Your Local Connection December 1, 2005 SentineNorth Brunswick • South Brunswick l 50« Route 92 project may be roadkill Authority redirects $175M in funding to turnpike widening BY CHIUS GAETAN0 Sundown in A.C. StnIT Writer Part two of our series on the lans for the development of the controver- N.J. State League of sial Route 92 were dealt what may be a Municipalities Conference Pcrippling blow when $175 million was taken out of the project, devoted instead toward Page3 the widening of the New Jersey Turnpike. The decision to redistribute the funding came during the Turnpike Authority's morning meeting on Tuesday. It was felt that the widening of the turnpike was a higher priority than the construc- tion of Route 92 due to the fact that, according to Turnpike Authority spokesman Joe Orlando, Route 92 still has a number of hurdles to over- come such as the economic impact study. Still, Orlando was quick to point out that while Route 92 is definitely on hold, people should not be too quick to assume it's dead entire- ly, as funds could be sent to the project in the future. Still, at the moment, the widening of the turnpike has taken priority, j "We borrowed the money [to construct Route 92] in 2000, and you ordinarily don't keep funds sitting around for five years. You're supposed to be using them in a more timely manner. So, given the status of the turnpike widening and the fact that it has been made a priority, it makes more sense to switch that money to the widening proj- Entertainment ect," said Orlando. Check out this week's CHRIS KELLY staff John Potocnlk and Carol Mandlngo demonstrate how puppets work during a show by Opponents of Route 92 feel differently about Just Go! Catskill Puppet Theater at Constable Elementary School, South Brunswick, Nov. 22 the funding decision. Most view it as a sign of the Page 30 project's imminent demise. Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein CD- Middlesex/Mercer) and Assemblyman Bill Baroni (R-Middlesex/Mcrcor), longtime opponents of Quote of the week: Renaissance bond Route 92, praised the decision to prioritize the widening of the turnpike over the construction of Route 92. "My dad always used to tell me "It's good for the people of South Brunswick a tavern was a poor man's coun- release put on hold and good for the people of New Jersey that this try club, and I never forgot that." clarified that only items such as road- road is going away. For me, it is an early holiday —Richard Cotley Residents flood ways, drainage and street lights that present that this road is likely almost gone, but acting governor are not functioning due to approved but I'd still like to see stopping the ability to fund it. Page 3 N.B. council with improper design and construction quali- ... People in the community like the No 92 coali- drainage complaints fy as reasons to block the bond release, tion, who stopped this road, those who never gave rather than maintenance issues. He up, they deserve the credit because when all the BY JENNIFER AMATO explained that the public hearing is not pressure was brought to bear, they never gave Stuff Writer an analysis of the original jurisdiction of in," said Baroni. Index the Planning Board, but rather an According to Greenstein, the widening of the he North Brunswick Township turnpike will alleviate traffic problems by keep- Classified/Employment .31 Council tabled resolutions to assessment if public improvements are functioning properly. -ing trucks off local roads and eventually connect- Crossword ..........25 T release performance bonds for ing fully with the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The original bonding occurred in Entertainment .......16 Sections I and II of 's Renaissance The New Jersey chapter of the National Obituaries 21 development last week. 1991 for storm sewer and detention basins, sanitary sewers, public roads, Association of Industrial and Office Properties, a Opinion 8 The decision came after notification group that represents developers, supported the of discrepancies regarding residents' water mains and hydrants, and monu- Police Beat 22 ments for subdivisions. Although a main construction of Route 92 as a way to alleviate opportunities to discuss improvement traffic and boost the economy. Real Estate .27 matters in the housing development, concern of residents is improper drainage on their properties, the only "I think the turnpike [authority] is doing the Sports 26 Route 130. right thing. They have to set priorities, and dif- However, several residents did speak items included in the bond are ease- ments such as inlets, pipes, manholes, ferent times and places have different priorities, before the council Nov. 21 as to their and right now, the widening of the turnpike is a lwww.gmnews.com I detention basins and headwalls. concerns about the development. (Continued on page 23) Township Attorney Ronald Gordon (Continued on page 24) :• nv.ir, ,i Iriv.•.--"" .'.':""".'.' 2 SENTINEL, December 1, 2005 (...) ist Chru at &** (vft A? FAMILY 732-446-9205 gS FARM MARKET & GREENHOUSES OVER 100,000 POI1VSETTIAS TO CHOOSE FROM ^danye&t & Seal 6" Pot 5-7 flowers $2"ea. 4 for $ 10 8" Pot 12-15 flowers 5^ ' lSan<*s°f 8" Hanging Baskets 2 for 16 Large Terra Cotta Colored Pots 25-30 Blooms..' $ J Magnificent 10" Pot over 20 flowers... starting^ 14 *Tax not included large I Selection of)) AU: 112 FEDERAL ROAD \ Christmas I jfitf MONROE TWP. Bows NOW OPEN 7 DAYS 9AM-5PM www.gaskosfamilyffaiTna.cona 15th Annual Open House & Customer 48".- Appreciation Weekend d th fcOO Sat. Dec. 3' & Sun. Dec. 4 Festivities begin at 1:00 pm when Santa arrives by fire truck! He will stay 'til 4:00 pm both days rain or shine. * Pictures with Santa $1.00 each * Don't forget your cameras and «« video equipment \ ENTERTAINMENT PONY RIDES REFRESHMENTS Sponsored By Mendoken Balmy Bring your whole family to meet our whole family! From Freehold From Summerbttl Rd.. From EngHsbtown East Brunswick From Rt. 520 Rt. 522 to right on Main Street Take Rt. 33 West (Freehold j to Rt. 9 south to Gordons Corner (Englishtown). Left on Water Raceway Mall) go approx. 5 miles Summerhill to end, make right on Main St. (Spotswood) to 1st light Rd. into Englishtown, make left on Street, stay left on LasattaAve. to right on Perrineville Rd., make Main Street & right on Water Street, which turns into Federal right on Federal.Rd. Gaskos is make left on DeVoeAve. Follow about 7 miles (cross over Rt. 522) stay left on LasattaAve.,which turns | I Gaskos is up on the right approx. 3 miles on left. into Federal Rd. Gaskos is (approx. (approx. 3 miles) to stop make right on Federal - Gaskos is up on right 3 miles on right) IJHOTOS BY DAN NEWMAN The Atlantic City Irish Pub was the site of acting Gov. Richard Codey's party during the Cuba Libre, located in the Troplcana Casino and Resort, Atlantic City, was one of many 90th annual League of Municipalities Conference. The party drew well over 500 people after-hour hot spots during the League of Municipalities Conference, Nov. 15-18. for the second consecutive year. Mixing business with NJ-'s governor goes pleasure and politics to greener pastures tured the attention of the mind. And the Burke said the place has no cosmetic Come sundown, parties mouth. Codey skips the glitzy appeal, a huge reason why she thinks the surest bet in town "I came here last year, and the jumbo casinos and holds Codey wanted to return. shrimp are just as big again this time "He seems like a person of substance, at annual conference around," said one satisfied customer. "I party at Irish Pub and it's obvious from the minute he walks wonder where the hell they get these BY DAN NEWMAN in," Burke said. "We have people come BY DAN NEWMAN things." Staff Writer through here from all socioeconomic back- Stair Writer When asked about the large turnout at grounds — people who jus, t got off their shift their function, Victor Vittorino, business ATLANTIC CITY — Almost imme- at the factory at 5 a.m., to those who win a Editor's note: The following is the development specialist, left no doubt as to diately after taking office last November, lot of money at the casinos, and those who second of a two-part series on the how the crowd swelled. acting Gov. Richard Codey decided to throw just lost a whole bunch — and he fits in annual New Jersey State League of "We probably issued about 750 invites, a party for about 500 of his closest friends with all of them around here. I think that Municipalities Conference held in but then people get in other ways. Maybe during the annual New Jersey State says a lot about his character." Atlantic City, Staff writer Dan they know somebody who drags them League of Municipalities Conference. Burke also said that her bar is the kind Newman spent one fidl day and night along, or they just hear about it and decide With this year's conference approaching, of place where it doesn't matter who you at the event, and today mports on what to come in," Vittorino said. "Most of the Codey decided to have another blowout at are, and all are welcome. takes place when the sun goes down. people invited were from Monmouth and the same place, and it wasn't some grand "Nobody comes in here with any agen- Ocean counties, being that we do lots of ballroom. It wasn't even at a casino.