Echoes-Sentinel from Warren Township, New Jersey • Page 1

Committee Seeks Description Of Clerk Job PASSA1C TOWNSHIP Deputy Township Clerk Jean Gerhardt is expected to be named acting township clerk Monday night by the Township Comittee and will serve in the post until a new clerk is elected next November. This week, Mrs. Gerhardt said that while the committee had urged her to seek the clerk's position in the Nov. 2 election, she had declined to run. "I don't want the pressures or responsibilities of the job of township clerk," said Mrs.

Gerhardt. To date, only two applications for the clerk's position have been received in Town Hall, according to Tovnship Clerk-Administrator Fred Rossi. According to Township Committeeman Peter O'Neill, the committee is now developing a job description for the clerk's post. This is an effort to outline the duties of the clerk, which may be separated from the administrator's job. Rossi, who presently holds both the clerk's post and is township administrator at a salary of $25,050, is leaving the job in July to take a $28,000 post as Morris County administrator.

The clerk's post is an elective office open to all township residents. To be included on the November ballot as a political candidate, a resident need only file 100 signatures on a petition 34 days before the Nov. 2 election. Phillips Field Controversy Continues In Watchung WATCHUNG Two complaints have been signed against a Murray Hill construction firm in connection with the dumping of macadam and dirt at the Phillips Field off Brookdale Road. However, both complaints are expected to be dismissed, since no borough ordinance was violated, according to Court Clerk Joan Harrison.

According to Mrs. Harrison, the complaints, signed on May 20 by Mrs. Marianne Berger of Beechwood Place and Mrs. Charles Wallschleger of Brookdale Road against Conti Construction, will be heard in Municipal Court on Monday. Both women maintain the dirt was dumped despite an order by Borough Administrator Charles Curtis on May 1U, ordering all dumping to be stopped in the wake of resident complaints.

Last week, Curtis said that while he had told contractors not to dump at Phillips Field after May 13, the Murray Hill firm had not been notified before it reportedly dumped the additional materials. The Phillips Field is the subject of a $45,000 fund (Continued on Page 3) Traditional Parades AREA Memorial Day, 1976 is now only a memory for many area residents, but for those who participated in and viewed Monday's parades and other events, the memory is a pleasant one. Traditionally a day when parades and commemorative services honor war dead and veterans, celebrations this week in Warren, Passaic Township and North Plainfield included dedication of a state historic site and an open house at Warren Rescue Squad Headquarters. And residents turned out in force for each event. In Passaic Township, marchers stepped off at Main Avenue and Mercer Street and paraded down Main Avenue to Central School.

(Continued on Page 15) MRS. BETTY FORD, who many voters feel could win the Presidential nomination for herself with ease, charmed an area audience last week on a visit to (ilralda Farms, the Madison estate oC the late Mrs. Geraldinc Rockefeller Dodge. The Dodge home was the scene of the "Mansion in May" tour for the benefit of Morristown Memorial Hospital. Story and more photographs inside.

(Jane Krawley) Hills Girls' Tennis Team Takes ChampiofBhip BY liiiShSClRiMACHKR PRINCETON Watchung Hills' girls' tennis team, pulling off an amazing comeback, won the state championship Friday afternoon at Princeton University when its undefeated first doubles team of Pam Struhl and Donna Rosamilia won a nine- point tie-breaker after a deadlocked third set to decide the thrilling match, won 3-2 by the Warrior girls over Ridgewood High. Following the victory, an astonished Coach Ray Uhl joined his screaming players on the courts. Tears ran down the cheeks of a few girls. Proud parents looked on, excited as their daughters. An ecstatic Uhl remarked, "What's a better climax to a 21-0 season!" Watchung's victory, giving the school only its second state championship in its 20 years of existence (The 1974 cross country team was the other state was the result of incredible comebacks by the two Warrior doubles teams.

When the three singles matches had been completed, the Hills was down 2-1 in team scoring as only (Continued on Page 19) HAIL THE CHAMI'IOVS Here they are, the Wati-hung Hills who won the (iruup 4 state tennis title last week by upending Ridgewood in heart- stopping competition. From left, Michele Ilalasnik, Sally Kroner, I'am struhl. Donna Rosamilia, Marianne Willohordse, Sue Kryberger, Sally Frybcrgcr and their coach. Kay Uhl. (1'errueci) Srrring Passaic Joiuiship, Ha inn.

hint" and VOL. 21, No. 23 THURSDAY, JUNES, 1976 20 rents Lack Of Local Primary Contests Expected To Keep Vote Down AREA Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday to register party preference at the national and state level. Pre-primary campaigns in Warren, Watchung, Passaic Township and in North Plainfield have been low-keyed since there are no party contests for the governing bodies in each community. In Passaic Township and Watchung, only the Republican Party has filed candidates for the primary While in Warren and North Plainfielti, full slates have been announced.

Passaic Township In Passaic Township there is one district contest. with a Township Committeeman Peter O'Neill and the GOP organization -backed candidate, Thomas Kaut, running against former Republican Township Committee James Souders for the County Committee seat in the Second District. The minor party fight in the Millington district is an attempt by the GOP and O'Neill to get rid of O'Neill's longtime political foe, Souders. This battle will create some interest locally, but only in the one district. The remaining districts have GUI' organization-backed candidates only.

Assured of nomination in Passaic Township are Committeeman Demetrius Obuch of Stirling and newcomer Frank LaPorta of Millington, both unopposed for three-year terms on the Township Committee. Watchung Two Republican incumbents, Anthony Addario ami Joseph Kleinhans, are unopposed for nomination to council posts There are no Democratic is serving his first three-year term. of Setuu Hull with a i degree in murkui marketing. He is Grand Union Kieinhans is serving his second three year term, is currently finance chairman of the council and is a former council president. Warren Two three-year terms and a two year unexpired term on the Township Committee are being sought by Republicans and Democrats here with full slates of candidates.

Republican candidates are incumbent Commit- teeman William Apgar.of Milkiest Road, and newcomer and a Conservative member of the GOP, Glenn Kennedy of Mountainview Road, for the three year terms. Kenneth Brenn of Mountainview Road is the candidate for the two-year term on the GOP ballot. Recently named to the committee, Jack Kinhorn of 20 Wilderness Trail will head the Democratic slate in the primary He will be seeking his fiist full term. Jeanette Peterson of Ml Horeb Road, a IVniocrat'c leader, will bo uinnmt; iur a three year term and William Sundberg of 9 for the 1wo-year term Apgar, who la a carpenler, holds an accounting degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Kennedy is an active member of the Somerset Citizens and Taxpayers Assembly, and a graduate of Drexel University.

He is a former member of the Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education. Both Apgar and Kennedy served on the 1975 Charter Study Commission and endorsed a (Continued on Page 2) Boro Officials Oppose 'South Of Park' Realignment Plan For Route 78 WATCHUNG Borough officials told residents last week they opposed a southern realignment of Interstate Route 78, which would affect a large residential area in the northeast section of the borough, adding they would speak against the proposal at a series of State Department of Transportation hearings. That assurance came during a council meeting last Thursday after several homeowners, who would be affected by the plan, asked the Council to show its opposition during a DOT hearing set for 3 to 9 p.m. next Tuesday, June 8, at Valley View School. According to Council President Patrick Fittipaldi, the controversial "south of the park" alignment would "affect the entire community in terms of loss of ratables and increased taxes.

"We don't intend to let that happen." Fittipaldi said. Mayor Kenneth Schmidt told Mrs. Nina Kallas of Oakwood Lane and Henry Rowan of Tuttle Road, whose homes would be affected by the proposed southern realignment, "We're against this proposal as much as you are." The south of the park route listed in a massive DOT environmental impact statement, would cost an estimated $88.6 million. This route is an attempt to save the reservation by shifting the road southerly along the First Watchung Mountain through parts of Scotch Plains and Mountainside. Sixty-five homes would be lost, plus the Fanwood Crushed Stone known as the Weldon Quarry.

The path would also divide several neighborhoods along the northeastern end of Valley Road in Watchung. Under the plan, the road would run north of Route 22 and south of the reservation to Mountainside. Under this proposal, Watchung would lose 4.6 percent of its tax collections, while Mountainside would lose seven percent. Only 63 acres of parkland would be lost. The hearings scheduled for towns all along the route, will offer residents an opportunity to speak.

Then a final decision will be made by the Federal Highway Administration together with the state.with a final decision on the route alignment set for 1977. The Union County Park Commission has fought the proposed highway path through the reservation for years, but under present federal law the government can take some of the parkland, if it can show there is no or prudent alternative," and if the planned highway includes, all possible planning to minimize harm resulting from such use." The super highway has been under construction for 20 years, and is nearly complete except for the stretch along the reservation. The impact study deals with the need for the completion of the highway and reviews which route would, if built, do the least harm to the area at a reasonable cost. There are seven alternatives in the proposal including, the Original Alignment, which would include use of 116 acres of reservation land and would cost an estimated $34.6 million. The Well Field Alignment, a variation of the original, would run along the Jefferson School in Summit and Governor Livingston High School in (Continued on Page 2) NOTICE PASSAIC TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS Stirling Lake will open May 31st and the following two weekends from 1 to 5 p.m.

II extremely hot weather prevails (when the official lemperalure it above 80 degrees at 2:00 p.m.), the Lake will be open daily Irom 3 to 6 p.m. until June 18th. Beginning June 19lh through September 6th the Lake will be open daily and weekends Irom 9 a.m. to 8 p.m The Lakefront will be closed on rainy days. Badges will be on sale at Town Hall beginning May 17, 1976, Monday to Friday.

9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and Wednesday evenings tiom i 00 to 9:00 p.m. F. J.

Rossi, SOMBEK EXPRESSION showed in the face of this young member of Cub Seoul Pack 32R during Memorial Day ohsuvaiiccs in Warren on Monday. (Penned).