The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 15

SALE: 200 repeat property tax delinquents appear on this year's list investors to bid on the entire tax obligation of a municipality. "It puts all the marbles in one bag," he said. From there, the debt could be sold to distant investors overseas. With lots of money to be made even by selling far below market value, the net well as a Division of Motor Vehicles office. It now has a new Hispanic meat market, among other tenants, but owners Larry and Marilyn Lockhart owe $20,519.60.

The list includes several city entrepreneurs as well as city employees, a couple of churches that apparently never sought exempt status, and one political candidate seeking office in November. "The current law is wonderful for small investors," Coslick said. But he said a pending New Jersey Senate Bill could allow institutional RARITAN TOWNSHIP Continued from Page A-1 are still held by New Meadowbrook Associates, which owes more than $200,000 on the units. Another property on the June 14 list is the former bank at 1 1 1 E. Front St.

that was refurbished by James Pilewski several years ago as an OBITUARIES School officials will meet to protect budgets in plan Melanie and Margot Mueller, both victims of car accident By MARK LUSSIER Courier-News Staff Writer RARITAN TOWNSHIP Concerned by the state's proposal to fund education in 1997-98, Hunterdon Central Superintendent Raymond Farley will host a meeting tonight with area school officials. If legislators ratify the state Department of Education's funding proposal, per-pupil spending at Hunterdon Central Regional High School will fall from $12,157 now to a proposed average near $8,467 in 1987-98. The proposal is an effort to close the gap between the state's richest and poorest school districts, as mandated by New Jersey's Supreme Court. State officials said the $235 million HILLSBOROUGH House fire caused by gas igniting By PRASHANT GOPAL Courier-News Staff Writer HILLSBOROUGH A fire that destroyed a Majestic Knolls home on Father's Day apparently was set off by a gas explosion near a gas furnace and hot water heater, police said Monday. Investigators began combing through the charred remains of the home at 14 Christopher Close Monday, but have not determined why the explosion occurred or what type of gas was ignited.

Clarence Winston, an executive, was sleeping on the second floor Sunday when the 1 p.m. fire erupted. As of Monday, he was staying in a local hotel with his wife, who was on a business trip when the fire occurred. Winston was awakened by the explosion and escaped with only a minor cut below the knee. Investigators and neighbors called his escape miraculous.

Flames reached as high as 25 feet and melted vinyl siding on at least five neighboring homes. Neighbor Claudette Workman was waiting Monday for her insurance company to inspect damage to her home. "What a Father's Day," Workman said as she looked from her porch at the debris in her back yard. Winston's home exploded as Workman's family was preparing for a result could be what Coslick callerf'a socio-economic downward adjustment." Coslick said it behooves everyone to learn mor about tax lien sales and what they mean both to buyers ajid property owners. But he said, "If you pay your taxes, you're safe." said, for the national award-winning school, which serves Flemingttfn, Raritan, Readington, Delaware and East Amwell.

Tonight's meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the high school's Little Thealr. School spokeswoman Sheila Fernekes said she expects school officials trf'be here from Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren and Morris counties. Farley will urge three alternatives to protect the budgets of the state's 32 regional high schools: Put regional school districts in a different funding category; Raise more revenue through state taxes; Freeze the current per-pujiil spending levels and only vote to seek voter approval if they want to raise those levels. A Harry Insabella -X, awaiting jury's Jury WW reviews Guhse's' story By ANNA FARNESKI Courier-News Staff Writer Jurors in the Harry Insabella murder trial deliberated for more than five hours Monday before; going home without a verdict, bui; not before asking for a of testimony from one of the; state's key witnesses.

The six-man, six-woman panel' requested a copy of Michael' Guhse's testimony after returning from lunch at 1:30 p.m. Guhse is'. one of the five men charged with! felony murder following the; March 1995 holdup death of; gemologist Brenda Wolf. Mrs. Wolf was shot and killed by; her husband when he pulled a handgun and began firing during1 a botched robbery.

Insabella is the first to go to triaC and the evidence collected against, him includes fingerprints and a string of telephone calls. Guhs6 spent more than six hours on the witness stand. The Missouri teen-ager testified as part a plea His testimony was critical to the state's case because he allegedly witnessed at least one telephone call authorities claim that Avrarri Gottlieb, reportedly the ring1-leader, made to Insabella followr ing the heist. 1 Authorities claim the Franklin; Township dentist helped plot the; robbery and then stashed the; weapons and other articles used in; the holdup in a South Brunswick; storage locker. 1 However, Guhse's testimony also clearly shored up Insabella's claim that he was not the persohi who collected the robbery para-: phernalia from Gottlieb on a Perth; Amboy street hours after the Guhse said he believed that red Grand Prix carried a group of; Hispanic men who were Gottlieb's; "Jersey boys." The jury is scheduled to resume; deliberations at 9 this morning.

'ft v. 1 office complex. It has changed uses several times since, recently as a coffeehouse that also closed. According to the list, Pilewski owes $11,940.37. Also on the list is a large property on Watchung Avenue that once housed jazz mecca Jones Chateau, as I StoryA-1 The women are preceded in death by their mother, Lynne Gardineer Mueller.

Surviving are their father, Frederick Charles Mueller; two sisters, Tra-cey Anne Biedron of Bedminster and Carolyn von Meister of Pottersville; a brother, Robert Joseph Mueller of New York City; and their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Mueller of Sea Girt and Mr. and Mrs. Robert M.

Gardineer of Spring Lake Heights. Services will be at noon Wednesday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Mor-ristown. Arrangements are by Hae-berle and Barth Funeral Directors. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Far Hills Country Day School, Far Hills, N.J.

07931. MichaelJ.PendalJr., Western Electric installer MIDDLESEX Michael J. Pendal 65, died Sunday (June 16, 1996) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Tresckow, he lived in Beaver Meadows, before moving to Middlesex 26 years ago. He retired in 1985 after 31 years as an installer for Western Electric Co.

He was a member of Local 1090, Communication Workers of America, and Telephone Pioneers of America. He served in the Navy in 1948 and 1949, and in the Naval Reserve from 1949 to 1955. He was also a member ef Our Lady of Mount Virgin Roman Catholic Church in Middlesex. Surviving are a brother, Joseph Pendal of Green Brook; and two sisters, Bernadine Kranyock of Beaver Meadows and Theresa Ksenics of Lansdale, Pa. Services will be at 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday at Middlesex Funeral Home, followed by a Mass at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church in Middlesex. Visitation is from 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. George A. Brown former area resident George A.

Brown 71, died May 28, 1996 in Hayward, Calif. He was born on Long Island, N.Y., and had lived in Bridgewater and Raritan before moving to California in 1958. Mr. Brown was retired from Caterpillar Corp. He was a member of Bradley Gardens Reformed Church in Bridgewater.

Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Naomi Vangasbeck Brown; two daughters, Patricia Biela of Newark, and Peggy Hansen of Dixon, three sons, George Jr. of Danville, Raymond of Alburn, and Thomas of Hayward, a brother, Charles of Point Pleasant; a sister, Florence Folio of Bridgewater; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Private services will be held July 6. Neptune Society of Northern California, Castro Valley, handled the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

RuthC. Shedlak, Middlesex resident MIDDLESEX Ruth C. Shedlak, 80, a homemaker, died Monday (June 17, 1996) at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township. Born in Plainfield, Mrs. Shedlak had lived in Bound Brook before moving to Middlesex 50 years ago.

Mrs. Shedlak was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Bound Brook. Her husband, John H. Shedlak, died in 1975.

Surviving are a daughter, Arlene DeCastro of Flemington; a brother, Arthur Steffort of Long Beach, and three grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Taggart-Chamberlain Funeral Home in Bound Brook. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday at the funeral home. MONUMENTS Li. MANNING SON DISPLAY YARD 405 W. Front Plainfield 756-0706 725-1631 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY In Loving Memory of MICHELLE DIANE ADESSA Who passed away June 18, 1991 No one knows the silent heartaches, Only those who have lost can tell, Of the grief that is borne in silence, For the one we loved so well. Greatly missed by: mother Arlene, step-father Bryan, sister Tara, brother Eric, Uncle Bob and Uncle Bruce Mary Elizabeth Brown, grandmother of 56 PLAINFIELD Mary Elizabeth Brown, 83, died Sunday (June 16, 1996) at Muhlenberg Medical Regional Center, Plainfield.

She was born in Saluta, and had lived in Plainfield for the past 65 years. She was a nurse's aide for 30 years at Pine Brook, Green Brook, Edison and Cedar Brook Nursing Homes. She was a member of House of Prayer Church of God in Christ for 30 years, where she was a church mother and president of both the mother's board and women's board. She was a former member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Plainfield. Surviving her are seven sons, Joseph E.

Brown Jr. and Andrew both of Piscataway; Tyrone, Melvin Glenwood and Wayne, all of Plain-field, and Richard of South River; five daughters, Delores Taylor, Sarah Anderson, Doris Henderson and Inez Harrison, all of Plainfield, and Ophelia Sterling of Jacksonville, two sisters, Emily Boyd and Lillie Lock-ley, both of Plainfield; and 56 grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at House of Prayer Church of God and Christ, Plainfield. Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are by Judkins Colonial Home, Plainfield. James 'Frog' Robinson, Army veteran RAHWAY James Robert "Frog" Robinson, 62, died Wednesday (June 12, 1996) at home here. Born in Elizabeth, he lived in West-field for 52 years before moving to Rahway 10 years ago. Mr.

Robinson was an Army veteran, receiving an honorable discharge in 1955. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Westfield and served on its usher board. He also was a graduate of Westfield High School. Surviving are his mother, Elizabeth Robinson Vessels of Westfield; two sons, Jeffery and Maurice Moore of North Carolina; and a granddaughter. Services will be Wednesday at Bethel Baptist Church in Westfield.

Arrangements are by Plinton Funeral Home in Westfield. Francis Whipert, great-grandfather RARITAN BOROUGH Francis Howard Whipert, 75, died Sunday (June 16, 1996) at home here. Born in Somerville, Mr. Whipert was a lifelong borough resident. He was a crusher operator for Hou-daille Construction Materials in Bridgewater for 33 years, retiring in 1986.

Mr. Whipert was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Raritan Borough. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, Raritan chapter. Surviving are his wife, Mary Paul Whipert; two sons, Michael Kelco of New Hampshire and David Kelco of Florida; two brothers, Lester Whipert and Billy Whipert, both of Raritan Borough; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Services will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Hannon Brothers Funeral Home in Raritan, followed by a 9 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph's Church in Raritan Borough. Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Kenneth F. Martino, owned furniture store PHILLIPSBURG Kenneth F.

Martino, 42, a former business owner in Plainfield, died Monday (June 17, 1996) at home here. Mr. Martino was born in New York City and had lived most of his life in South Plainfield before moving to Phillipsburg in 1990. He owned and operated Kenny's Used Furniture and Antiques in Plain-field for many years. Prior to owning the business, Mr.

Martino had worked at the store for his grandfather, who founded the business and named it after him. Mr. Martino was an avid hunter and fisherman. Surviving are his wife, Suzanne Steiner Martino; two sons, Jason and Kenneth, both of Califon; a daughter, Angela, at home; his sister, Ria Car-angelo of Upper Montclair; and his mother, Frances Palmieri Martino of Sparta. Services will be at 9:15 a.m.

Wednesday at McCriskin Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield South Plainfield, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in South Plainfield. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Nielsen services Dorothea Keller Nielsen, 80, a former Plainfield resident, died Dec.

4, 1995 at Oakland Medical Facility in Pontiac, Mich. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Higgins Home for Funerals, Plainfield. FAR HILLS Melanie Victoria Mueller, 25, and her sister, Margot Evelyn Mueller, 24, died Sunday (June 16, 1996) of injuries they suffered in a car accident in Springfield. Both women were born in Summit and were lifelong residents of Far Hills.

The women attended Far Hills Country Day Elementary School in Far Melanie Mueller graduated from Purnell School in Bedminster in 1989. She graduated from Sawyer College in Pittsburgh in 1994. She was a travel agent for Peapack Travel in Pea-pack-Gladstone. Margot Mueller graduated from St. George School in Newport, R.I., in 1990 and Lehigh University in Bethlehem, in 1994.

She was a real estate agent for Byrnam Wood Commercial Realtors in New York City. Charles E. King, great-greatgrandfather NEW PROVIDENCE Charles E. King, 80, died Saturday (June 15, 1996) at Overlook Hospital in Summit. Born in Tewksbury, he moved to New Providence more than 40 years ago.

Before retiring, he was a custodian for many years at Rowe Manufacturing Co. in Whippany. Mr. King was a member of the Legion of the Moose in Bound Brook and Springfield Lodge 2004 Benevo-, lent and Protective Order of Elks. His first wife, Frances King, died in 1969; his second wife, Florence King, died in 1989.

Surviving are four brothers, George King of Califon, Harold Harris of Edison, Norman Fernicola of Flagtown and Edward King of Indiana; two sisters, Catherine McAlick of Bound Brook and Audrey Martin of i Phillipsburg; his stepmother, Ada King of Edison; two stepdaughters, Romona Rivera of Linden and Tan-gee Natale of Middlesex; 17 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home in Plainfield. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 513, Roseland, N.J. 07068. FUNERAL NOTICES AZNAR Josephine Joubert of Brick on June 16, 1996.

Wife of the late Joseph Aznar, Sr. Mother of Robert Aznar, stepmother of Gloria Prusinowski, sister of Maria Glembotzky and Irma Vlaun; also surviving are several step grandchildren. Funeral from HIGGINS HOME FOR FUNERALS, 752 Mountain Bou-: levard, Watchung on Wednesday June 19th at 9:30 AM. Followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of The Mount Church, Warren at 10:00 AM. Interment St.

Gertrude Ceme- tery, Colonia. Visiting hours Tuesday 2-4 7-9 PM. ROBINSON James died 61296. Surviving are his mother, Elizabeth Robinson Vessels; two sons, Jeffery and Maurice Moore; one granddaughter, Teyanna; one aunt, Pearl Muse; and a host of other loving relatives and Funeral service will be Wed, June 19, at Bethel Baptist Church, 539 Trinity Place Westfield. Visitation, 7pm-9pm, June 18th at Plinton Funeral Home, 411 West Broad St, Westfield.

Interment Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Wood-bridge, NJ. Arrangements Plinton Funeral Home, Westfield. J'VI pV In Loving Memory of 'SfA henry e. f'i'l't Wn passed away June 18, 1979 E''Th maV change each Rut nsua, luill Ik An ujn lnui From memory past away. cr aj I Fances and Family FIRST ANNIVERSARY In Loving Memory Of CHARLES "CD" DARRELL, JR.

Who Passed Away June 18, 1995 Daddy, We love you for so many reasons, both large and small, and all of them wonderful. We love you for all the special qualities that made you and one of a kind; the only one in the world for us. We love you for all the things you said that brought out the special meaning of lite. We love you because you know how to bring out the best in us. We love you just bwau.se we do because now in a place where there was nothing before, we all knew our "Daddy" always loved and supported us, but bemuse we are "C.D.'s" children, we all have faith and know we will see you again.

We love you in aU ways and always, Your children, Chuckle, Beth Ann, Slkkl Raymond if increase in state aid to districts would not increase property taxes. That was greeted warmly by many Central Jersey educators last month. The state and the media's emphasis on the package so far has distracted attention away from the real issue, Farley said, which is that most local authority will be wrested away from residents and their school boards. All educational programs not included in the state's core curriculum, however, will have to be voted upon by local taxpayers at the annual election. Under the plan, Hunterdon Central's 1996-97 budget of $23.7 million would be reduced to a maximum of $16.9 million.

And that would spell disaster, he What you can do The Hillsborough Baptist Church is collecting donations for the Winstons, who lost their home in Sunday's fire. Checks and gift certificates can be mailed to the Hillsborough Baptist Church, 109 New Amwell Road, Somerville, NJ 08876. Checks should be made out to the Deacon's Fund and a letter should specify that the money is intended for the fire victims. Father's Day barbecue. Workman had just lit her grill when she heard a boom, then looked at the Winston home.

"I saw the back of his house coming toward my house. I saw the flames and within seconds I saw the roof come down," Workman said. With the Winstons' wall stripped away, Workman saw Winston standing in his master bedroom. Winston told her he initially thought an earthquake had rocked his home until he saw flames. He also said he jumped to the first floor, then escaped through the front door.

On Monday, Workman's back yard was littered with picture windows and glass from the Winston home. The fire melted a blue plastic pool that Workman's 3-year-old son planned to swim in Sunday, as well as a plastic baseball tee, bat and ball. Workers on Monday measured for a 6-foot fence that will be built around Winston's home for safety. Township fire official Chris Wen-iger spent most of the day inspecting the damage. He pointed to a bent aluminum railing along the stairs.

"Aluminum melts at 1,200 to 1,600 degrees," he said. "It was pretty intense." Shenker, previously won MacArthur Fellowships. The group's work has developed the first general method for finding exact results in heretofore intractable particle physics theories. The work is keyed by the concept of su-persymmetry, that all matter consists of two types of fundamental particles fermions and bosons. He said the string theory has played "significant roles" in advancing knowledge of physics and mathematics.

Seiberg, 39, is Israeli-born and educated. He said his life "hasn't changed much" since he learned he won the award last week. "Naturally I was happy," he said. Another Central Jersey resident was a MacArthur winner Monday. Novelist Rebecca Goldstein, 46, of Highland Park was awarded $285,000 for using the characters in her stories to dramatize philosophical concerns and confront problems of faith.

Among the other winners announced Monday were social historian Allan Berube, documentary filmmaker Louis Massiah, and the first married couple to receive a grant dance instructors Eiko and Koma Otake. The award is Seiberg's second in recent weeks. He also won the university's Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research. He also rebutted council claims that he had given away assets such as the transfer station and the sewer system. He said it will be up to the council to determine the value of those assets and decide on their transfer.

The outcome of the council majority's actions is unclear because Wyatt said Love will not allow her to publish the ordinance. Usually, an ordinance passed on first reading is published and then a public hearing is held before second reading and final passage. Miller said the action had to be taken "on behalf of the city." Ur- Rutgers physicist awarded fellowship By VINCENT PATERNO Courier-News Staff Writer PISCATAWAY Rutgers University physicist Nathan Seiberg, whose work has helped researchers understand the theory of elementary particles, has won a MacArthur Fellowship for his contributions. Seiberg, who has taught at Rutgers since 1989, lives in Princeton, where he is affiliated with the Institute for Advanced Study. The award is worth from $30,000 to $75,000 a year for five years, and recipients may spend the money anyway they please.

Seiberg said he has not decided how he will use the gift. The Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has given out more than $150 million in grants and health insurance to its award winners since 1981. Winners do not apply, but are anonymously nominated by people in their respective fields.

Seiberg was brought to Rutgers to be part of the New High Energy Theory Center at the university. The theory proposes that the universe is composed of tiny loops of elongated energy called strings, rather than tiny particles. Two members of that group, Daniel Friedan and Stephen COUNCIL: Fight over utilities authority Continued from Page B-1 fered to her to approve it for form and sufficiency as required in the municipal code. Besides, she said, "The problem is that he (Fury) has already done it." Council members answered back that Love had never been appointed with advice and consent but was only in acting capacity and that Fury had overstepped his powers. Fury said he took action not to usurp council powers, but because time was running out and the authority would have collapsed without it.

quhart mirrored the intention by saving "some action has to be taken let's move the MUA on, whatever; it takes." But the standoff now may only lead to litigation on all sides, Fury suggested. Former authority member Ben Shiriak said after the vote, "I don't know where this goes legally, but I think the council is going in the right direction. They have to seize control." Shiriak quit the authority soon after its inception, disputing their hiring of several administrators before they had anything to do. i If.