Red Bank boys still No. 1 in Register hoop poll, 1B ThMONMOUTH COUNTY'eS HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1878 ister MONDAY, JAN. 16, 1989 VOL 111 NO. 89 25 CENTS Middletown police report drop in traffic accidents summonses and 337 DWIs — if it isn't By ELAINE CANNIZZARO the highest in the county, it's among the THE REGISTER I'd like to think that top three. We've never had a reputation of not being active. probably the greatest MIDDLETOWN — The number of "Only two of the four fatalities this year traffic-related deaths, injuries and acci- thing under our control were alcohol-related." he added. The dents reported in 1988 is the township's that attributed to the other two accidents included one car los- lowest in four years, according to police. ing control on a wet road and one car decrease was increased traveling at a high rate ofspeefl. "We changed our reporting format in enforcement. In the last 1985 and since then the number of motor "Unfortunately, two of the drivers in vehicle accidents has never been less than three years, we've the fatalities almost certainly wpuld have 2,000. This year, they were under 1,900." doubled our enforcement lived if they had their seat belts." Mehler said police Sgt. Michael Mehler, traffic said. "The third probably wouldn't have officer and member of the township Safe- efforts. lived either way and the fourth involved a ty Council. Sgt. Michael Mehler moped." Middletown Police Department Deputy Police Chief Robert M. Letts He. added that the increased public announced this week that "there were a awareness, especially in the schools, total of 1,898 motor vehicle accidents re- uca'tc drivers about the seat belt laws, and makes a difference: "Of the 337 DWI ar- sulting in four deaths and 729 injuries, as also funded special patrols to catch drunk- rests, I'd be surprised if seven or eight of compared to 2,033 accidents, seven deaths en drivers. them were aged 18 or under." and 761 injuries in 1987." Mehler said the department also has a Another factor, one that is somewhat "I'd like to think that probably the community relations officer. Ptl. Joseph under the control of the police, is the greatest thing under our control that at- Capriotti, "who works virtually lull-time maintenance and upgrading of municipal tributed to the decrease was increased en- visiting the schools and civic organniza- roads. Mehler "said police also are con- THE REGISTER/WILLIAM PERLMAN forcement." Mehler said. "In the last three tions making presentations on safety mat- stantly making recommendations to the NEW MAYOR — New Holmdel Maypr Edward Cruz says the township's years, we've doubled our enforcement ef- ters, including the importance of seat belts county and slate for road improvements major battle in recent years has been to ensure orderly development. forts." and the hazards of drunk driving." to roads under their jurisdiction. He added that "with the considerable . Letts reported that "there were a total "We've had a very good year." Mehler traffic volume increase, holding the line is ot 20.720 motor vehicle summonses is- admitted. "There may have also been sev- Holmdel's new mayor: an accomplishment in itself." sued, which included 337 arrests for driv- eral other factors beyond our control, like The traffic sergeant said another factor ing while intoxicated. This compares lo the weather, that helped this year. But we that helped police this year was being able 15.497 summonses, which included 281 will continue lo use Ihe ihree-pronged ap- DWI arrests-in 1987." Growth will be orderly to secure more state and federal funds. proach — enforcement, education and en- The money helped police enforce and ed- Mehler said, "We've issued over 2(1.000 gineering." for everybody else," said Cruz, who re- By LAURENCE ARNOLD cently was sworn in as Holmdel mayor. THE REGISTER "You can't stop growth, so you do the next best thing: You try lo plan for it in Middletown man aids Newark charity such a way that you can protect peo- HOLMDEL — Like many longtime ple's property rights and, at the same manitarian reasons." Khan said yesterday The temple, which feeds as many as 500 township residents, Edward Cruz first time, provide for the general welfare of By RANDAL C.ARCHIBOLO at his Kings Highway East home. "If I can people a day four times a week and holi- moved here because he was attracted to the town. And I think we've done THE REGISTER help people that are homeless or hungry I days, originally had until Jan. 15 to leave Jhiplmdcl's rural character — its green that." would be only loo glad to. help." its dilapidated facility, but attorneys are open spaces, its quid farming tempera- In his years of working and living in negotiating an extension. ment. Holmdel, Cruz said he has witnessed MIDDLETOWN — Habceb Khan, a The construction company executive "tremendous growth" in the township, 43-year-old father of three, never gave lo said he was approached by Newark City Khan said Grant phoned him four days In the 16 years since then, he has ago and told him Bishop J.W. Parrott. watched an influx of people dramati- especially over the past five or six the homeless or hungry before. Councilman Ralph T. Grant Jr. about- years. using the Broad Street site after the South who runs the temple, needed help in find- cally change the nature of his town. But today he finds himself in tin- midst "It was like Holmdel was all of a Park Lighthouse Temple, which runs the ing a new place to house the food pro- But this immigrant's son. who sudden discovered," he said. of negotiations to lease his Newark build- food bank, was ordered closed by the gram. He met Friday with the bishop and moved lo New Jersey from Portugal at A few years ago, Cruz was on the ing lo the city's largest food bank. Presbytery of Newark, which owns the other councilmen. the age of nine, has tried to counteract Planning Board when it decided to Financial details have not been settled, building. "(The bishop) asked if I would help," the urge by new residents to block fur- change much of the township's resi- but he has told Newark officials that he Khan said. "I didn't want to sell the build- ther development. The presbyter)', which has helped fund dential zoning from 1-acre to 2.5-acre. will work within the budget of the church the food bank for several years, ordered ing but I said I would'leasc it to him." "In my estimation, you can't just He now credits that decision with es- that operates the food bank and will rent the building closed after engineers deemed Khan said the building has three floors, lock the doors, you can't just close it up See MAYOR, Page 2A the building for a minimal amount. the structure unsafe for habitation. CJranl each with about 6.000 square feet of space. "I'm willing to give the building for hu- said. See MIDDLETOWN, Page 2A Area musicians band together at benefit for Jackson Woods word. We got a phenomenal response from the artis- By ELAINE CANNIZZARO tic community," he said. THE REGISTER Most of the bands performing yesterday were local to Monmouth County. The owner-manager of The Green Parrot, Tom Yaccarino. had even more of an /Rock 'n' roll blared from The Green Parrot Rock interest in the cause: His home on Atlantic Avenue. Club. Neptune, for nine hours yesterday as hundreds Long Branch, abuts the tract. of people gathered for'a benefit concert to save the rocks and trees on an 11-acre strip of land in Long He said, "It's kind of odd how we came to have it Branch known as Jackson Woods. here. We were trying to get it in Long Branch, but couldn't get a date which was appropriate. The only The United Community Council of Long Branch, a way to get it done on the right date was to have it non-profit civic organization which sponsored the here." musical event, has been fighting the City Council and A Lang Branch businessman, Stan Cain, designed a developers for more than a year to preserve the tract display describing the history and plight of the "last as a park. piece of land left in Long Branch." Before the club's doors opened at 4 p.m. for the Also available were "Save Jackson Woods" T- nine-band show. 450 of the 500 $5 tickets were sold. shirts for $5 and bumper stickers for $ 1. UCCLB members said they expected to sell out be- fore the night was over. Among the many supporters who bought T-shirts and signed petitions was state Sen. John D'Amico, D- Chris Ellwood, UCCLB organizer of the concert, Monmouth. THE REGISTER/CHET GORDON said the event was put together in five and a half D'Amico is the sponsor of the National Resource BENEFIT BASH — Ricky Eldridge, left, and Jack LaPadura of the band Feel Factory Outlet play at a weeks. • Preservation Trust Fund Bill, which, he said, "will concert yesterday at the Green Parrot, Neptune, to benefit efforts by the United Community Council of "It's an easy thing to support. We just put out the See BANDS, Page 2A Long Branch to block development at the Jackson Woods tract in Long Branch. THE BOTTOM LINE Bangladesh crash New blood Good attitude A fast-moving train carrying Republicans and Democrats John Walling of Middletown Ann Landers 7A Movies 8A pilgrims to a religious festival on the Sea Bright Borough High School South has been Classified 9B Nation 8B crashed head-on Into a mall Council have vowed to put selected as The Register's Comics 7B Obituaries 4A train yesterday, killing at least their differences aside for the Athlete of the Week as much Crossword 7A Sports 1B 110 people in Bangladesh's good of the borough.