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

s'i tALAFEEfS HOPES FOR NEWARK TEAM HUM THE HOURS' A GEM AWIG (JED FILMS 111 I i "r-w i i 1 1 1 i i 1 1 I I 1 mud SECTION A 35 Cents Bridgewater (908) 722-8800 A Gannett newspaper serving Central Jersey Appellate panel: Judge made racially biased comments "Hey, I'm Irish, I want somebody who speaks Irish. That's it These Spanish people coming in here and saying, 1 want an Weil, you speak English. So what?" JUDGE DANIEL MURPHY, after S. Plainfield drunken-driving defendant requested interpreter To share your views about the judge and attorney, Murphy said: "Hey, I'm Irish, I want somebody who speaks Irish. That's it.

The fact that I speak English too, too bad. I want somebody who speaks Irish. These Spanish people coming in here and saying, 'I want an Well, you speak English. So what? I want an interpreter. Somewhere this has See JUDGE, Page A-11 asked for which language the translator was needed, and Perez replied, "Spanish." The judge then asked Perez how he understood the question.

There was no audible response from Perez, and the judge then said "you speak English," according to the court papers. The defense attorney said his client understood English, but it was not his first language, and after another exchange between ward a constitutionally protected minority group," the court wrote. The Appellate Court deci-sion does not name the judge nor the municipality in which the case was heard. But according to court records, the Municipal Court trial took place before Judge Daniel Murphy in South Plainfield. Murphy is no longer a judge there.

The defense also argued to the panel of judges that By MICHELLE SAHN Gannett New Jersey A South Plainfield drunken-driving case must be retried because a municipal court judge who found a man guilty made biased remarks about the defendant's request for a Spanish-speaking translator, an Appellate Court ruled Wednesday. "His remarks constituted an expression of bias to auuruun wiui Central Jersey readers, visit 49-year-old Gerardo Perez of Matawan should have been acquitted of driving while intoxicated because the state did not show sufficient proof, but the higher court found that claim without merit. The court's opinion included portions of the Municipal Court transcript in which Perez's attorney told Murphy his client wanted an interpreter. The judge then i Hunt for killer continues; stunned friends mourn DgMK to SDH Bush: Racial policies unfair WASHINGTON President Bush, stepping into a major affirmative action case, asserted Wednesday that a program of racial preferences for minority applicants at the University of Michigan was "fundamentally flawed" and unconstitutional. Full story, Page A-9 1.5G toolsyear left in patients BOSTON Surgical teams accidentally leave clamps, sponges and other tools inside about 1,500 patients nationwide each year, according to a new study.

It also happens more often to overweight patients, simply because there is more room inside them to lose equipment, according to the study. Full story, Page A-6 1 V) A I White House projections darker than originally thought with figures 1 nearing red-ink records. Those who knew millionaire developer Michael Parisi, above, seek answers to his weekend murder. By TONY SCLAFANI and G10VANNA FABIANO Staff Writers CLIKTOMTOWNSHIP-More details emerged Wednesday about the extent of Michael Parisi's development empire, while investigators continued their search for the killerwho shot the multimillionaire entrepreneur to death in his home. Parisi, 52, was worth more than $11 million in cash assets and properties at the time of the 1998 divorce agreement with his second wife, Tracy, a Clinton Realtor, according to divorce records filed in Hunterdon County.

Parisi, who helped build hundreds of homes in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties over the past three decades, had cash assets worth more than $5,916,000 and property values totaling $5,775,000, according to the divorce documents. See MURDER, Page A-11 COMPLETE OBITUARY FOR MICHAEL PARIS), PAGE D-3 STAFF PHOTOS BY WILLIAM D. BIRD Police continue their investigation Wednesday at the Clinton Township home of Michael Parisi, who was found dead Sunday in the bedroom of his Corral Circle mansion. 1 6391 CORRAL CIRCLE PC" VI High Bridge. toutfi Correctoral Facility V- near record levels further roiled thiyyear's budget fight between Bush and congressional Democrats, particularly over the president's $674 billion, 10-year tax-cutting proposal.

Republicans say the plan would spark an economic revival that would help shrink deficits, which reappeared last year to the tune of $159 billion after four consecutive annual surpluses. Democrats say Bush's plan would worsen red ink even as possible war with Iraq, a potential Medicare expansion and other items threaten to widen the budget gap. They say now is when the government should be running surpluses to help buttress Social Security and See DEFICIT, Page Ml By ALAN FRAM The Associated Press WASHINGTON Federal deficits should balloon to the $200 billion to $300 billion range over the next two years, President Bush's budget director said Wednesday, a far bleaker view of the fiscal horizon than the White House had painted. In remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and later to reporters, budget chief Mitchell Daniels also spoke of federal shortfalls "for the foreseeable future" and declined to say when surpluses might reappear, saying, "Stand by." The White House estimated last July that the red ink could fade to black by 2005.

Daniels' somber outlook which would put deficits jib Site Of I Hebanon i murder Round 1 Valley fins. i-nnion i Your response to challenge TfHealth JuGhallenge GouTierNeu2003 YOUR LIFE We've made a proposition for healthy living and described how to get involved. Now we'll detail how you've decided to respond to our quest for fitness. Coming Sunday Twp. 31) HUNTERDON Readington An officer leaves the Hunterdon County Emergency Management Command Center, set up at Parisi home staff graphic to handle the probe into his death.

Project's exit also entrance to new era at Bridgevater-Raritan CYBER SURVEY Do you think Gov. James E. mil uciivci on promises made during the State of the almost all of the district's long-term facilities plan. The first part was $9.3 million worth of renovations to Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School and Crim, John F. Kennedy and Van Holten elementary schools.

That work finished in September 1999. Three months later, voters rejected a $22.9 million plan to renovate the high school. Voters agreed in February to a slightly cheaper plan, and By RICHARD QUINN Staff Writer Gwen Thornton smiles like a senior on prom night as she puts her left hand on a door handle to the new gym at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School. A grin takes over her face as she boasts about the expanded space behind the door. It's the same look she gets when she walks through the school's new building, its renovated band room, its music studios and a half-dozen other spots.

"I just see immense oppor tunities for kids," Thornton, president of the Board of Education, said during a tour of the high school this week. The new building and new gym could receive certificates of occupancy in two weeks, said Mitchell Fritz of SSP Architectural Group, which oversaw the $17 million project. Students' should be able to use the new facilities after Jan. 29, the start of the school year's second semester. As construction workers polish off a project begun 19 months ago, school officials say they have accomplished State address? To register your vote and opinion, visit our Web site: www.c-n.com See survey results on Wednesday's Opinion page worK scanea in tne summer staff photo by ed paglwrini of 2001.

The new gymnasium at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School could receive approval to 0Den tne form a certificate of occupancy within two weeks. Students should be See SCHOOL, Page A-14 able to use the gym and other new facilities after Jan. 29. INDEX For the Courier News online visit us on the Web at www.c-n.com WEATHER HIGH: 30 LOW: 19 Partly cloudy today At Home C-l Dear Abby C-4 Lotteries A-2 Religion C-3 Business B-6 Kicks E-l Movies Scoreboard B-5 Classified B-8 Kid Scoop C-6 Obituaries Sports B-l Comics C-5 Legal ads A-12 Opinion A-5 Stocks B-7 Crosswords Local D-l People A-2 Television C-4 CALL (800) 675-8645 CALL (877) 707-6500 CALL (908) 707-3111 Chance of snow i For DAILY home delivery by 6 a.m. To buy a classified advertisement If you have a news tip Friday, See A-2 Absolute Lowest Sufeani Prices! Over 2 1 0 Available! Call 908-782-2025 CAR A TRUCK Cu JNTKY SUBARU Route 31, Flcinington www.flcinington.eoni i.