Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 14

ASBURY PARK PRESS THURSDAY, FEB. 7, 2008 www.app.com LOCAL NEWS Highlands names ex-sheriff as its attorney By TERRY GAUTHIER MUESSIG STAFF WRITER HIGHLANDS The Borough Council voted 3-2 in favor of appointing Joseph Oxley, the former Monmouth County sheriff, as its borough attorney for 2008 at Wednesday night's council meeting. Prior to the meeting, Mayor Anna Little said that she planned on nominating Oxley, 49, of Middletown, for the job. Councilmen John Urbanski and William Caizza voted Councilman Frank Nolan and Councilwoman Nancy Burton, along with Little, voted "yes." Urbanski and Caizza both said they voted against Oxley because they did not receive his resume. Rights FROM PAGE B1 and went on to work as an engineer at Fort Monmouth.

And he also decided to get active. "I joined the NAACP basically because of that," he said. At the time, Jones said, the former Ridge Avenue and Whitesville schools were predominantly black, while the other schools were mainly white. The NAACP wanted to desegregate the schools but needed the students' parents to act as petitioners. Parents were finally found, and in 1966 a suit was brought against the district with the state education department.

The result was that several years later the school district had to develop a plan to better mix the two races. "It was a big deal," Jones said. But Jones' activism didn't stop there. Objecting to what he saw as discrimination in the selection practices of the township fire departments, Jones led picketing at the Liberty Fire Company. The emergency services Cemetery FROM PAGE B1 board members complied with a plan that only obligated them to research back 60 years.

Such a search turned up no trace of a cemetery, although Arthur Green, a Long Branch resident who has made a hobby of researching the borough's cemeteries, had maintained the site could be the location of remains. "I guess if the bones do come up, we put them in the Dumpster," said Lynch. "I'm still really upset that's what we do." Lynch said the site, which "I know he was the sheriff, but when is the last time he practiced law?" Urbanski asked. Little stopped the discussion and voting process to read a letter citing Oxley's qualifications and his resume. Oxley recently became a partner in the Scarinci and Hollenbeck law firm in Lyndhurst.

According to the welcoming announcement, Oxley will be the resident in the firm's Freehold office. The letter identified Oxley as mer Monmouth County sheriff, a former Middletown mayor, and adjunct professor at Monmouth University. It said he has his law degree from Delaware 1 Law School in Wilmington, Del. Oxley said he is certified to practice law in New unit's policies were changed in the 1970s, he said. Jones may be best-known locally for suing the developer of the Gables to open up that housing development to blacks.

Once again, Jones said, his action was spurred because he was rejected because of his race. The case went all the way to the state Supreme Court, but Jones won. And he's still in that house today. Blacks have come a long way in the five decades since his activism began, Jones said, but some of the same internal problems remain. "One of the reasons why I served was that there was a real need then, and there's a real need now, for new leadership in the black community," he said.

Still, he said, "we've come a long way." Bill Bowman: (732) 643-4212 or ON THE WEB: Visit our Web site, www.app.com, and look under news, then special sections, for more Black History stories. has never been the site of any other development more potential proof that the borough's earlier citizens knew it was a cemetery is the location of a burial ground from the 1800s. She has walked the site often, and it is very overgrown, she said. Woolley said the only way to assure any contractor would preserve remains is to have an inspector on site. "Once that backhoe goes into the ground, there has got to be someone right there," Woolley said.

He was disinclined to sign the developer's agreement until provisions for on-site inspections of the excavation process were put in place, but Borough Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. "In all due respect, mayor, I think I should have been given his resume before tonight," Urbanski said. "I think we should be applauding Joe (Oxley) for his accomplishments," Little said. Oxley was the county sheriff for 12 years. Prior to becoming the sheriff, he worked in private practice and was responsible for the trial of Municipal and Superior Court matters.

He was the special counsel to the Middletown Township Planning Board, the Township Committee and the Board of Education. When Little asked for another roll call, Urbanski and Caizza voted "no" for the second time. Plan FROM PAGE B1 now move ahead is Chang H. Yi's plans to expand his 6-11 Food Market at Springwood and Borden avenues into a larger grocery store with 12 to 13 apartments above. "I've been waiting about three years," Yi said.

"That's my whole dream, to build that place." Another Springwood Avenue project is by the Mercy Center's Sisters Academy, which le a ses a building opposite St. Peter Claver Church. It is expected to continue with plans to expand the building for its Catholic girls school. Also, Interfaith Neighbors plans to work with the city to provide a three-story building that could house a new senior center, stores, rental apartments and a few city offices on Springwood Avenue. City Manager Terence Reidy said Wednesday afternoon that the city will seek proposals from developers for different housing and commercial projects in the plan.

Attorney Gregory Baxter told him it was not within the borough's power to make such changes in the agreement now. For instance, the developer could not be required to post a larger bond to pay for such inspections or the care and removal of human remains. "It is not a negotiable type item," said Baxter, noting the agreement only enforces what has been put in place by the zoning board and requires the appropriate posting of fees. Councilwoman Barbara Ruane asked if residents could volunteer to inspect the site but Borough Councilman Steven Cioffi raised the possibility that experts would be needed to properly identify remains. Mayor Janet W.

Tucci said Oxley's hourly rate will be $125, according to Little. She said he is being paid the same rate as the previous two attorneys. Since the Jan. 4 organization meeting, Dominick Manco of Jackson, the borough attorney for the past three years, was the acting attorney. "I was in Wisconsin this morning," Oxley said.

However, his flight home was delayed due to the winter storm. Oxley said being at the meeting was important so he drove home. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to serve the he said. "I'm honored and I privileged to be here," he said after he was sworn into the position. "What's happened over the last two and three years is that different developers have come in and expressed interest, and some were coming in and saying they wanted to develop this (particular) block," Reidy said.

"There has been a lot of discussions, but no one has been selected. We're going to do a very, very public request for proposals." A major contributing factor to Springwood Avenue not getting redeveloped for many years was the failed venture by the late Philip Konvitz, the Long Branch millionaire and political powerbroker who got control of about four of the blocks between Memorial Drive to Atkins Avenue during former Mayor Thomas Smith's administration in 1990. Konvitz built 15 of 75 planned townhouses, then shut down after he had trouble selling them. Successive city councils either went along with him or were prevented from acting until the 2001 council under Mayor Kevin Sanders began litigation to get the land back. The city is still in that litigation with Konvitz's heirs.

inspectors would not be needed for a prolonged period as the excavation process on construction projects generally is accomplished in a matter of days. Councilman John Hegarty said he was confident any reputable contractor would respect the unearthing of human remains, even without oversight. "Any excavator with any morals at all will stop," work, Hegarty said. Tucci and the council agreed to ask the borough engineer how to proceed on a project that has such potential history. "We do have engineers the job," Tucci said.

"I don't know if they are (working) morning, noon and night," she cautioned. Panel to present school schedule suggestions FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP A committee considering possible school scheduling changes is expected to present its recommendations at a public meeting tonight. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the West Freehold School, 100 Castronova Way. The public will have a chance to comment on the committee's findings.

By KIM PREDHAM FREEHOLD BUREAU The committee comprised of township school district officials, staff, parents and other concerned parties was scheduled to meet Wednesday to review community input gathered during sessions held in December and January with school officials. The sessions were held in an effort to address any concerns or suggestions the community had about potential changes to district schools' start and end Zaire Tails A star danced.and under was 9 born. that We've Moved! New Location 555 Shrewsbury Avenue Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury Village) Communion Dresses Suits Christenings Specialty Products Open Sat. 10-5 Tues. Thurs.

12-8 Closed Sunday 732-741-0007 Council, said an enormous Books lated. amount of books was couldn't even possibly FROM PAGE B1 Thompson Middle School, Middletown, in a recent interview. Thomas participated wrapping party Jan. 31 at Cliffwood Elementary School, Aberdeen. Volunteers of all ages wrapped countless books ranging from Clifford the Big Red Dog to Dr.

Seuss in Valentine's Day gift wraps. The books were packaged according to grade level, gender and language. Maggie Hopkins, Thomas' former teacher from River Plaza Elementary School, said she and a few other teachers were supposed to run the book collection program at the elementary school. But Hopkins, said Thomas, a Boy Scouts Troop 32, asked to take the whole project over so he could also earn his star badge for scouting. Hopkins, a member of the Reading Council, and other teachers sponsored the boy.

"We're really just here to support him," said Hopkins at the wrapping party. "He's a super kid." Thomas' mother, Maryellen, said her son told her he really wanted to help out because "he has always been surrounded by books and he can't imagine children not having Michele Mackay, president of the Monmouth County Reading count how many books," Mackay said. "Books are a wonderful thing, and we want everyone to be able to have access to books any time they want." A longtime teacher at Cliffwood Elementary School, Mary Kissane, said, "Being a reading teacher, I realize how important it is for parents to build a home library for their children. So, it is our pleasure to be able to come together to wrap all these beautiful books as our Valentine's gift to these children." Steve Parlamas, 11, of Colts Neck said he was honored to be associated with such an event. "We have books, and we can read all the time, and they can't, so it's nice to be able to give them that privilege," said Steve, a student at Ranney School, Tinton Falls.

"When you get older and you go to college, you have to be able to move on through life and get a job, and to do that, being able to read and write are important skills." Joshua Weakly of Rumson echoed Steve's comments. The sixth-grader, also a student at Ranney School, said he enjoys reading. "Reading your imagination and builds character," Joshua said. "Without that, people would just be bored and have no life." Crash that injured trooper still under investigation MIDDLETOWN A New Stephen Jones said. The acciJersey state trooper suffered a dent was reported by a passerby fractured femur and facial inju- at 12:05 p.m.

ries in an accident on the Garden State Parkway Tuesday Wolansky was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical afternoon, State Police said. in Detective Sgt. First Class Center Neptune. Harry Wolansky III was driving The cause of the accident renorth on the Parkway when his mains under investigation, povehicle struck a tree near mile lice said. marker 111.5, State Police Sgt.

Michelle Sahn OBITUARIES Additional obituaries B5, B6 times. Any changes made would affect the 2008-09 school year, not the current school year, officials have said. The goal of changing the times would be to make school bus transportation more efficient and to improve students' educational experience, Schools Superintendent William Setaro has said. In addition to tonight's meeting, the recommendations formulated by the committee will be sent home with students in a letter and will be posted on the district's Web site, www.freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us, according to a letter on that site. Setaro then intends to present his plan for possible schedule changes at the district's board of education meeting on Tuesday.

Kim Predham: (732) 308-7752 or Advanced Aesthetic Surgery Centre Valentine's Day Special Botox Take $8 per Unit advantage On Feb. 14th Dr. Michael G. Ashkar, MD Monmouth Eatontown, MARY T. O'CONOR DUNN, 80, of Fords, WOODBRIDGE, died Sunday, Feb.

3, at the home of her daughter in Buckhannon, W.Va. She was born Aug. 21, 1927 in New York City and lived in Fords since 1957. She was a secretary with National State Bank in Fords from 1968 to 1972, and at the Berg Agency in Metuchen from 1965 to 1968. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church, Fords.

She was predeceased by her hushand of 53 years, Robert F. Dunn, who died in 2002; her son, Commander Patrick S. Dunn was a causality of the attack on the Pentagon; her parents, Gerald and Anne O'Conor; two sisters, Agnes Clark and Veronica Snook; and two brothers, Gerald and Francis O'Conor. Surviving are her sons and daugnters-in-law, John F. and Maryellen Dunn of Tucson, and James A.

and Mary Jane Dunn of Toms River; two daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth and Ronald Hinkle of Buckhannon, W.Va., and Mary and Michael J. Matt of Chatham; nine grandchildren, Thomas O'Neill III, Kelly Kinney, Kathryn Feuquay, Katie Kennedy, Marybeth Dinges, Andrew Matt, Libby Hinkle, Daniel Matt, and Alexandria DeSimone; nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Joseph O'Conor of Floral Park, Long Island, N.Y. Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 23 Ford Fords.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday from the funeral home, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Church. Interment will be in Brig. Gen.

William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown. Contributions may be made in her memory to Our Lady of Peace Endowment Fund, Flynn Charities, 23 Ford Fords, NJ 08863. Condolence messages may be sent by visiting www.flynnfuneral.com. E.

RICHARD "DICK" WILLIAMS, 80, of OLD BRIDGE, formerly of Monroe Township, passed away Wednes- day, Feb. 6, at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge. He was born in Matawan. Mr. Williams was formerly the owner of Dick Williams and Son Enterprises, Inc.

(a utility contractor), owner of Dick Williams Orchestra for over 30 years, and employed by Construction Company of NJ, Inc. Dick was a member of the Crescent Court an active member of the Matawan Lodge 192, Jamesburg Lodge 2180, Shriners of North America, and the Scottish Rite. He was a saxophone player for over 40 years. He was a member of "The Ponds" concert band. He enjoyed golfing, stockcar driving, cooking, and traveling.

He was predeceased by his grandmother, Lucille Williams; his father, Roland Williams; his wife, Audrey J. Williams, who he was married to for 25 years, and Mary E. "Betty" Williams, his previous wife of 25 years and close friend of over 50 years. He is survived by a son and his wife, Patrick C. and Kim Williams of Millstone; a stepson and his wife, Richard and Darry Chamberlain; two stepdaughters and their husbands, June and Peter Auger and Janet and Stephen Fisher; his friends, Raymond J.

and Donna Baszak and Brian and Sue Francy, who were like children to him; and his grandchildren, Lyndsay, Spencer, Shelby, and Hudson Williams, Brian and Donna Fisher, Lauren and Emelia Chamberlain, Douglass McCoy, and Jeffrey and Elizabeth Auger. He was cared for by his Goddaughter, Katherine E. Picinich. He is also survived by four sisters-in-law, Eileen Forman, Margie Heuser and her husband, Pete, Patty Mier, and Joyce Montesano and her husband, Paul; four brothers-in-law, Thomas Costello, William Costello, James Costello and his wife, Willa, and Joseph Costello; and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m.

and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the A.S. Cole Funeral Home, 22 N. Main Cranbury. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m.

Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Brainerd Cemetery, Cranbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, Attn: Administration, 3551 N. Broad Philadelphia, PA 19140..