The Central New Jersey Home News from New Brunswick, New Jersey • 15

(7 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1979 47 r-i YPPY Landlord evicts 41 at doomed tenement By JOE WEBER Home News staff writer SOMERVILLE An estimated 41 Gladness, sadness mix as Jamesburg graduates last class persons are to be evicted to allow the razing of a tenement and pave the way for redevelopment in the Franklin Street area. Mayor Phillips S. Heathcote said last night that residents of six apartments in a three-story building at 77 Franklin St. have been served with eviction notices by their landlord about two weeks ago. He said they have six months to move.

David Stukes, a leader in the predominantly black area, said he believed the residents of two houses near the tenement are also being evicted. "We have been looking for better-housing for the people," said Heathcote. He said the borough is not legally responsible to find new housing, since the landlord is ordering the evictions, but added: "We have a moral interest to look after our local people." Stukes has said he was concerned because housing availability is limited in the borough for low-income residents. "It's difficult to find housing for large families," Heathcote said. The building at 77 Franklin across the street from a junkyard, has been cited by state housing authorities for infestation, leaky plumbing and an outdated fire escape a total of 32 code violations as of last fall.

Heathcote said fines totaling $6,550 have been levied against the landlord, the family of the late Joseph Robinovitz. Heathcote said a borough community development official, Ann Whelan, has been trying for about two weeks to find new housing that meets state standards for rent subsidies. Rents in the Franklin Street tenement range from $135 to $155 a month and are about $240 a month in the nearby houses. Stukes asked the council last night for details on plans to reconstruct the area. He administers the Somerville Youth Development Project, which has a clinic several doors down from the tenement.

Heathcote told Stukes the redevelopment plans are "all conceptual." "Nothing has been signed or agreed to," Heathcote said. jewwj twwww ii" I I jj 3 Ibb agg SSI mm sstf .1 School, said she "is glad I don't have to go to Monroe because they don't want us there." "It means a lot to be able to come back to your old school," said George Alzin, a national guardsman who graduated in 1977. Alzin, who played varsity soccer, baseball and basketball at Jamesburg High, said "it was mainly the sports program" he will miss because "it's nice to have your own team to root for." James J. Rutherford, who moved to Jamesburg from Monroe last year, was on hand to see his son, James, receive his diploma, and to greet the teachers who taught him when he attended Jamesburg High. Rutherford, a 1957 graduate, said, "I'm sorry to see the school close because of the quality of the faculty, who show a great deal of feeling for the students." Schools Superintendent Wayne Ka-niper, in his class presentation address, urged the seniors "to welcome the uncomfortable feelings that the weight of this moment of uncertainty and opportunity afford." Referring to the class's "Don't Look Back" theme, he called on the students to "give your all, so you won't look back and say 'If only I'd done it differently." After Board of Education President Stanley Thayer presented diplomas and the alma mater had been sung, the 40 students who symbolize the end of an era in Jamesburg completed their rite of passage down the center aisle of the school auditorium.

The graduates are: Ellen Alzin, John Argese, Colleen Betts, Timothy Bieber, Lisa Campagna, Eraina Caprio, Todd Christie, Gregory Clark, Robin Diblin, Eileen Donohue, David Dzingleski, Bertrece Ferguson, Cathy Fischetti, Charles Fusco and Jack Galiczynski. ByLIZVOISIN Home News staff writer JAMESBURG Despite a standing ovation for the 40 members of the Class of 79 who received diplomas last night, the Jamesburg High School graduation was colored by a touch of sadness the school will close its doors June 30. look our class theme, is appropriate in light of the situation for the last two years," said valedictorian Timothy Bieber. He referred to the legal and emotional string of events that have surrounded state decisions to close the high school and send its students to Monroe next year. Jamesburg High School, which has had 69 commencements, "was for 30 years the hub of educational activity in this part of the county," Bieber said.

"A decline in enrollment doesn't necessarily mean a decline in educational quality, and it is our job as seniors to prove that by what we achieve," he said. Bieber, who will attend the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, received three awards, including the $1,500 Ethel K. Evans and Women's Guild Scholarship of the Rossmoor Community Church. Richard J. Matteo, acting high school principal and athletics director, offered an athletic award named in his honor to Paul Phibbs and Ellen Alzin.

"The award is given to a boy and a girl for sportsmanship, citizenship and respect for the rights of others," Matteo said. "But in my 36 years at the high school, nearly every student displayed (these qualities)." Ellen Alzin said she "couldn't wait to graduate," although she said she is sad the high school is closing. Her younger sister, Carolyn, a freshman at East Brunswick Vocational Technical High County asks delay to avert a delay PEEKING INSIDE Jamesburg eighth-graders Pam Weiser, at left, and Stephanie Chown, sneek a peek at yesterday's graduation ceremonies at the borough high school. The two children didn't get tickets to attend, but were curious nonetheless. Brian Hobbs, Timothy Jackson, Denise Kardel, James Keaveney, Mark Lester, Edward Lord, Gregory Lynch, James Martin, Randal Marx, Brenda Mikolai, Dennis Nale, Lori Nelson, Edward Ortutay, Bonna Peters and Paul Phibbs Jr.

Robin Richards, James Rutherford II, Gerry Skok, Andrew Stonaker, James Stonaker Jimmie Summers, Annette Thomas, Jeffrey Vanaman, Wayne Vetri and Kenneth Wieczorek. PHILLIPS HEATHCOTE downtown rejuvenation But the borough has been encouraging development in the area. The council and Planning Board in January adopted a zoning change by which six-story buildings containing shops, offices and apartments could be built in the area. The council agreed to consider amending the zoning change to permit 10-story buildings. The borough, moreover, has plans to widen Franklin Street and link it to Urban Drive to create a traffic loop around the downtown district.

The Urban Drive extension, as the plan is called, is to be built with federal and state funds. It is on the Somerset County traffic improvement plan for 1983, Heathcote said. The Claremont Painting and Decorating Co. of Bedminster, which has built extensively in Hillsborough, has been negotiating with the Robinovitz family to buy the land on which the tenement is built. But Heathcote said the title has not been transferred.

The parcel on which the tenement is located abuts a parcel of about three acres on East Main Street which Claremont owns. The former Foodtown market, used as a thrift store by an organization for retarded adults, and a liquor store are on the Claremont property. Calls to officials of Claremont and to Harry Robinovitz this week were not returned. The committee expects to report to the freeholders by September, and the officials yesterday said they wouldn't want any historic designation of the existing courthouse before then. If the state designated the courthouse as an historic site, county officials would have to seek permission to make any significant changes within the structure.

Maggio noted that various options for the new courthouse complex may include plans to. re-model certain sections of the existing courthouse to accommodate Somerset's tight judicial space needs. Last year, county officials encountered delays in their courthouse plans because of a proposal to designate two blocks surrounding the courthouse as an historic district. That proposal was later revised, however, to include only the courthouse itself. The county vehemently opposed the two-block historic site designation, claiming it would encroach on plans for the new courthouse facility.

Yesterday, county Administrator Guy Millard was authorized to dispatch a letter immediately to the state, re questing a delay in proceeding with the latest historic designation. "He's agreed to hold off," Maggio said, following yesterday's meeting with Karchner. Designation of an historic site doesn't mean it has to be "kept up forever," Karchner said, adding that the designation allows the state to restrict or oversee any changes that might occur. He informed county officials yes terday that "preservation longer avail able for government buildings such as the courthouse. The Landmark plan calls for a build ing in which heat and air conditioning will be regulated by a computer.

The occupants of the offices will have ac cess to the computer for purposes such as accounting and payroll, Heathcote said. Shops are planned for the ground level. Each of the parking decks will have an entrance into the building. Parking is to be provided for commuters who use the railroad station, Heathcote said. The two-acre site, opposite the post office on Division Street, is now used for commuter parking.

Heathcote said the proposed struc ture is the second phase of the Down town Somerville development. The mayor, who works in the state Division of Labor and Industry in Trenton, said he has been arranging the EDA loan with an official of the state economic development office, part of his division The EDA approved a low-interest loan of about $4.7 million for the Down- town Somerville mall. Heathcote said. By JOE CANTLUPE Home News staff writer SOMERVILLE History is nearly repeating itself and the Somerset County freeholders don't want to see it happen again. The county freeholders yesterday formally agreed to seek a delay of any state designation of the existing 1909-vintage marble courthouse as an historic site.

The officials earlier had met with Terry Karshner, an officer in the state Historic Preservation Office, who said the state would delay any naming of the courthouse on the State Register of Historic Places until the county is ready. He told county officials to make their request for delay formal. A state advisory committee has already recommended that the marble, golden-domed courthouse be listed as an historic site, Karshner said. He added that it's only a matter of time before the designation will be made. Freeholder Director Thomas Maggio says the county needs that time.

Designation of the courthouse as an historic site, even if it would have occurred within the next few months, "would mean more delays and maybe more costs" in connection with the county's new courthouse plans, Maggio said yesterday. As of now, Somerset officials already face up to six months of delays regarding the courthouse plans. Last month, the officials halted negotiations with a proposed architect for a then-proposed $10 million courthouse facility and appointed a citizens committee to study alternative options for judicial facilities. BOROUGH LIKES PLANS If PENSIVE PROFILE Jamesburg High School senior Robin Richards reflects serenely at the commencement ceremonies held last 'night. At right, shadow profiles of Jamesburg High School grads are cast on the auditorium curtain by the rays of a spotlight.

Somerville building, car deck proposed MvXfmi lmtl'1 Home News pnotos by Nat Clymer llMil 111 I If iU 1 1 i wli i SOMERVILLE Landmark Development which built the Downtown Somerville Shopping Center, is planning a five-story office building and parking deck at Division Street and Urban Drive. The firm, which presented its tentative plans for the $5 million to $7 million facility to the Borough Council last night, hopes to break ground in the fall, Mayor Phillips S. Heathcote said. The cost of the building is to be paid with low-interest loans obtained with the aid of the state Economic Development Administration, Heathcote said. The borough redevelopment agency, made up of the council members but legally separate, must approve the project.

Heathcote said the council endorsed the idea unanimously at last night's council workshop session. Officials of Landmark Development are to seek approval from the PJanning Board this month. If the board approves the plan, as expected, the plan will be referred to the redevelopment agency. 1) Mr 'I f- LAST CLASS The Class of 79 graduation ceremony to be held at Jamesburg High School assembles for the 69th and final at the school, which is to close on June 30. 4.