IT 1031 Pg A1 Yellow Red Blue Black Volume 115 Number 42 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2002 60 Cents Candidates approach final stretch gence and operations officer during Desert Mr. Gorin is making a second bid for a seat By Eveline Speedie Storm. on the Township Committee. Licensed last of The Item A two-term Committeeman seeking a third year as an attorney, he is head trustee of the When township voters head to the polls term, Mr. Bate’s running mate is fellow Re- welfare fund for the Civil Service Bar Associ- Tuesday, they’ll have a slew of choices to publican incumbent Mary McNett. ation of New York City. His campaign has fo- make in what has shaped up to be an unpre- Seeking her fourth, three-year term on the cused on development of the downtown busi- dictable election year, with candidates drop- Committee, Ms. McNett has spearheaded the ness area and rising property taxes, especially ping in and out at more than one level. township’s deer management plan and as they affect the township’s senior citizens. Unlike this year’s senate race and the worked on the township’s finance subcom- The Township Committee race has intro- battle for Essex County Executive, local can- mittee. During her tenure, she has served as duced a variety of issues for voters to con- didates have remained firmly in position for liaison to the Downtown Millburn Develop- sider, predominantly Millburn-Short Hills’ the Township Committee election. Two Re- ment alliance and also the Environmental secession from Essex County, deer overpop- publican incumbents are facing two Democ- Commission. ulation, downtown and townwide capital im- ratic challengers for two seats on the Com- Challenging the two incumbents are De- provements and property taxes. mittee. mocrats Annette DiPasqua-Romano and The battle for Essex County Executive Running for re-election to the Township Abbott Gorin, neither of whom have previ- parallels the New Jersey Senate race, with Committee is Republican Salvatore J. Bate, ously held elected office. candidate shifts for similar reasons. also a candidate for an at-large Essex County Ms. DiPasqua-Romano is a lifelong town- Corruption charges haunt the office of county executive under the administration of Staff photo/Jim Connelly freeholder seat. Mr. Bate’s bid for the county ship resident who is a former bank manager. post has drawn fire from his Democratic op- She has focused on traffic safety downtown Jim Treffinger and, after Republican Marion THRILL OF VICTORY—Nicki Leitner (7) is mobbed by her ponents in the local race. and customer service at Town Hall in her Crecco stepped down from her candidacy for Millburn High School teammates at the conclusion of Mr. Bate has represented the township at campaign. A part-time employee at Overlook the top county post, financial consultant Sunday afternoon’s Essex County Girls’ Soccer Tourna- sessions of the Joint Meeting of Essex and Hospital, she is married to Nicholas Candace Straight emerged as her party’s ment semifinal-round match against Montclair. Millburn Union Counties and is a former chairman Romano, an employee of the Essex County choice. She goes against Democrat Joseph knocked off the six-time Essex County champions 1-0 on of the township’s Environmental Commis- clerk’s office and the recently appointed DiVincenzo, president of the Essex County Leitner’s goal in the first overtime. Story, more photos on sion. An attorney, he is a colonel in the chairman of the local Democratic Commit- Board of Chosen Freeholders. Page 15. Army Reserve and was an Army intelli- tee. Continued on Page 12 State eases Library upgrades water use to cost $2.7 million But the roller coaster ride con- restrictions By Anne L. Malyska tinued as they waited to see if the of The Item money would come through. By Harry Trumbore The best indeed may come to While the state offered the li- of The Item those who wait. brary $434,600 late last year, It’s OK again to wash your car Appearing before the Town- town officials questioned the or water your lawn, but only ship Committee at its meeting money’s availability in the wake within strict limits. Tuesday night, officials from the of a state budget crisis. As the This news comes from state Millburn Free Public Library de- town would be funding at least environmental officials, who last livered a $2.7 million renovation 75 percent of the project, offi- week announced an easing of the proposal for the 25-year-old cials rejected the state money in water use restrictions imposed building. Renovations would March. last March. The new guidelines start in 2004 and be completed The current project, which come, in part, because of the by 2006, they said. costs less than library officials’ amount of rainfall the state has “We’d like this place not to be initial plan, but more than its received this month. just a depository for books, but a pared down version of last “The rainfall has impacted place where you want to go and summer, calls for a variety of up- areas of the state differently,” said you want to stay,” said Suzan grades. Bradley M. Campbell, commis- Tillotson, secretary of the library Included among them are ex- sioner of the New Jersey Depart- board and chairman of its build- panding the children’s depart- ment of Environmental Protec- ing committee. ment by 50 percent, adding tion (DEP). According to DEP Staff photos/Harry Trumbore Renovations are similar to pro- shelving and a children’s pro- reports, Essex County has re- posals discussed last summer, gram room; improving the li- ceived more rainfall than normal- when the library came before the brary collection’s security; ly expected for this time of year. Committee to seek last-minute adding a young adult area; and Since July 30, Essex County permission to apply for a size- upgrading all millwork cabi- has received 14.1 inches of pre- able state grant for a more sub- netry, furniture and lighting. cipitation, 2.7 inches above WHAT A SIGHT—It’s Hal- stantial project. After a series of The improvements, according normal. And in the last 30 days loween and scary charac- ups and downs, the library pared to library literature, also would alone, stormy weather has ters await trick-or-treaters down its renovation plans to a reduce noise levels by installing dropped 6.5 inches of rain on the at some township resi- cost of $1.7 million and received new ceilings, carpeting and wall county, nearly 190 percent of the dences. Above, ghouls the township’s OK to apply. Continued on Page 12 normal amount. appear to rise from their Mr. Campbell, however, graves on Long Hill Drive, warned that groundwater levels while on Hickory Road, Kusz hired as interim in southern New Jersey and right, monsters hold a along the entire coastal plain have not recovered from the spooky celebration. Chil- special services head drought and remain below level dren out for a ghostly good for this time of year. time can participate in the mittee and a member of the team 52nd annual Battalion Chief By Harry Trumbore of interviewers, said the search “We must remember that just as of The Item quickly as water levels rise with Edward O’Brien Halloween had been challenging for both rain, they will drop immediately Parade through the down- The Board of Education the committee and the new su- without it,” Mr. Campbell said. town area, which starts at 7 Monday night approved the ap- perintendent. Timothy Gordon, the town- p.m. For more information, pointment of Julianna Kusz as “I think our not reaching a ship’s business administrator, see the story on page 5. interim director of the school consensus changed the way he agrees. district’s department of special reached his decision,” Ms. “The change in restrictions services. Her appointment takes Ruibal said. alerts the public that the situation effect Dec. 2. Ms. Kusz is improving,” he said, “but hon- The choice of Ms. Kusz, the currently does estly, if we had a couple of snow district’s current supervising co- not have a Continued on Page 12 ordinator of special services, principal/ad- came after two months of search- ministrator’s ing for a successor to Larry certificate, but CARES Foundation demystifies disorder Ashley, Superintendent of she said she Schools Richard Brodow told the will be taking and more difficult to recognize gene identify- way to connect with other fami- audience Monday night. Dr. the necessary By Eveline Speedie than the classical form. Symp- ing the pres- lies. Furthermore, the quality of Ashley resigned from the post three courses of The Item toms include premature puberty, ence of CAH. information out there was incon- this summer to take a position to obtain it be- Julianna A little known disorder affect- excessive hair growth, severe The severe sistent.” with the Newark school system. ginning in Jan- Kusz ing one in every 100 people is acne, oily hair and skin and, later form, Classi- Ms. Leight, who is executive “I saw her take on a leadership uary. becoming less of a mystery due in life, infertility in men and cal CAH, if director of CARES, said in set- role,” Dr. Brodow said of Ms. “She’s certainly qualified to to the efforts of township resi- women. While those with the undetected at ting up her foundation she Kusz. “She’s highly competent, have the position,” Dr. Brodow dent Kelly Leight. disorder may experience abnor- birth and left sought to create a centralized re- highly intelligent and very said after the meeting.