The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 17

LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1997 B-3 THE COURIER-NEWS High school discussion not on TV in Branchburg tending the meetings. "Eventually, it might come up for a vote, and I'd like to make an intelligent vote based on the information available," Murrison said. "I just pick selected meetings to watch. I like to hear different topics, see what's going on in the town, how they're spending my tax dollars." Feldman said meetings of the re- Because of the Labor Day holiday, the Board of Education's most recent regular meeting conflicted with a Township Committee meeting, which has priority use of the municipal chambers. Branchburg resident Adam Murri-son, who frequently watches Board of Education meetings at his home, would like to hear some of the discussion about a high school without at Board of Recreation Commissioners, which meets at the same time in the Municipal Building.

Recreation board meetings are never televised. "We're at the mercy of the Township Committee and their scheduling of that room," Board of Education member Jerry Feldman said. "It's really a great forum for reaching people." Typically, the board's regular meetings are televised live, from the specially wired Municipal Building, on C-Tec Cable System's Channel 14. But workshop meetings, during which much of the new high school discussion has taken place, are not televised despite the wishes of several board members. The monthly Monday night sessions conflict with the township's creation board also are important to residents and frequently attract large crowds.

The Board of Education previously offered recreation commissioners use of one of the district's schools for their meetings. When the Municipal Building is unavailable, the Board of Education meets at Stony Brook School. Sewers won't be ordered By JASON ALT Courier-News Staff Writer BRANCHBURG As discussion about the feasibility of a new high school heated up last month at meetings of the Board of Education, residents were unable to watch the action from a familiar place: their homes. OBITUARIES great-grandmother of 6 Antonetta Galizia, 100, a home-maker who was a former resident of Westfield, died Sept. 9, 1997, at home in Gulfport, Fla.

Born in Bari, Italy, in 1897, Mrs. Galizia had lived in Westfield before moving to Gulfport, in 1956. Mrs. Galizia was an active member of the Woman's Club of Most Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church and the Lions Auxiliary, both of Gulfport, Fla. She was also a member of the Rosary Society of Italy.

Surviving are three daughters, Mary Bongarzone of Westfield, America Stefnagle of Scotch Plains and Gilda Angelo of Gulfport, six grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. Services were held Sept. 11 at Most Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Gulfport, Fla. Arrange ments were by Gulfport Memorial Funeral Home in Gulfport, Fla. FUNERAL NOTICES COPPER Isaac on September 26, 1997.

Husband of Annie J. Copper. Father of Beverly Butler, Pamela Parrish, and Derrick Copper. Brother of Dorothy McKoy, Fannie, Edna, Betti and Charles Copper. Funeral Service Friday 11 AM, ST.

MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Friends may call at the Church Thursday 6-9pm. King Hiram Grand Counsel F. A.M. will hold Ritualistic Services Thursday at 7:30 P.M.

Arrangements by JUDKINS. DAVIS Eunice of Plainfield, N.J. on Sept. 30, 1997. Mother of Rudolph Sullivan, grandmother of Alice Lockley, Rudolph Raymond, Roy and Randy Sullivan, great grandmother of 13, great-great grandmother of 6, friend of Wilma Barnett; also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral Service Friday October 3, 1997 at 11:00 AM in Shiloh Baptist Church, 517 W. Fourth Plainfield, N.J. Viewing Friday 10:00 AM until time of Service. Interment Hillside Cemetery. Arrangements by Brown's Funeral Home, 122 Plainfield Plainfield, N.J.

FODY Evelyn N. Mundy, on Wednesday, October 1, 1997, in her 92nd year, of North Plain-field, N.J. Wife of the late Thomas J. Fody; mother of Mrs. Nancy F.

Carlucci and the late Mrs. Priscilla E. Schaefer. Services will be held at "THE MUNDY FUNERAL 142 Dunellen Avenue, Dunellen on Friday, October 3rd at 10:00 AM. Interment Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. The family has requested that donations may be made in her memory to the North Plainfield Rescue Squad. GARCIA Sasha A. Tkoch, on Monday, September 29, 1997, age 71, of Middlesex, N.J. Wife of the late SFC Rene A.

Garcia; mother of John F. Garcia, Reid Garcia, Valerie Price and Michael Mayer-Garcia. Grandmother of six granchildren. Services will be held at "THE MUNDY FUNERAL HOME" 142 Dunellen Avenue, Dunellen on Saturday, October 4th at 9:30 A.M. Interment Arlington National Cemetary, Arlington, VA.

on Tuesday, October 7th at 10:00 A.M. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Cremation In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made in her memory to the Deborah Heart Lung Center, Trenton Road, Browns Mills, N.J. 08015. JAMES Mildred on September 29, 1997.

Wife of Dennis A. James, Sr. Mother of Milton L. and Dennis A. James, Jr.

Brother of Lorenza Armstrong, Lillie Watkins, Clottie Barcliff, Doris Harris, Gertrude Green and Rosa Spellman. Funeral Service on Friday 11 AM at CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH. Friends may call at the Church 7-9 PM. Arrangements by JUDKINS. THIRD ANNIVERSARY In Loving Memory WILLIAM M.

BAILEY Jr. (BILLY) Sept. 7, 1956 -Oct. 2, 1994 Gone is the face we loved so dear, Silent is the voice we loved to hear, Too far away for sight or speech. But not too far for thought to reach.

Sweet to remember him who was here, Who, gone away, is just as dear. Sadly Missed, Your Mom Dad, Sisters and Brothers, Family and Friends SECOND ANNIVERSARY NICHOLAS TAYLOR SAUMSRUSSO Nicholas, sweet Nicholas our sweet, sweet baby boy, Nicholas, sweet Nicholas you brought us so much joy. The angels came to take you home, to heaven high above, And we know you're with the Lord and in His tender love. Our vhitor from heaven gales, accompanied by grace, Reminding of a better love and of a better place. Even though your time with us was just a hide while.

The memories vou gave to us, they always bring a smile. We thank you for the time you gave and now it's time to say. We trust vou to our Father's love and to his tender care. Nicholas, sweet Nicholas, our sweet, sweet baby boy Nicholas, sweet Nicholas bring our Savior joy. In loving memory, Your Grandma Saums -N If Evelyn N.

Fody, 91, great-grandmother of 1 2 NORTH PLAINFIELD Evelyn N. Mundy Fody, 91, a homemaker, died Wednesday (Oct. 1, 1997) at Greenbrook Manor Nursing Home in Green Brook. She was a lifelong resident of North Plainfield. Her husband, Thomas J.

Fody, died in 1990. Her daughter, Priscilla E. Schaefer, died in 1986. Surviving are a daughter, Nancy F. Carlucci of North Plainfield; a sister, Isabelle Kepler of Elizabeth; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at The Mundy Funeral Home, Dunellen. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Plainfield Rescue Squad.

Gerard Guastella, active in youth baseball BRICK Gerard Guastella, 67, died Tuesday (Sept. 30, 1997) at Meridian Health System Brick Hospital. Mr. Guastella was born in New York City. He had lived in Middlesex before moving to Brick last year.

He was a clerk in the Far Hills post office for 13 years, retiring in 1984. He was active in the Middlesex Little League and the Babe Ruth League as president, coach, manager and umpire. Surviving are his wife, Carmen Torres Guastella; two sons, Joseph of Bedminster and Gerard Jr. of Lake-wood; two daughters, Roseanne Palko of Orlando, and Juliana Cibelli of Lambertville; a brother, Salvatore of Doylestown, a sister, Jeanette Vinciguerra of Middlesex; and five grandchildren. Services will be at 9 a.m.

Saturday at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Roman Catholic Church in Middle sex. Visitation is from 7 to tonignt and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Kearns Funeral Home in Whitehouse. Joseph B.Juska,92, professional golfer Joseph B.

Juska, 92, died Tuesday (Sept. 30, 1997) at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, Allen-town, Pa. Born in Czechoslovakia, Mr. Juska had lived in Plainfield and Long Branch before moving to Bath, 12 years ago. He was a professional golfer who taught and competed in golf tournaments throughout the New Jersey area.

Later in his life he owned and managed Juska's Service Station in Plain-field. He also managed the Plainfield Bus Terminal. He was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Plainfield and was a former president of St. Stanislaus Holy Name Society.

Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Alice E. McCarthy Juska; a daughter, Patricia A. Kost of Allentown, three brothers, Francis of Little Silver, William of Eatontown and George of Woodstown; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bath, preceded by visitation at 9:30 at Bartholomew Funeral Home, Bath, Pa.

Patrick A. Dente, racetrack supervisor HILLSBOROUGH Patrick A. Dente, 75, died Wednesday (Oct. 1, 1997) at his home in Belle Mead. Born on Staten Island, N.Y., Mr.

Dente had lived in Fair Lawn most of his life before moving to Belle Mead in 1991. He was a mutuel clerk supervisor for the Meadowlands Race Track for 15 years, retiring in 1986. He was a member of Mary, Mother of God Roman Catholic Church in Hillsborough. His wife, Grace Dente, died in 1991. Surviving are a son, Ronald Dente of Mount Laurel; a daughter, Rosemary Dente of Belle Mead, with whom he lived; and three grandchildren.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Mary, Mother of God Church in Hillsborough. Visitation is from 7 to 10 tonight at the Hillsborough Funeral Home. MONUMENTS L.L. MANNING SON 34 Brook Plaza Rt.

22 West Green Brook, NJ Between Rtxk Washington Ave. 752-0330 756-0706 Daily Deliveries to All Area Funeral Homes ONTI'S JLLetals TOLL FREE 1-888-4-PETALS 1 -888-473-8257 626 Bound Brook Rd. (Rt. 28) Dunellen Robert J. Hurley, formerly of Somerville Robert J.

Hurley, 25, died Saturday (Sept. 27, 1997) at home in Green Bay, Wis. Born in Somerville, Mr. Hurley graduated from Bound Brook High School and attended Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg. He also attended the University of Nevada and was planning to attend the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay.

Surviving are his fiance, Erin Praslowicz of Green Bay, his parents, Nancy Ianniello and Robert Hurley of New Jersey; two brothers, William and Jason, both of New Jersey; a sister, Laura Lynn Hurley of New Jersey; a stepbrother, Robert Hurley of North Caroli na; his maternal grandmother, Josephine Ianniello of New Jersey; his paternal grandmother, Gertrude Hurley of New Jersey; and his maternal great-grandmother, Susan Cherego of New Jersey. Services will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Mount Horeb United Methodist Church in Warren. There will be no visitation. Arrangements are by Mal-core Funeral Home in Green Bay, Wis.

Darlene D. Zikowski, Bound Brook resident BOUND BROOK Darlene Don-elson Zikowski, 49, a homemaker, died Wednesday (Oct. 1, 1997) at home here. Mrs. Zikowski was born in Somerville and had lived in Bound Brook for more than 30 years.

Her father, Lemuel Donelson, died in 1971. Surviving are her husband, Robert M. Zikowski; two daughters, Diana Waldstrom and Rachel Zikowski, both of Bound Brook; her mother, Dorothy Donelson of Bound Brook; three brothers, Alvin Donelson of Bridgewater, Glenn Donelson of Frackville, and Lemuel Donelson Jr. of Piscat-away; a sister, Edna Donelson of Randolph; and three grandchildren. Services will be at 9 a.m.

Saturday at Conroy Funeral Home in Bound Brook. Visitation is from 7 to 9 tonight and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Shirley A. Larsen, resident of Annandale CLINTON TOWNSHIP Shirley A. Larsen, 62, died Tuesday (Sept. 30, 1997) at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township. Mrs.

Larsen was born in Glen Gardner, but lived all her life in Annan-dale. She worked in the housekeeping department of New York Life Insurance in Lebanon. She was a member of Annandale Reformed Church. Her mother, Mildred Nyce Mes-singer, and a brother, William A. Messinger, preceded her in death.

Surviving are her husband, Carl Larsen; a daughter, Karen Larsen of Bridgewater; her father, Arthur Messinger of Annandale; a sister, Anita Burham of High Bridge. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Coughlin Funeral Home in Ca-lifon. Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hunterdon County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, 84 Park Flemington, N.J. 08822. Richard Wrubel, lab technician at MANVILLE Richard Wrubel, 51, died Wednesday (Oct. 1, 1997) at St. Peter's Medical Center in New Brunswick.

Born in Somerville, Mr. Wrubel was a lifelong resident of Manville. He was a lab technician at Johnson Johnson in New Brunswick for 30 years. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Mr.

Wrubel was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Manville and the Johnson Johnson Quarter Century Club in New Brunswick. His father, Matthew J. Wrubel, died in 1993. Surviving are his mother, Helen V. Maranitch Wrubel of Manville; a brother, Ralph of Neshanic Station; and two nieces.

Services will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Fucillo Warren Funeral Home in Manville, followed by a Mass at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Manville. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 600 First Raritan, N.J. 08869. Starr Michelle Long, 17, auto accident victim CRANFORD Starr Michelle Long, 17, died Monday (Sept. 29, 1997) at University Hospital in Newark of injuries suffered in an auto accident. The accident occurred early Saturday on the Garden State Parkway in Cranford.

Miss Long was born in Glen Ridge. She lived in Bloomfield before moving to Cranford three years ago. She was a student at Cranford High School, a member of the yearbook staff and active in varsity soccer and volleyball and in the Model United Nations program. Miss Long also served on the school's Spotlight Staff, the Contemporary World Affairs program, the Spanish Club and Winter Track activity, and she was a homeroom representative. Surviving are her father, Michael J.

Long of Bloomfield; her mother, Sheena P. Higgins of Cranford; a stepfather, Charles R. Higgins of Cranford; and two sisters, Annie S. Higgins and Molly J. Higgins, both of Cranford.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Cranford. Visitation is from 7 to 9 tonight and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Gray Memorial Funeral Home in Cranford.

JackGanz founded Jax Auto Parts WARREN Jack Ganz Sr. died Wednesday (Oct. 1, 1997) at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield. He was born in Newark and had lived in Scotch Plains before moving to Warren in 1959. He founded Jax Auto Parts store in Westfield in 1955 and owned and operated it until 1982.

He was a consultant to auto parts stores. He was known in the industry as an innovator in auto part sales during the 1950s, when he began using the buy one, get one free technique. He was also an avid fisherman. His wife, Helen Ganz, died in 1987. Surviving are three sons, Jack L.

Ganz Jr. of Watchung, David B. of Warren and Robert S. of Scotch Plains; a daughter, Patricia Ganz Torkildsen of High Bridge; a brother, Frank of California; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10:30 a.m.

Friday at Higgins Home for Funerals in Watchung, followed by an 11 a.m. service at Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Warren. Visitation is from 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Bethel Baptist Church, 147 Mount Bethel Road, Warren. Josephine Smyth, 90, great-grandmother of 1 8 SOUTH PLAINFIELD Josephine V.

Richkus Smyth, 90, died Wednesday (Oct. 1, 1997) at Genesis Elder Care, The Woodlands in Plainfield. Born in Newark, Mrs. Smyth had lived in Hillside for 60 years before moving to South Plainfield in 1969. A homemaker most of her life, she was employed for five years in the Maintenance Department of Bristol-Myers formerly of Hillside.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in South Plainfield and was a former president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Irvington. Her husband, Edward J. Smyth, died in 1986. Surviving are three daughters, Edith J. Bobowski of Berkeley Heights, Ruth C.

Lanza of South Plain-field and Frances E. Melif of South Plainfield; a son, Edward T. Smyth of South Plainfield; two sisters, Nellie Parnowski of Roseland and Ann Sla-hor of Westfield; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at McCriskin Home for Funerals in South Plainfield, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m.

at Sacred Heart Church in South Plainfield. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Philip Magliochetti, greenhouse wholesaler BOUND BROOK Philip Magliochetti, 87, died Wednesday (Oct.

1, 1997) at Raritan Health and Extended Care Center in Raritan. Mr. Magliochetti was born in Astoria, N.Y., and was a longtime resident of Bound Brook. He was a self-employed wholesaler for the Magliochetti Greenhouse in Bridgewater for 40 years, retiring in 1979. Surviving are his wife, Connie Pa-tullo Magliochetti; two sons, Vincent of Bridgewater and Archie of Cokes-bury; two sisters, Margaret Abbon-dante and Angie DeFino, both of Middlesex; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Conroy Funeral Home in Bound Brook, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Bound Brook. Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m.

and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Carolyn Gegauff, retired teacher LONG HILL Carolyn Gegauff, 77, died Tuesday (Sept. 30, 1997) at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield. Born in Newark, she had lived in Gillette for 48 years.

Mrs. Gegauff was a sixth-grade teacher at Central School in Long Hill for 35 years, retiring in 1987. She was twice named teacher of the year, one for the township and the other for the school. She graduated from Montclair State Teachers College in 1941 and completed her graduate studies in education at Seton Hall University in 1982. She was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi, a National Education Honor Society.

She also had memberships in the New Jersey Education Association, the National Education Association, Wilson Memorial Union Church in Watchung and its choir and women's guild, Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church Oratorio group in Plainfield and the Chatham-Madison suburban music study club. She also served on the executive board of the North Plainfield Gesang Und Turnverein and was a volunteer for the New Jersey Opera. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Gegauff, and a brother, Joseph Muller. Surviving are three daughters, Carol Schroeder of Raleigh, N.C., Tonia Weeks of Durham, N.C., and Robin Gegauff Brooks of Buena Park, and two sisters, Claire Ohl of Watchung and Doris Mergenhagen of Long Island, N.Y. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday at Wilson Memorial Union Church in Watchung. Visitation is from from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Valley Memorial Funeral Home in Gillette. Memorial contributions may be made to the Muhlenberg Foundation, General Unrestricted Hospital Fund, Park Avenue and Randolph Road, Plainfield, N.J.

07061. Eunice Davis, with Art Color 45 years PLAINFIELD Eunice Davis, 87, died Tuesday (Sept. 30, 1997) at Muh- lenberg Regional Medical Center here. She was born in Simpsonville, S.C., and had lived in Plainfield for more than 50 years. She worked at Art Color in Dunellen for 45 years.

She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield and its Missionary Circle, and she taught Sunday school there. Surviving are a son, Rudolph Sullivan Sr. of Plainfield; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, preceded by visitation at 10 a.m.

Arrangements are by Brown's Funeral Home in Plainfield. Nobuo Fujita, pilot bombed U.S. TOKYO (AP) Nobuo Fujita, the only Japanese pilot to drop a bomb on the U.S. mainland during World War II, has died, a family member said Wednesday. He was 85.

Fujita died Tuesday of lung cancer, his granddaughter, Mina Yanagiha-shi, said from his home in the city of Tsuchiura, northeast of Tokyo. Flying a small reconnaissance plane from a surfaced submarine off the U.S. West Coast in September 1942, Fujita dropped the bomb outside Brookings, with the intention of starting a forest fire, Japanese media reported. In 1962, Fujita was invited to visit Brookings, where he was praised for his bravery, Kyodo News agency reported. Fujita later invited American youngsters to Japan and worked through other exchanges to deepen relations between the two former enemies.

Al 'Jazzbeaux' Collins, jazz disc jockey SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins, a longtime disc jockey known to jazz lovers as the creator of the Purple Grotto a fantasy underground that served as the backdrop for his radio show died Tuesday from prostate cancer. He was 78. Collins started his professional career at a bluegrass station in Logan, W. and eventually worked his way into the jazz scene, hosting shows at such stations as WNEW in New York, where he came up with the Purple Grotto concept. For the record Green Brook resident Sophie Sabo, 97, who died Tuesday at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainf ield, is also survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

By BILL BOWMAN Courier-News Staff Writer TRENTON A state agency has refused to force Hillsborough to extend sewer service into a tract of land eyed for a controversial senior-citizen housing complex. The state Council on Affordable Housing decided Wednesday it would rather have the issue settled by a Superior Court judge. Hillsborough is being sued by the project's developer and land owners who contend the township reneged on a deal to put sewers on the land. The state agency also refused the developer's request that it block the Hillsborough Township Committee's expected recision of the township's Planned Adult Community ordinance, which governs developments such as the senior-citizen housing project under contention. Housing council members said they did not want to dictate a town's legislative actions.

"We'll have to react to this," said Peter Buchsbaum, the attorney representing the developer, U.S. Home Corp. of Houston and the Hillsborough Alliance for Adult Living, which owns the land. He said if the committee does rescind its adult-community ordinance at its Oct. 14 meeting, "we'll challenge it, maybe even go back here as well as to the courts." "I'm very pleased," said Judith Glassgold, president of the Friends of Hillsborough, a citizens group opposed to U.S.

Home's development. "Now we have to deal with the court cases." 1 U.S. Home wants to build a senior citizen housing complex on the property off Mill Lane. The project cannot be built without the sewers. 1 "This is the first in a long series of battles," said Committeeman Ed Boylan after the hearing held in Trenton, "but at least we won something." Committeeman David Redlawsk said the township should move forward with an alternate affordable-housing plan.

Attorneys representing Friends yi Hillsborough; New Jersey Future, a public interest organization appealing the township's affordable housing plan; and PEC Builders, which has its own plan to provide affordable housing in the township, also attended the hearing. Jeff Michaels, a Republican Township Committee candidate, and Glassgold spoke against the request. Greg Snyder, president of the New Jersey branch of U.S. Home, joined Buchsbaum in urging the council to approve the motion. In arguing against the developer's motion, Jim Farber, Hillsborough's special counsel, told the council it is not its function to deprive the township of "home rule." Home rule is the notion that towns have the right to determine issues such as zoning and planning within their borders.

Flemington fair execs in lawsuit By DAVID HILGEN Hunterdon County Bureau Chief The daughter of a woman killed by a drunken driver outside the Flemington Fair in 1995 has filed a lawsuit against the driver, fairground officials and two security guards at the fair, claiming that they con-tributed to her mother's death. Theresa Copeland of Manville is seeking an unspecified amount of damages. Copeland's mother, Regina Ussia of Somerville, died on Sept. 2, 1995, after being hit by a car while crossing Route 31 near the fairgrounds in Raritan Township. Suzanne Vamos of Flemington was convicted in April of reckless manslaughter and death by auto and was sentenced to five years in jail.

Copeland says she sought medical attention to relieve pain and suffering caused by her mother's death, according to the lawsuit filed in Superior Court in Somerville. In addition to Vamos, other defendants named in the suit are Paul R. Kuhl, owner of the Flemington Fair and Speedway; Robert Bertany, fair security chief; and Ian Newcomb, the fair's security guard and Vamos' friend. Copeland said at Vamos' sentencing that her parents went to the fair to celebrate news that her father, Nicholas J. Ussia, was in remission from cancer.

Mr. Ussia later died of cancer. Tests showed that Vamos' blood-alcohol level after the accident was 0.22 percent, more than twice the legal limit of 0.10 percent. Neither Copeland nor any of the defendants could be reached for comment, i.