The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 1

S3 0i flaying on track NETS BUCKS 102 Mmf 101 fef Fashion and 7 fV history can be mhwxuxee BUCKS IPS No fare hike or service cuts are expected through the end of the fiscal year for NJ Transit A-12 Petrovic's three-point play beats buzzer C-1 Somerset, Hunterdon Edition A Gannett newspaper serving Bridgewater, Friday, December 18, 1992 Beating the rush at the mailboxes 0UG SFDiM) DDU Sponsors concede problems in legislation that would legalize sports wagering in Atlantic City casinos. TRENTON (AP) The sponsors of a bill that seeks voter permission for legal sports betting in Atlantic City's casinos held it Thursday after they realized they didn't have enough votes for passage. "We think it's in the best interests of both parties to hold it until we work out the problems," said Assemblyman Robert Singer, R-Lakewood. "I do not have the votes right now, but certainly there are enough undecid-eds" who can be swayed. Singer and state Sen.

Louis Bas-sano, R-Union, sponsors of the proposed constitutional amendment, asked that the bill be held after the Assembly Appropriations Committee listened to 2la hours of mostly negative comments. Basf ano said he wants to work with lawmakers to solve "external issues" regarding the bill, such as jobs. "If those issues can be resolved, 'f I I I If i I 1 i i i i 1 i 4 I 1 I at? that bill can start moving again," Bassano said. "There was not enough votes (in the committee) based upon the jobs issue." Proposed amendments to the constitution require a majority vote in each house for two consecutive years to be placed on the ballot, or a three-fifths vote in each house in one year. The state Senate on Monday voted 21-16 for the bill, the minimum needed in that house.

The Assembly must approve it before Jan. 12, or it becomes a dead issue for 1992. Sponsors would then have to find 24 votes in the Senate and 48 votes in the Assembly three-fifths of each house to get it on the November ballot with one try. That, however, would be unlikely considering the Senate vote on Monday. The Assembly has sessions scheduled for Dec.

21 and Jan. 12. Assemblyman Rodney Frelinghuy-sen, R-Morristown, chairman of the budget panel, said it was unlikely that the committee would meet again before the end of the year. Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian, R-Hackett-stown, has the power to take bills from committee and post them for an the radio. The church even appointed a publicity director, Abbe Abboa-Offei, a 23-year-old Franklin resident and a church member since she was 11.

"The most important reason is to try and bring the church and the community together," Abboa-Offei said when asked why First Baptist would schedule a church service on a night normally reserved for rites of champagne and noisemakers. "We're really, really excited about it. It's the biggest thing the church has done." The Convention and Exhibit Center has played host to more than 150 conventions since it opened in January 1990 with Gov. Jim Florio's inaugural ball, an event remembered more for its chaotic organization than its historic note. Since then there have been flower shows, antique shows, car shows, political fund-raisers "everything," said John Manikas, the center's executive director, "from President Bush New Year's bash without the First Baptist Church expects 3,000 to attend service in Franklin a learner.

learned from XI ornaments B-6 25 Cents o)DD DA compromise solution to New Jersey's longstanding school-funding problem sailed through the state Legislature Thursday and Gov. Fiorio is happy with the agreement that will add nearly $300 million for schools A-2 The Assembly unanimously approves a bill that for the first time would limit contributions to legislative campaigns A-2 0 sports. Telephone bets and gambling on New Jersey's college teams would not be allowed, but wagering on professional teams based in New Jersey would be permitted. The state constitution prevents the Legislature from creating new forms of gambling without voter approval. President Bush signed a bill banning sports wagering in all states except Delaware, Nevada and Oregon.

booze "That's the scale we're lookintr for. along those lines," she said. Manikas said the church service will keep the exhibit center open on New Year's Eve for the first time. Although he would not disclose details of the church's rental agreement, he said the hall normally rents for $15,000 for a single night's event. "Under normal circumstances, we would not rent the hall on New Year's Eve," he said.

"We're not in the business of catering a New Year's Eve party for 3,000 people." Abboa-Offei also declined to talk rent except to say, "Whatever it takes, it's going to be worth it." She described New Year's Eve as a perfectly appropriate night for a church service. Many people attend church on the old year's final night to get the new year off to a good start, she said, and that's just what the members of First Baptist will be doing "bringing in the New Year by worshiping God." 'You're going to find a lot of people going into private practice if they can't secure a job, or possibly taking their law degree into different fields of Patrick Perone Newly licensed lawyer one said. "You're going to find a lot of people going into private practice if they can't secure a job, or possibly taking their law degree into different fields of work." As for the bum rap that the legal profession often takes like when President Bush complained about the "tassled-loafer" crowd Perone answers with the tone of a seasoned litigator. "Economically speaking, society provides for as many lawyers as are needed," he said. "If there was no need for lawyers, if the demand for lawyers was less, there would be less incentive'for people to enter the field, because the pay would be less." ii 722-8800 Assembly vote.

But he said he would not exercise that right. Lawmakers and the casino industry are pushing the bill as a means of creating 1,000 jobs in Atlantic City, supporting the deficit-ridden Casino Revenue Fund and bringing in tax money for the state. Opposing it is a broad coalition of officials from the professional and college sports leagues, educators, athletes, state and federal lawmakers, seniors and a support group for compulsive gamblers. Estimates on how much the state could collect from legalized sports betting vary. Singer put it between $12 million and $14 million for the Casino Revenue Fund, which benefits the elderly, and $200 million to $400 million for the state economy.

But the state Casino Control Commission has put the figure at $3 million. "We would be making a very, very serious mistake legalizing an activity that we taught our men and women all along is improper," said P.J. Car-lesimo, Seton Hall basketball coach. The bill would let people bet on professional and out-of-state college 'The most important reason is to try and bring the church and the community Abbe Abboa-Offei, church publicity director to wrestling." Abboa-Offei said the Rev. DeFor-est "Buster" Soaries, the church's pastor, will deliver a New Year's Eve sermon titled "How to be Free in "93." The church service is scheduled to start at 10 p.m.

and conclude sometime around midnight. First Baptist has a membership of about 3,000, Abboa-Offei said, but with the promotional blitz, the church hopes to fill the hall's capacity. C-N graphic by Mike Scott drey Matisa, administrative assistant for the state Board of Bar Examiners, which administers the exams. Whether this year's pool of incoming lawyers is unusually large or just plain large, it still portends some serious competition for jobs. One of those new members of the bar is Patrick Perone of North Plainfield, who is starting to send out resumes in search of a job.

Lucky for him, he's employed until next Labor Day, as a clerk for Hudson County Superior Court Judge James T. O'Halloran. "I think a year ago or two years ago it was more difficult for lawyers to secure jobs," Per- 595 1062 2,17,28,29,32 Partly sunny high 49. Clear Central New Jersey "He was a good member here and he left on good terms," said Rescue Squad Chief Shirley Skillman. Bacorn had served there for about a year and left in September to have more time to spend with his pregnant wife, she said.

Members were surprised to learn of Bacorn's alleged burning spree and especially that he is accused of choosing the rescue squad building as a target, she said. "That's an indication that Kenny needs to get help, and we hope he gets the help he needs," Skillman said. Bacorn is also charged with setting fire to a residence on North Main Street on Nov. 30, a warehouse on North Avenue on Sept. 23, and an abandoned barn on Jefferson Road in West Amwell in May.

A fireman for about 15 years, Bacorn has been suspended from the department pending the outcome of the arson investigation and trial, said the department's secretary, Harry See FIRES on Page A-10 By CHRISTOPHER HANN Courier-News Staff Writer FRANKLIN (Somerset) The largest New Year's Eve gathering in Central Jersey this year will probably take place inside the Garden State Convention and Exhibit Center on Atrium Drive. But if you plan to attend, leave your party hats at home. The First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Franklin has rented the giant hall for a New Year's Eve church service that will ring in 1993 with an expected congregation of 3,000 people, including a 300-member choir. In apparent testimony to the over-indulgent spirit of New Year's Eve, First Baptist is promoting the church service through fliers posted in Franklin, New Brunswick, Pis-cataway and other towns, through advertisements on local cable television and public service announcements on Wave of grads to enter bar fight for work Courier-News photo by Ed Murray Reginald Waters leaves the Plainfield Post Office carrying an umbrella to protect himself from the rain after mailing his holiday cards Thursday morning. Passing the bar Percentage of those passing New Jersey's July bar exam.

Lambertville fireman faces arson charges A Fl rl I mm as ff in ijjj iggggal 50,000 soon may be licensed as N.J. lawyers By LAURENCE ARNOLD Courier-News Staff Writer To believe President Bush's reelection campaign, the one thing this country cannot handle next to bigger government, perhaps is more lawyers. Sorry, George. As America prepares for the Clinton administration, New Jersey is gearing up for a large infusion of attorneys. More than 78 percent of those taking the most recent state bar exam in July passed the test, the highest percentage since 1974.

Making the grade in the bar exam were 3,025 new attorneys, enough to fill eight pages in a recent edition of the weekly newspaper, New Jersey Lawyer. The newspaper offered three possible reasons for the high passage rate: that 90 percent of test takers were just out of law school, that the standard for passing was slightly lower this time around, and that most of the candidates took the exam out of state via a multi-state testing system that usually produces higher passing percentages. 0 Authorities say a former fire captain and rescue squad worker set four blazes in Hunterdon County. By SANDY LOVELL Courier-News Staff Writer 1 LAMBERTVILLE A local fireman has been charged with setting fire to a rescue squad facility and three other buildings since May, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday. Kenneth F.

Bacorn, 27, of Jefferson Road was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of aggravated arson. Bacorn was a captain with Station No. 3, the highest rank attainable within the company, fire officials said. He is also a former member of the LambertvilleNew Hope Rescue Squad, whose facility authorities say he set ablaze on Tuesday. Source: State Board of Bar Examiners As of Nov.

30, more than 47,600 people were licensed to practice law in New Jersey. When the most recent group of successful bar candidates is sworn in, the Garden State legal community may well hit the 50,000 mark. Though the passing rate was notably high in the latest bar exam, it was not aberrational. Over the past 20 years, roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of those taking the July bar exams have passed. But in 1989, 1990 and 1991 the numbers were relatively low 69.5, 64.5 and 65.2 percent, respectively.

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