Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 1

As are the main attraction at SPCA's annual Stroll for Strays. B16 VllMw.i;. ASBURYPARKPRESS I SEPTEMBER 6,1999 Wemrock Wmm loii(dIoE(fll qdu wmm HEADS up Road to get Lakewood resident accused in preschool fires upgrade Old roads continue to be challenged by modern traffic. As the population in the Shore area grows, sometimes it is impossible for roads to grow along with it. Such is the case in Freehold By CAROL GORGA WILLIAMS TOMS RIVER BUREAU TOMS RIVER A Lake-wood woman has been charged with setting fires at two day care centers.

Nicole M. Audain, 24, Evergreen Avenue, was indicted on charges of aggravated arson, false incrimination and child endangerment involving a deliberately set fire at the Good Hands Day Care Center. The false incrimination count arises from the prosecution's contention that Audain The investigation was conducted by the Brick Police Department, the Brick Township Bureau of Fire Safety and Investigators Kathy Timmer-man and John Lightbody of the Ocean County prosecutor's office. Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Andrew Megill presented the matter to the grand jury. Carol Gorga Williams: (732) 557-5732 or at carolgapp.com.

outside the building. After she started the fire, she went outside and ushered six children and an adult coworker back into the building and told them she smelled smoke, authorities said. They located the fire and it was put out by Brick Patrolman Tim McCarthy, who was first on the scene, authorities said. Audain remains free after placed a cigarette lighter in the pocket of a day-care student in the attempt to falsely incriminate the child. Audain is charged with intentionally starting a fire in the kitchen closet of the preschool at Route 70 and Cedar Bridge Road in Brick.

The indictment, made public on Friday, charges that Audain set the fire April 5 while children were playing Pallone to speak DOVER TOWNSHIP: Rep. Frank D. Pallone, will help kick off the cam- 'j paign of Stephanie Mong-. iello Wauters for the 10th Legislative District at news conference at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on Third Avenue at the boardwalk in Ortley Beach.

Pallone will join her ijnd other environmentalists at the beach near where she and other members of Ocean County Citizens for. Clean Water tried to draw attention to the pollution practices of Ciba Geigy Corp. Celebration for the ages Bugs on parade posting bail in the amount of $50,000, with no option to post 10 percent. During the course of the Ocean County investigation, authorities developed information they passed along to the Monmouth County prosecutor's office, which has indicted Audain for aggravated arson in connection with a fire at the Woodland Preschool. It was all in keeping with this year's fair theme, "Our Youth The Stars of Our Future." Students also helped out, donating their time at yesterday's Special Olympic events, childrens games and other events.

"If they keep this thought of HISTORICAL jta tit Jackson Day event brings young and old out for fun By DOUG ROBERTSON CORRESPONDENT JACKSON Overcast skies couldn't deter the estimated 10,000 'to 15,000 people who came out for yesterday's Jackson Day festival. "It's a little crowded, but I think it's a great time. The kids are really enjoying it," said resident Jackie Napo-liello, waiting patiently in line for clown to fashion balloon animals for her daughter, niece and nephew.i She and Kirsten Napoliello, 10, Tina Blascka, 10, and Dylan Blascka, 6, had already negotiated their way through the barbecue, shish kebab, and funnel cake vendors in the food court tent. While the balloon animals were fashioned, and the food digested, the youngsters tried to convince their guardian to let them be flipped upside down and around on the gyro ride. The various activities offered at the annual festival, held at Johnson Park, kept the crowds moving all day.

Organizers said the crowds had more younger people than in previous years, which they said may have been due to the influence of 21 Jackson Memorial High School honor students who helped plan the event. The students input helped balance traditional fair Luxury DARVL STONEStaff Photographer Maria Matilszki, 9, of Olney, Md. rides the Orbotron during yesterday's Jackson Day festivities at Johnson Park. Maria, whose visiting her grandmother, was among the estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people who came out for the annual event. Wemrock Road in Freehold Township intersects with Route 522.

The road is at certain times of the day very busy. It can be used as a route to the mall, or to get to Route 33, or if you stay on Wemrock you can go to the other JOE ON THE GO side of Freehold If you are on Wemrock and heading to Route 522 you have to By Joe Adelizzi pass under a very old railroad bridge. The bridge is just wide enough to fit two cars, and it is not high enough for trucks or buses. On the other side of the bridge is where you have to make your turn onto Route 522. At peak times of the day, and on weekends during holiday season, turning here can be a nightmare.

I know there was a fatality there last year, and I know there are numerous accidents there every year. Drivers get frustrated, and take chances. That's not good. Any chance this will get better? STEVE BIBBY, Freehold Well, Steve, here's some good news. According to Monmouth County Chief Engineer for Design Joe Ettore, help is coming.

"A contract has already been awarded to Shore Engineering to design improvements," said Ettore. "There will be a light installed and a left-turn-only lane built on Route 522." They hope this solves some of the backup problems on Wemrock Road. Ettore says there is not much you ean do because of the railroad bridge. You can't make the road wider, said Ettore. But he thinks the light will allow cars a chance to turn.

"We hope to start construction in the spring of 2000," said Ettore. SHORT STOPS: Had some inquires from people interested a brochure distributed by the Older Adult Traffic Safety Task Force (OATS) on how to handle having a heart attack while behind the wheel or if you are a passenger in a car when a driver has a problem. For a copy of the brochure send a self-addressed stamp envelope to OATS, 129 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08754, or call (732) 929-2130. Those who have seen areas needing cleanup, especially along Route 18, may have been playing telephone tag with the number we gave you, which is a recording. Here's a number to get you straight through to report your concerns: (732) 409-6263.

Know of a traffic bottleneck that needs fixing, a jughandle that doesn 't make sense, or a road so full of potholes that it's impassable? Maybe there's a bus that 's never on time or a train that keeps breaking down? If so, you can e-mail or write Joe Adelizzi, do theAsbury Park Press, 8 Robbins Toms River, NJ 08753 or fax them to Joe at (732) 557-5759. events, like pie eating contests, the petting zoo, and fire works with attractions more appealing to younger crowds, such as a volleyball tournament, a professional wrestling demonstration, and Ska music. "We tried to get things teenagers would want to be more community involvement, it will be wonderful for the town," Jackson Day committee member Maureen Van Bramersaid. "Too often we treat (students) like little children, but I think it has shown us that if we give them a little authority, they will do well," she said. MARLBORO: The Kateri Environmental Center in the Wickatunk section of the township will present a program on insects for children and their parents on Sept.

15. The program is designed for children ages 3 to 4 years old. Participants will learn about insects through a story, song, craft and a visit to some insect homes. Two sessions will be offered: from 10 to 11:30 a.m. or from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Fees are $7 per child; $5 for Kateri members. Registration is required, and programs fill up quickly. Call (732) 946-9694 to register. Dog to show skills TOMS RIVER: Lacey, the 10-month-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever who is the second of Ocean County Sheriffs bomb-sniffing dogs, will be showing off some newly acquired obedience skills at 10 a.m. Wednesday, in front of the Ocean County Justice Complex, 120 Hooper Avenue.

i Lacey, other bomb-sniffing dogs and their trainers will give a demonstration of obedience training and bomb location methods at the session. Asburj Park Prass fit ptwta A LOOK BACK VIGNETTE liner's fiery demise By GARY S. CRAWFORD GUEST WRITER On Sept. 7, 1934, the Morro Castle, the Ward Line's flagship and the third ship to carry the name of the fortress on the coast of Cuba, sailed on the return leg of her 147th round trip from New York to Havana, Cuba. involved in," said Sabrina Wnorowski, 17, a student committee member.

"You see the influence in having a Ska band perform and having a swing dance contest." Students said adult committee members never failed to ask their opinion or seek their ideas during planning sessions. the festivities at the traditional Last Night At Sea Party, complaining of stomach distress. Wilmot had 31 years experience with the Ward Line, and had a history of stomach disorders. He retired to his cabin for the evening. About 11 p.m..

First Officer William F. Warms checked on Wilmot, finding him dead in his bed. It was said the captain died of a heart attack, brought on by his acute indigestion. Warms then took over as acting captain. What happened after this event is still shrouded in mystery so many years later.

Accusations and conflicting testimony followed for years, and the mystery was never solved. Out of 562 persons on board, 137 passengers and crewmen died. The known facts follow: At around 2:45 a.m. on Sept. 8, a report of smoke coming from a ventilator was reported to the bridge.

Warms See Death, Page B3 N8 VV. passengers, 400 first class and 100 second class, plus a crew of over 200. The twin screw turbo-electric ship had a cargo capacity of 23,000 cubic feet, and could cruise at 18 knots, hitting 20.5 knots when pressed. With a full load of fuel oil, the Morro Castle had a cruising radius of 6,950 miles. The ship was built with wide open decks and verandas to capture the tropical breezes.

When all doors and hatches were open, cool winds kept the passengers comfortable without air conditioning, a feature that would hasten the demise of the great ship. At approximately 9 p.m. on Sept. 7, 1934, Capt. Robert R.

Wilmot excused himself from Launched on March 1, 1930, the Morro Castle had taken passengers to Havana, then a popular destination resort, with its casinos, theaters, night life and liquor. The lure of legal spirits during Prohibition was enough for some to take the trip. Designed by naval architect Theodore Ferris, the ship was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. of Newport News, for the Ward Line, and based at Ward's pier at the foot of Wall Street in New York. A handsome vessel, she was 508 feet long with a beam of 70 feet-9-inches, and a draft of 27-feet-l-inch.

She had seven decks and weighed 11,520 tons, and had a capacity of 500 Funeral pyre: Having snapped its tow lines, the still-burning Morro Castle drifts toward shore a few hundred feet from Convention Hall in Asbury Park. Crowds gather on the beach and boardwalk to watch the tragedy unfold. i.