Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 17

yy DO Contact us! To discuss a local story or suggest a topic, please contact Patricia McDaniel: 3601 Highway 66, Box 1550 Neptune, NJ 07754-1551 (732) 922-6000, Ext. 4300 fax: (732) 922-4818 B2 UU Wednesday, October 21, 1998 Asbury Park Press Editorial cartoonist Steve Breen to start stripping! I The lectures are intended to increase public awareness and encourage an appreciation for the visual arts. By ERIK LARSEN STAFF WRITER MIDDLETOWN Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Steve Breen is on his way to becoming a nationally syndicated comic strip artist. The 28-year-old Asbury Park Press staffer was the inaugural speaker last night at the "New Jersey Art Series at Brookdale," a series of free guest lectures at the community college in Lincroft by Garden State artists. The lectures are intended to increase public awareness and encourage an appreciation for the visual arts.

Breen, who discussed where he gets the ideas for his visual commentary, also announced he has entered into a deal with United Feature Syndicate, the same folks who Beach, and graduated from the University of California-Riverside in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He was hired as an editorial cartoonist for the Press in 1994. In addition to completing several editorial cartoons each week, Breen draws caricatures for the paper's popular Sunday "Celebs" page. His work is sent to hundreds of newspapers through syndication with the Copley News Service, and often is reprinted in national magazines. Future guests at Brookdaie's lecture series, held in the College Commons, will include painter Emma Amos, architectural historian Richard Guy Wilson, sculptors Patricia Lay and Livio Saganic, printmaker Ted Victoria and performance artist Kathy Rose.

More information is available by calling (732) 224-2520. "The kids are precocious and smart, but not bratty," Breen said. "They're always asking questions. They have a fun, hip grandmother. The kids occasionally pass one over on her, but she's definitely running the show." Breen said he hasn't settled on a name for the comic strip, and polled the audience on two ideas he is throwing around.

'Shenanigans' or 'Grand 'Grand Avenue' because they live on Grand Avenue and (Kate's) a grandmother," he said. Overwhelmingly, the audience members said they liked "Grand Avenue" best. Breen grew up in Huntington JAMES J. CONNOLLYStaff Photographer Steve Breen, speaking yesterday Brookdale," talks about his job as ins upturning venture as a tumiv Council targets businesses5 contribution to sick sewers Not so odd Actors with disabilities perform' at human services conference A Sea Bright Is expected to consider measure that would require systems to safeguard sewer lines. By BOB WRITER CORRESPONDENT SEA BRIGHT The Borough Council expects to introduce an ordinance Nov.

17 to require service stations, marinas, garages and beach clubs to have systems to prevent oil and sand from entering the sanitary sewer system. The ordinance also will require all restaurants, bars, delicatessens, diners and beach clubs to install grease interceptors to prevent grease and oil from entering the sanitary sewer system. Both the oil-sand separators and the grease traps will be required to have a capacity of 1,000 gallons and be installed underground with access for cleaning and inspection at ground level. Business owners will have to pay an annual fee of $100 to cover two borough plumbing inspections and will also be required to document that they clean and maintain the at the "New Jersey Art Series at an editorial cartoonist as well as snip amsi. The conference theme also dove-.

tailed with the mission of Theatre a Fantastique, a state- and county-? P. 1 1 li J.1 A 1 iunuea organization uiai lanes nil the collaboration of disabled and nondisabled people," said pro--ducer Beth Peninger. Under Peninger and its new ar-' tistic director, Paul Kellogg, the group plans to expand its work be- yond the previous tradition of a'''' single yearly production, to in- elude three play readings. Two al- ready have been held and a third is planned for December. And Peninger and Kellogg hope 1 to increase participation beyond the current core of 20 to 30 people although they are still search- ing for a theater whose stage is fully wheelchair-accessible.

In the meantime, both disabled and able-bodied actors said they find the work rewarding. Theater means "a chance to be somebody that you're not, which is what acting is all about," said Slade, 43, who lives in Ocean Township and makes a living as an au pair. "Even people that don't have disabilities are always trying to be somebody that they're not." Roeland Caris, 42, of Freehold Township, who injured his spinal cord in a 1979 diving accident and now uses a wheelchair, has par- layed his local theater experience into a New York City gig. He is now working with the Manhattan-based National Handicapped Theater Workshop. "I intend to do this for as long as I'm alive," Caris said.

"Once the show is done, you come off money can't buy that feeling. It's a great feeling of accomplishment." Board to enlist residents UNION BEACH: A committee formed to organize the borough's 75th anniversary in 2000 is inviting residents interested in the planning to attend a meeting at 7 p.m. Mon- day in the municipal building. publish Charles M. Schulz's "Peanuts" and Scott Adams' "Dilbert," to develop a comic strip about 6-year-old fraternal twins with a penchant for rubbernecking and the wily, tennis shoe-wearing grandmother with whom they live.

"It won't be like it'll be more like 'Calvin and or 'For Better or for he said. The proposed strip would revolve around the antics of the two young protagonists, spiky-haired Michael and badly myopic Gabby. Grandmother Kate, who one Brookdale audience member suggested looked suspiciously like Microsoft founder Bill Gates in drag, is the duo's sole guardian. traps and interceptors on a regular basis. All businesses must comply with the ordinance by May 1, 2000, or be subject to a fine of $500 a day.

The council originally planned to introduce the ordinance last night put postponed it until next month so wording could be added to will require inspections of current traps and interceptors starting in January 1999. Council members said the ordinance is needed to eliminate costly repairs and maintenance to the sanitary sewer system caused by grease and oil. In other business last night, the council introduced five ordinances that will spell out the parking regulations in the main municipal the municipal complex lot, the Peninsula House lot and on East Ocean Avenue. The ordinances were drafted based on the recommendations of a state Department of Transportation inspector who reviewed borough parking rules, Municipal Clerk Maryann M. Smeltzer said.

Further discussion on the ordinances as well as a public hearing are scheduled for Nov. 17. 30 years in prison in August 1990, and ordered him to serve at least 15 years before he is eligible for parole. Fitzpatrick's appeal was rejected. In 1994, he filed a motion for postconviction relief, claiming the ineffective assistance of counsel during his trial, and asking that the state be asked to submit semen found on the victim for DNA testing.

Superior Court Judge Vincent J. Grasso rejected Fitzpatrick's bid for a new trial in 1995, saying he did not show the state's were weak or that the record would support at least reasonable double of guilt." Fitzpatrick appealed Grasso's ruling. An appeals court let it stand yesterday. AROUuD TEE RE6I07J Belmar students making a difference their way BELMAR: Elementary school students have been busy making a difference, with several projects expecting to culminate during Make A Difference Day on Saturday. Some of them have made decorations that will be used during a Halloween party for sick children at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune.

Also, the school conducted a food drive for the victims of Hurricane Georges. Students in grades 6 through 8 will gather at the school on Saturday. They will walk to 15th Avenue and East Street where they will join others from the community in putting the finishing touches on a new playground. Eatontown candidates to appear at two debates EATONTOWN: Four council and two mayoral candidates will appear at two separate public debates scheduled for 7 p.m. today and Monday at the community center, 68 Broad St.

Jackson man convicted of rape loses bid for new trial in appeal Estes Slade (left) of Ocean Township, Roeland Caris of Freehold Township and Bob Paolanto-nio of Hazlet take a bow after the show. OARYL STONE Staff Photographer Roeland Caris (left) takes the their roles during a performance Incumbent Theodore F. Lewis Jr. and newcomer Joyce A. Englehart, both Democrats, will face Republicans James W.

Payne and William M. Kinney tonight in a debate among council hopefuls. It will be followed by a debate on Monday featuring Mayor Edward J. Stominski and his challenger, Democratic Councilman Gerald J. Ta-rantolo.

The public will be permitted to ask or write questions to candidates. No anonymous questions will be permitted. The debates, sponsored by The Atlanticville newspaper, are scheduled to run until 8:30 p.m. Shrewsbury council hires consultant for project SHREWSBURY: The Borough Council has voted to retain Cultural Resource Consulting Group to assist with aspects of its municipal facilities plan. The company will assist the borough in its application to the state Historic Preservation Office to build soccer and baseball fields at Manson Park.

It also will help in selecting an architect for new borough facilities. The consulting group will be paid $7,900 for its work. By DEBORAH YAFFE FREEHOLD BUREAU HOLMDEL Estes Slade, a a the snobbish Felix Unger of "The Odd Couple," reached down to switch on the vacuum cleaner, with a smart tap of his crutch. Then, balancing expertly despite his paralyzed legs, he got to work cleaning up a mess left by the slob, Oscar Madison. The audience listened raptly as Slade, who was born with spina bifida, traded gibes with Oscar, a a Bob Paolantonio of Hazlet, a 55-year-old accountant.

Felix got the best of the encounter. Yesterday's reprise of the personality clash that made Tony Randall and Jack Lemmon immortal television figures was a debut of sorts for Theatre Fantastique, a new incarnation of a 10-year-old drama troupe that includes the disabled. The performance, which also featured three songs from "The Fantastiks," drew warm applause from an audience of 225 human services workers attending an afternoon conference at the PNC Bank Arts Center. The conference focused on collaborations among government, nonprofit organizations and corporations, touting these linkages as the key to stretching scarce dollars and maximizing effectiveness. "Collaboration, if not merging, is the best service and business strategy available to the non-profit sector in Monmouth County, and we had better recognize it before our funders mandate it," said one speaker, Frank Lomax III, president of the Monmouth County Urban League.

Gas company employees to help clean up balBfeld NEW JERSEY Natural Gas employees and their families will help clean up Count Basie Field on Saturday for Make a Difference Day. The volunteers will work from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in cleaning the bleachers, painting over graffiti and picking up litter at the stadium on Henry Street in Red Bank. The cleanup is part of company's volunteer program.

This year, employees have contributed more than 1,500 hours to assist nonprofit agencies and community programs in Monmouth, Ocean and Morris counties. Club to hold walkathon HIGHLANDS: The Booster Club at Henry Hudson Regional School will hold a walkathon on Saturday to raise money for scholarships, clubs and class treasuries. The 3.1-mile walk for students, teachers and parents will begin at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of Hart-shorne Woods Park. For more information, call Gloria Miller at (732) 872-1517.

IS T.t52 rv)i Til. MS DARYL STONEStaff Photographer stage with Bob Paolantonio in of "The Odd Couple." The council on Monday also accepted the resignation of longtime Borough Clerk Audrey R. Semple, who has held the position for 16 years. She will retire at the end of the year. Water treatment plant gets $3 million upgrade FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP: A dedication ceremony was held yesterday at the Jackson Mill Water treatment plant to mark its expansion from a daily capacity of 3.4 million gallons to 6 million gallons.

The work included the drilling of five wells and a utility distribution center at the complex on Jackson Mill Road. A computer system was installed to monitor and control the operation. In 1999, the township's water and sewer system will be monitored from this central control location. The project cost $3.8 million, which was paid with capital improvement money in the municipal budget. It took about 18 months to complete.

The Jackson Road complex produces more than 50 percent of the township's water supply, and serves as administrative headquarters for the water and sewer utilities. By DON BENNETT STAFF WRITER TOMS RIVER A Jackson man who kidnapped and raped a woman will not get a new trial. Instead, Needham Fitzpatrick III, will remain behind bars for at least another seven years. A state Appeals Court refused yesterday to overturn Fitzpatrick's 1990 conviction for kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, and terroristic threats. Fitzpatrick was convicted by a jury of kidnapping a woman, 22, from Jackson as she left the County Line Road Foodtown.

He forced her to drive to a nearby parking lot by threatening her with a knife, raped her, and attempted to take money from her, although she had none. The victim positively identified Needham as her attacker during the five-day trial in 1990. Ocean County Prosecutor E. David Millard, who prosecuted Fitzpatrick, said the attack took place on the suspect's birthday. "It was though he settled on this woman as his birthday present," Millard said.

Superior Court Judge Donald F. Campbell sentenced Fitzpatrick to Hospital cuts spur appeal by council TOMS RIVER BUREAU POINT PLEASANT BEACH The state may have approved plans to end acute care at Point Pleasant Hospital and downgrade the emergency room but that doesn't mean towns affected by the decision will sign off on it. Council members agreed last night that the borough should appeal the Oct. 9 decision by Leonard Fishman, state commissioner of health and senior services, that Me ridian Health System's could down-' grade the facility in order to shift services to its Brick Hospital Correction Hansen WALL Robert L. Hansen is resigning from the Township Committee, effective Oct.

31. A photograph of Committeeman Frank Addonizio was i misidentified as Hansen yes- terday in the Asbury Park Press..