil water for health safe­ declared in the last 14 years. In from flooding ty reasons,” O’Donnell added. September 1995 and April 1985, “Those companies need to con­ water emergencies were de­ BY M ARY DEMPSEY serve right now so there is clared in the state and lasted Staff Writer enough water for the people who approximately a month and a live and work in those areas half each. he rains over the last affected by the flooding.” The 1999 drought was the three weeks have Her announcement came on worst drought in history for New prompted one state the heels of the DEP’s easing of Jersey farmers since record Tagency to consider advisinglocal water restrictions after keeping began, according to the Gov. Christie Whitman to end recent rains replenished area National Oceanographic and the drought emergency order she water supplies. Atmospheric Administration. issued last month. “Because the weather is cool­ Earlier this month, the DEP s tragedy after tragedy Can Tony Soprano just walk “We have enough rain in the er, usage is down and rain is reservoirs and we will recom­ announced it would not lift the of gun-related violence into a gun store in Middletown forecast, moderate relief from statewide water restrictions. unfolds in our country, on the spur of the moment and mend the drought emergency be the restrictions is in order,” lifted soon,” state Department of Whitman declared the Amore and more Americanscharge are a .45-caliber Colt to his Mark Smith, DEP deputy com­ Environmental Protection statewide drought emergency voicing their opinions about MasterCard? missioner and drought coordina­ after the lack of rain and the Is there a limit on the number spokeswoman Loretta O’Don­ guns and gun laws. nell said yesterday. tor, said in a press release last high temperatures resulted in Many say we need more of guns you can own? The DEP has not yet made its week. lower than normal water levels Is it legal for your 12-year- laws. Others say the laws we recommendation to Whitman The relaxed water usage throughout the state. old to have a gun? have not only are adequate, but BB because three water companies restrictions primarily affected She also ordered all state In the following special in New Jersey are too restrictive in the state are slowly recovering lawn and golf course watering, agencies to immediately stop and confusing. report starting on page* 19, from the floods brought by slightly increasing water-use Greater Media Newspapers watering lawns and washing But how much does the aver­ Hurricane Floyd last week. allowances. The revised restric­ vehicles. age New Jersey resident know takes a look at these laws and “Elizabethtown Water, New tions were scheduled to be in about our state’s gun laws? some of the issues behind, them. Jersey-American Water and effect until Oct. 31. Continued on page 30 2 INDEPENDENT. SEPTEMBER 22. 1999 Y o u r 1 9 9 9 HALLOWEEN STORE & HAUNTED CASTLES ARE OPEN We Dare to Be Different! If if shakes, raffles or glows we have ill We’re a greaf place to make your Halloween Ideas spooktacular...so come take a walk on the wild side and make this a Halloween to Howl about! o u r A N I M A T E D ( p i t HAUNTED s IM F ' CASTLES! W ^ ^ - W p'dp searched every Crypt and Cranny from here to Transylvanny! ^^Werewolves, GoBlins, Witches & BALLED & BURLAPPED both Ghouls. Spiders & Vampires 3 3 % O F F * castles, waiting for you. Each location EVERGREENS / urset has its own Unique ALL SHADE & See! Spooktacular FLOWERING TREES 2 5 % O F F * ✓ Make-Up ✓ Great Gift Ideas CLASS TRIPS Both Locations ✓ Custom Arrangements Call 462.0900 or 462-27001 FRUIT TREES & Wreaths & F R U I T S 5 0 % O F F * *Some Exclusions Apply, See Store for Details SAVE SOD ^ ALL HOUSE PLANTS 5 S q . Ft. & TROPICAL '% $ 1 19 ■ 5 0 OFF tUtCcf, I $ 0 ^ FLOWERING PLANTS a n d m o re (Weather Permitting) O V E R > 20 Varieties of DECORATIVE STONE, GREAT FOR LANDSCAPING S u m - 1 0 0 styles of PATIO BLOCKS c e m e n t s t a t u a r y to choose from PUM PW N 15 Varieties of MULCHES Available SOME ITEMS AVAILABLE fo r BULK D0LL& ^ PURCHASE • PET FOODS & SUPPLIES • BIRD FOODS & FEEDERS 2 5 t o 5 0 OFF* & MORE O utside at B rocks ^Excludes Sale Items POTS, POTS," Thousands of Pumpkins, Choose from: Indian Corn, Gourds, Cement Pots, Birds, Fountains, POTS Jack-B-Littles, Corn Nautical, Deer, Forest Animals, Plastic & Ceramic Stalks & Bale: Hay Pond Pieces, Gnomes, Oriental, Fishing Boys, Classical Statuary, Jockeys, 2 5 % o f f * AT COLTS NECK H Lions, Cartoon Characters and more ^*Cla^)oWioUncludec^^ WP/i FREE HAY RIDES TO PICK YOUR Glorion WATER GARDEN OWN FALL DEPARTMENT PUMPKINS FERTILIZER Everything* On Sale Starting Oct, 2* 15.000 SQ. FT. SAVE BROCK’S HALLOWEEN COUPON 2 5 0/: O F F UPTO Good in Halloween Shop Only - expires 9/25/99 Purchase 5,000 sq. ft. bag of Winter Survival Fall 1 6 9 ® Fertilizer & 3 lb. bag of Fall Magic Grass Seed $2 °° OFF $20go or More Mixture for a $2.00 Mail in Rebate. Purchase r ------------- > 15,000 sq. ft. G r e e n v ie w bag of Winter excludes sale items, nets & heaters $5°° OFF $500G or More Survival Fall . ^ WINTER S elected All ^ J10QG_0FFJ100“ or More_ t GREEN A quatic K “X S O R W H - l 15.000 SQ. FT. PREFORMED a /I a a , The Largest Selection of Fall Magic Grass POND PLANTS Seed Mixture for AW* FALL & THANKSGIVING a $7.00 Mail 99 yin Rebate. 5 0 % OFF 5 0 % OFF. DECORATIONS In The Area Not responsible for typographical errors. ROUTE 9 N, FREEHOLD ROUTE 34 N, COLTS NECK VISA m m We reserve the right to limit quantities. 462-2700 462-0900 Sale prices effective thru 9/28/99 E l INDEPENDENT, SEPTEMBER 22, 1999 3 Socce r fields not w elcom e in F airvie w Residents concerned about traffic and loss of trees and shrubs BY M ARY DEMPSEY Staff Writer M IDDLETO W N — Residents in the Fairview section turned out in force at Monday night’s Township Committee meeting to protest the committee’ s con­ sidering building two soccer fields in that section of the township. Christopher Bell, 153 Iler Ave., Check out The Entertainer. expressed opposition to new soccer fields in the Fairview section, just west of Page 34 Fairview Cemetery. “The neighbors in the area were not properly informed of the plan and I found out about it from a man taking site eleva­ tions in the area,” Bell said at the meet­ ing. • Classifieds .... .Page 46 He also presented the committee with AUGUSTO F. MENEZES a petition signed by 300 residents in the • Editorials .... .Page 10 DRIVING AGAINST DRUGS — Dawn Taute (I), a Raritan High School senior neighborhood surrounding the soccer • Entertainment. .Page 34 and member of the Teen Institute of the Garden State, takes 8-year-old Connor field site that was under consideration. Monaghan, also of Hazlet, for a thrill ride during the Kmart Kids Race Against “We’ve stopped the project dead,” •Letters........... .Page 10 Drugs event at the Route 35 and Bethany Road store on Saturday.