Holiday Traditions Mission accomplished^ Discover new ideas for making South Brunswick boys win first sectional title the season festive Page 33 Serving North and South Brunswick November 21, 2002 www.gmnews.com Your Local Connection Vol. 10. Number 7 N.B. proposal doesn't fly with area police chiefs not received enough government funding Local department heads for homeland security, or if your tax base is chide Spaulding for insufficient to provide the vehicles your department needs to protect and serve, police car ad idea your local government may be a candidate BY JENNIFER DOME for this program," Government Staff Writer Acquisitions states on its Web site. North Brunswick residents voiced their proposal from North Brunswick opposition to the idea during Monday Mayor David Spaulding to place night's Township Council meeting at the A advertisements on police vehicles municipal building on Hermann Road. has become a joking matter among police "I don't think the ads arc a good idea. chiefs in other municipalities. When I was a councilman, Dave The idea originated with a North (Spaulding) didn't want signs on things Carolina-based company, Government like garbage trucks and park benches Acquisitions Inc., which has only been in because it made the town look like hell. It operation for two months. Ken Allison, a would be a disgrace for him to put ads on managing partner with the business, said the cars," former Councilman Paul Pappas the company would donate a fully outfitted said. police vehicle for every officer in the "We should be proud of our Police department and replace it every three years Department and not degrade them for a for $1, in return for allowing advertising to couple of bucks and put ads on their cars," be placed on the vehicles. There arc cur- resident Joe DiGIoria said. rently a total of 18 police cars in the North One resident felt that the mayor should Brunswick department, and they are put an ad on his own vehicle. replaced on a'rotating basis of three a year. If the company provided one for each of "I think it would look tacky to put ads the department's 84 officers, it would on police cars. Mr. Spaulding, why don't mean a huge increase in rolling stock for you let them put the ads on the township very little cash outlay. trucks or your own private car," resident Mary Pinkham said. The three-year contract must be re- Township Attorney Tom Cafferty said newed in order for the agencies to keep the that the plan had not yet been discussed by cars, according to the company. If the con- the governing body. tract is not renewed, the cars go back. While Spaulding thinks the idea has Sponsors of the program would require promise, his may be the lone voice in the recognition on all of the vehicles, accord- law enforcement wilderness. In other local ing to the company's Web site. The partic- sectors, the proposal was universally ipating municipality would have a say panned — with "ridiculous" and "tacky" about what ads would be placed on the some of the more colorful descriptions of vehicles, Allison said. the notion. VERONICA YANKOWSKI "If your local law enforcement (and Coco, a chocolate lab, shakes off some water while playing in the swimming pond other emergency service) agencies have Continued on page 26 at Rocky Top Dog Park in South Brunswick on Friday. See story, page 34. Index Business 34 Classified 38 Police seeking woman missing from S.B. Milestones '.. .29 Obituaries .32 Female, 30, last seen South Brunswick blond hair, about 175 pounds, 5 feet Opinion 10 police spokesman 6 inches tall with green eyes. Police Beat 30 at local motel Jim Ryan said Ryan said that police checked Sports 33 on Oct. 5 Wednesday. the room at the motel, spoke with Quote of the week: According to Vandoren's friends and family, and BY CHARLES W. KIM Ryan, Vandoren even checked her cell phone "Dave (Spaulding) didn't Staff Writer want signs on things like was reported records to try to locate her. garbage trucks and park I Ik 1 outh Brunswick police are missing by her "We spoke with several friends benches because it made trying to solve a mystery. University of in Sayreville and New Brunswick," the town look like hell. It According to police,- Elizabeth Medicine and Ryan said. would be a disgrace for him S Vandoren Dentistry of New Ryan said that Vandoren left her to put ads on the cars." Elizabeth Vandoren, 30, left her room at the Lakewood Court Motel Jersey case worker on Oct. 7 when belongings in the motel room and former N.B. Councilman on Route 130 on Oct. 5 and has not she failed to pick up a check in that her cell phone activity stopped Paul Pappas been seen or heard from since. New Brunswick. as of Oct. 5. Cover story VERONICA YANKOWSKI "We are leaning to believe she Vandoren is described as 30 "There was no indication that Visit Greater Media Newspapers' The fall colors shine in the after- may have met with foul play," years old with either brown or Web site www.gm news.com noon sun in South Brunswick. Continued on page 15 2 SENTINEL, NOVEMBER 21, 2002 NS •V ' M> ' ^I'X'YIVU SH Hanes 11"x15" 4 Loop Electric or Battery Wilton Reody-To-Assemble 23 Ounce Sweatshirts Velvet Bows Operated Gingerbread House Jar Candie Reg. 99< Candle Lamp Mfr. list Price $14.99 Reg. $5.99 each Burtttimfy Red or duty RstltaiGlilenl Bulks?foisl Stretch 8.5"xU" Solid Color Pofasettia Bush 130 Piece Magic Gloves Card Stock wifli 7 Blooms Art Set Crayon Maker Reg. $24.9? Your Choice $ 30 Inch 28"x42" Decorative 9 Foot 32 Inch 4 Foot 18 Inch Holiday Tree Applique Flags Assorted Pine-Like Wreaths Pine Garland Pine Swag Alpine Tree Pine Wreath Value Jo $6.99 Reg. $7.99 "" "s Reg. $5 Reg. $5 Reg. $19.99 Reg. $3.99 hekittbhMliMcskbgki 'Completed £• Propel • • *' J Shown .'>• Bowdabra 25 Yd. Rolls of 6 Pack of 80mm Berry Cluster or Potted Natural - Look Reg. to $14.99 Velvet Ribbon Pillar Candles Glass Ornaments Poinsettias Available in Red Holiday Poinsettia Bush Imluda « Reg. $9 30 /UnulB hnlnidiarwl Video Ruby or Burgundy Decorative Picks Pick Up A Free Pro/ect Sheet 1 (•"] i [ i '03 Reg. $5.99 Reg. 33C each Reg. $6 Your Choice Jumbo 6 Foot 100 Count Fashion Socks Your Choice jilt),! \\U i '(6lit*1'f(| )M Large Boxed AKG,AMAV Activity Kits Lighted Spiral Tree Rice Lights Sehclinn' Activity Kits Kits or Reg. $25 Reg. $7 \\i Reg. $9.99 each Curiosity ' Clear or Mil Colored ' * ' "7i V '! [ ^ Activity Kits lights Reg. $5.00 each eg. $2 euch Fi$kars Canister Studio RTA hHtM U^taA t6&Mt WW HU M^tt I^^M ^UM ]^^U tt^tt ^^M ^^M A^^ MAM ^MM Mtato ^Mtt tateU ^m^t ^ Wooden Box Art Sets Advent Calendar or Coupon Valid Wednesday November 20th - Wednesday November 27th Rolling Crate Brush Sets Art Center Choose From Reg. $49.99 Reg. to $14.99 Acrylic Color Box Plush Santa Head Oil Color Box or "Supplies Sold Water Color Box Separately Advent Plush Any One Regular Priced Item, m Calendars Santo Head A/& Mf f*ME)& One Coupon per (uslomer Reg $12 Reg $15 P8r vlsit Moy not be used * NO ONE DOES RRS FLAu BETTGRI for anyy currently odvBrtised, I discontinued or sab price Hems Limited to In store stock on hand May not be used for ilic, Reg. $34.99 purchase of gift certificates, custom framing, custom printed ribbon or floral arranging orders JRHi IBM M — — ^B — MM ttM WE WILL NOT B UNDERSOLD! East Brunswick Just bring any current competitor's We honor all competitors coupons Rt.1 8 INiof-fh croft ad to our registers and we will for individual item savings. AAid Stote JViolB beat their advertised price by 10%. Excludes custom framing coupons. 39O-O231 % off sales are restricted from offer % off sales do not include clearance items Mon - Sat 9 - 1 O; Sun 1 O - 7 NS SENTINEL, NOVEMBER 21, 2002 3 New manager likes 'progressive' town "If you know nothing about a town, visit Barbara Sacks looks the library. It tells a lot about the town," Sacks to a bright future said, adding that the library said "a lot of good things" about South Brunswick. for township According to Sacks, the form of gov- ernment in Fair Lawn is the same as here, BY CHARLES W. KiM Staff Writer except that the council there selects a new mayor each year. SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Newly ap- "I don't have to learn a new section of pointed Township Manager Barbara Sacks law," Sacks said. said Monday that she feels very comfortable Despite some close similarities, Sacks in her new position. said that working in South Brunswick is a lit- "It's a good fit," Sacks said, sitting behind tle different from working in that Bergen her new desk in the municipal building on County borough. Route 522. "It is very dense. There is not as much Sacks, who served as manager of Fair open space," she said. Lawn since 1998, was appointed by the According to Sacks, Fair Lawn has a pop- Township Council during a special meeting ulation of about 32,000 people and a total last week. budget of about $35 million. She replaces Matt Watkins who left the Sacks said that one of the big differences position in June to head the state's Local is the number of people who commute to Fair Government Services Department in the Lawn each day for work.