Accused Murderer Arrested In Sayreville

SAYREVILLE—A murder suspect who had evaded police for three years was arrested last Friday after being featured recently on the television show “America’s Most Wanted.”

Carlos Thompson was arrested at 3:15 p.m. on May 15 in a townhouse on Farnham Square after police received a tip. A team of 14 officers participated in the arrest, authorities said. The suspect had apparently been renting the residence in the Reflections townhouse development since November.

Thompson, 33, allegedly attacked a 15-year-old youth for selling CDs on a street in Harlem, N.Y. on June 16, 2005. He was an enforcer for a group of rap artists called the Dipset Crew, according to authorities.

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Court Decision Invalidates Local Sex Offender Restrictions

STATE – Carteret and Sayreville are among 120 New Jersey municipalities that had ordinances restricting where sex offenders could live struck down last week by a state Supreme Court decision.

The high court ruled 6-0 that municipalities are prohibited from banning sex offenders from living next to places where children gather, such as schools or parks. The case involved laws passed by Cherry Hill and Galloway townships. The Carteret and Sayreville ordinances, adopted in 2005, are similar to those invalidated by the court.

The Supreme Court’s decision affirmed a 2008 decision by the state’s Appellate Division that stressed the need to make policies regarding convicted sex offenders more uniform, precluding the “coexistence of municipal regulation.”

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In Honor Of National Police Week, May 10-17

By Diane Norek Harrison

PERTH AMBOY-This is from material given to me by Rose (Tarloski) and Jerry Celecki: In 1960, Perth Amboy Police Department had one chief of police, three police captains, 11 lieutenants, fourteen sergeants, three detectives and 55 patrolmen. There were three radio cars, one detective car, one chauffeur’s car, one patrol wagon, one emergency truck, the police launch and chief’s car. There were also two motorcycles and two motor scooters.

SAYREVILLE-On May 2, 1956, six new patrolmen were appointed to the Sayreville Police Department. They were: Benjamin Boehm, Ronald Connors, James Guilfoyle, Edward Rappleyea, Francis Seaman and Stanley Swider.

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Despite Recession, Voters Pass Majority Of School Budgets

STATE – Despite the recession and a growing movement against increased taxes, voters passed a majority of the school budgets in Middlesex and Union counties on Tuesday.

Voters approved school budgets in 16 of 21 Union County school districts, though Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden and Plainfield voters rejected their districts’ spending plans. Eighteen of 24 school budgets passed in Middlesex County; budgets failed in Edison, Carteret, Sayreville, Monroe, Perth Amboy and Helmetta.

While a majority of South Amboy voters agreed to a $42,000 plan to restore middle school sports programs that were eliminated last year, the second question did not receive the sixty percent of the votes needed to pass .

The budgets that failed will now be reviewed by municipal officials, who will decide whether to make cuts. School boards may then accept the cuts or appeal to the state commissioner of education.

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School Elections Today

STATE – On Tuesday, more than 550 of the state’s 603 school districts will hold elections where voters express approval or dissent on proposed budgets for the 2009-10 school year and fill about 1,500 school board seats, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Polls are required to be open on April 21 between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. but most offer voting hours from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Check with your district for specific hours and polling places.

Locally, the following candidates are running for school board seats:

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Wisniewski Launches Fire Safety Education Initiative

SAYREVILLE–Following a March 30 roundtable discussion with education and fire safety experts, Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski stressed the need for improvements in the way New Jersey educates students about the dangers associated with fire on Monday.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski, FMBA President William Lavin and Dr. Frank Field speak to school children at a fire safety assembly at Samsel Upper Elementary School in Sayreville on March 30. (Photo credit: Michele Doughty)

“Every year, hundreds of young lives are lost in residential fires, mainly because the children do not know how to act in a fire emergency,” said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), chairman of the New Jersey Fire Safety Commission.  “We need to improve on how we teach our children about fire safety so that the first thing they think of in a blaze isn’t ‘Stop, Drop and Roll.’ ”

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Sayreville Through The Years

by Diane Norek Harrison

SAYREVILLE-This first part was given to me for my column. Circa 1917, there was the Victorian Troop Marching Band. The members at this time were: William Hockenjos, Moon Bailey, Frank Johnson, John McCutcheon, Charles Burkshot, Emit Karwatt, Willis Shuler, Neal Chevalier, Otto Weck, John Sugrue, Ed Engelhart, Andy Nelson, William McCutcheon, Mike Kynch, Fred Fortenbacker, Joe Fritz, William Letts, John Hartman, Douglas Lochs, James (Clarence) Guilfoyle, F. Freeman, Joe Kupsch, Ed Fritz, Eric Shuler, Francis Wagner, Walter Karwatt and Joseph Smith. Have similar material from any town?

This part is from my accumulation of looking for the past in Sayreville: The 1954 Members of the Governing Body were: Mayor Anthony J. Popowski, Councilmen were: my grandfather; Edwin J. Baumann, Charles P. Buchanan, Alex P. Loniewski, Raymond J. Presnal, Alfred W. Schussler and Joseph F. Ziemba.

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School Board Candidates File Petitions

STATE – Candidates have filed petitions to run for seats on area school boards. Though the original deadline was Monday afternoon, Gov. Jon Corzine extended it until 4 p.m. Wednesday because a snowstorm Monday caused most school districts to shut down.

New Jersey voters will choose board members and vote on school spending plans on April 21.

Here is a breakdown of the local races:

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Bank Supports Rotary Club

Bank Supports Rotary Club—Roxanne Keegan (left), manager of Provident Bank’s South Amboy branch, presents a check to Michael Poll (right), president of the Rotary Club of South Amboy/Sayreville, during the Rotary’s January meeting at the Peter Pank Diner in South Amboy. The Rotary helps provide much needed services to organizations around the world and will use the donation to support Hogar del Niño of the Dominican Republic, a non-profit organization created to help provide underprivileged children. (Photo courtesy of The Provident Bank)

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Morgan Athletic Association’s 1979 Banquet

By Diane Norek Harrison

SAYREVILLE-This material was given to me for my column and is from the Morgan section of Sayreville: The Morgan Athletic Association held their 17th Annual Banquet on Oct. 28, 1979 with a family style dinner at Diamond Jim’s.

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Continuing the Tradition

Continuing the Tradition – Sayreville Councilwoman Lisa Buchanan-Eicher was sworn into office on Jan. 1, but this wasn’t the first time went to Borough Hall for a swearing-in ceremony. Pictured above, Buchanan-Eicher held the bible for her Grandfather Ken Buchanan’s swearing in on Jan. 1, 1974. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Buchanan-Eicher)

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December Memories From Around The Area

By Diane Norek Harrison

PERTH AMBOY-This is from material given to me for my column: On Dec. 15, 1978, Holy Spirit School held their Christmas Program. Here are the songs sang with teachers names: Grade 1- Melody of Christmas Songs-Poem, Sister Madonna; Grade 2-“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, Mrs. M. Joyce; Grade 3-“The Gingerbread House”, Miss S. Baumlin; Grade 4-“The Littlest Angel”, Miss J. Payenski; Grade 5 “Santa Makes A Change”, Sister Immaculate; Grade 6 “Christmas in France”, Miss R. Austin; Grade 8-“We Need A Little Christmas”, Mrs. Decibus and Grades Kindergarten and Grade 7-Nativity Scene-Sister Laboure and Miss L. Nemeth.

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Sayreville & Edison Voters Split On School Bond Referenda

MIDDLESEX COUNTY – Sayreville voters approved a $2.2 million bond referendum to complete renovations at Sayreville War Memorial High School last week, while Edison voters rejected a $57.8 million proposal that would have funded a new elementary school and renovations to three existing schools.

Just over 12 percent of Sayreville’s registered voters turned out to approve the referendum question by a vote of 1,626 to 1,435. The bond will add $6 a year to the average homeowner’s taxes.

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Sayreville Preserves Last Borough Farm

SAYREVILLE – The borough has purchased the development rights to Dieker’s Farm, preserving the future of the last farm in Sayreville.

Jim and Jeanne Dieker have been working since 2003 to make sure that the farm would be preserved. “It’s not only my livelihood, but my whole life. I just didn’t want to see it go away. My only regret is that my father was not around to see it happen,” Jim Dieker said.

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Remembering Our Veterans

Remembering Our Veterans—The Sacred Heart Catholic War Veterans Post 578 held their annual Veterans Day remembrance on Nov. 11 at Sacred Heart cemetery on Johnsons Lane in the Parlin section of Sayreville. Names were read of those buried in the cemetery who gave their lives while serving their country in the time of war. American flags were placed throughout the cemetery by the post. A luncheon was held after the service at the South Amboy Knights of Columbus. Pictured above, Father Joseph Romanoski, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, says a prayer for the veterans. Photo by Diane Norek Harrison

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