Volume117 Number 48 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2004 75 Cents Adam Anik/staff photographer FESTIVE MOOD—Millburn Avenue is awash in color, ready for the holiday season, with Snowflake Parade this Sunday. The parade, which will start in front of the Millburn Post striking snowflakes and handsome toy soldiers enhanced by glorious sunsets like the one Office and travel east to The Courtyard, will feature professional bands from the area, com- last Sunday. The Downtown Millburn Development Alliance is sponsoring its annual munity groups and, of course, Santa, riding on a Millburn Fire Department’s truck. Baer thanks voters, pledges cooperative efforts vative grass- that’s what helped them make township passions on a level to said. He has not yet spoken with nized beyond anything typically By Harry Trumbore and roots cam- their decisions.” rival the presidential race, Baer Committeewoman Mary McNett. run by township Democrats. He Eveline Speedie paign. Baer beat out Republican said he is confident he will be able “I’m learning day by day just said he also succeeded in reaching of The Item “Township incumbent Linda Seelbach by just to work with the mayor and the what I’m in for,” Baer said. “I think out to residents with Republican voters should eight votes for one of two open other four members of the Com- I’ll be tested, but I think I have a affiliations. Dan Baer breathed a sign of get the credit seats on the Committee. While mittee. tremendous amount of support.” Despite charges hurled during relief this week and said he’s look- that is due Seelbach’s fellow Republican, “I have lots of ideas,” Baer said, Baer made the point that none the campaign by both sides that ing forward to beginning his term them,” Baer Mayor Thomas C. McDermott, “but I’m not going to step out. You of his campaign literature men- financial backing came from out- on the Millburn Township Com- said. “I tend to secured his re-election on Nov. 2, have to work within the Commit- tioned his Democratic affiliation. side the township, Baer main- mittee. believe they are the Baer-Seelbach contest was not tee.” Nonetheless, he said, “I can help in tained his campaign was “born in Speaking with The Item Mon- very intelligent settled for three weeks and includ- He said he spoke with McDer- terms of linkages to county and Millburn and run by the people in day, the first Democratic candidate voters who ed separate tallies of absentee and mott last week. state governments. I know a num- Millburn.” to capture a seat on the Millburn Daniel J. vote for candi- provisional ballots as well as a “He reached out and I reached ber of people on acting Gov. A Web site set up by the Baer Township Committee in approxi- Baer dates they feel recount last week requested by out,” Baer said. Committee mem- Codey’s staff.” group recorded 2,500 hits during mately 30 years gave credit for his comfortable with. They knew the Seelbach. bers Sandra Haimoff and Salvatore The Committeeman-elect victory to the voters and an inno- issues and were informed. And After a campaign that sparked J. Bate also have called him, he described his campaign as orga- Continued on Page B12 Committee firm on deer hunt which will resume again after a trolled deer hunt on public lands issue, particularly in our commu- By Patricia Harris yearlong hiatus, is slated to begin at within the township, which has nity,” Committeewoman Mary of The Item the end of December, according to been done for three of the past four McNett said this week. “You need Timothy Gordon, township years, local officials will continue to have the will to deal with it.” Despite a recent move by a administrator. As in the past, to urge Essex County administra- McNett, the Committee’s point neighboring town to curtail a deer sharpshooters from Deer Manage- tors to permit a deer hunt in the person on deer management, was hunt in the South Mountain Reser- ment Systems will operate on South Mountain Reservation. A responding to a resolution passed vation, township officials remain forested lands designated as the portion of the parkland, which is by the township of South Orange committed to the hunt program deer management area, under the managed by the county, lies within Village last month and circulated they have set in place. supervision of state officials. the township. The township’s deer hunt, In addition to conducting a con- “Controlling the deer is an Continued on Page B12 Secession talks New law limits grow broader curbside leaves Earlier this month, voters in amount of pollutants entering By Harry Trumbore two more communities, Verona By Patricia Harris rivers and streams via storm sew- of The Item of The Item and Cedar Grove, approved ref- er systems. erendums favoring secession from State environmentalists hope Municipal leaders in Essex Essex County. Residents in Mill- Come next October, raking the actions will produce a cleaner County communities with seces- burn, Montclair and Roseland leaves to the curb could be an water supply, as mandated by fed- sionist sentiments are striving to previously approved similar non- activity of the past in Millburn- eral anti-pollution rules. open the debate to include all binding ballot questions and vot- Short Hills. The regulations will affect the county municipalities. ers in other towns, such as West Township officials are just begin- township’s current operations, in Jim Connelly/staff photographer At the same time, County Orange and Glen Ridge, recently ning to look at ways they can com- which residents are allowed to LEADING THE WAY—Millburn High School running back Executive Joseph DiVincenzo is opted to review the merits of ply with state regulations that pro- rake leaves to the curb beginning Chris Spinelli (33) clears a path for teammate David Sison announcing that by February he county government. hibit piles of leaves from remaining Oct. 1. Crews and trucks from the in the first quarter of the traditional Thanksgiving Day will assemble a panel of hand- Representatives of some of the in the street longer than seven Department of Public Works will gridiron contest against Madison. The host Dodgers picked experts to begin a review towns began meeting during the days. The regulations are part of be affected as well, as their job is to came away with a 27-0 triumph. Story, more photos on of the three levels of local govern- summer to discuss developments. the state’s Municipal Stormwater circulate throughout the town, Page B1. ment that affect the taxpayer: Regulation Program, instituted last county, municipal and school. Continued on Page B12 January, that seeks to reduce the Continued on Page B12 Please recycle. At least 15% recycled paper. Inside Doctor in new post. Story, Page A3. District updates Web site. See Page A10. Classified B13-B15 Education A10-A16 Movies A9 Public Notices B12 Social A7 For home delivery, Editorial A4 Entertainment A8, A9 Obituaries A6 Religious news A6 Sports B1-B5 phone (973) 233-5005 Page A2 Thursday, December 2, 2004 THE ITEM of Millburn and Short Hills www.theitemonline.com Dangerous driving stop leads to drug charge Traffic detours Sunday burn Avenue bank parking lot Fri- with careless driving and his car Police patrolling the mall park- for Snowflake Parade By Harry Trumbore day night reportedly discovered was towed from the scene. ing decks early Saturday morning Of The Item township resident Stephen A township resident driving ran the plates on a Plymouth Voy- The Downtown Millburn along Millburn Avenue, will Thomas, 39, asleep behind the south on Old Short Hills Road ager that apparently was left Development Alliance (DMDA) include professional bands from Police said a car driven by wheel of a van. Nov. 21 shortly after 11 a.m. told overnight and discovered it had will hold it annual Snowflake the area as well as community Simone D. Forio of Madison, 19, According to reports, Thomas police a deer ran into the roadway been stolen out of Newark. Parade Sunday, starting at 1:30 groups. Santa will arrive at the was pulled over after the driver had an open can of beer between near Old Short Hills Park and col- An Edgewater man who parked p.m. in front of the Millburn post end of the parade on the Millburn narrowly missed hitting a township his feet. When police wakened him lided with her car. The driver was at the mall Nov. 21 reported to office and going east on Millburn Fire Department’s Hook and police officer who was conducting and he rolled down his window, not injured, police said. police he returned to his vehicle Avenue to The Courtyard. Ladder Fire Truck. a motor vehicle stop on Millburn police said there was a strong odor Police reported a number of around 9:45 p.m. and found some- The motoring public can Community organizations and Avenue Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. of alcohol. When Thomas could Volkswagens and Jeeps stolen from one broke into his car and took expect major traffic delays and businesses are invited to partici- While speaking to Forio, the not produce proper documents, he parking decks at The Mall at Short overnight bags containing jewelry detours in the downtown from 1 pate with floats decorated for the officer reportedly smelled the odor was asked to undertake several Hills last week later were recov- valued at $3,400 as well as sample to 4 p.m., due to the parade. holiday season, or carrying ban- of marijuana coming from the car field sobriety tests, which he ered: cases of jackets valued at $6,180.