December 5, 1984: A West Orange woman working at the Red Barn Village on East Northfield Road was robbed at knife point, the Tribune reported on its front page 40 years ago this week. The victim’s description of the thief closely matched that of a man who had previously robbed the Livingston Fotomat store. He also was believed to be responsible for committing numerous armed robberies throughout northern New Jersey.
Walter H. Whiteman officially retired as clerk of the Livingston Municipal Court after 34 years of service. “I’ve had some funny and some terrible experiences, but it’s all been good,” he told the Tribune.
Municipal crews using vacuum leaf collection equipment were expected to finish the township’s leaf collection program by the end of that week.
Despite the pleas of neighborhood residents, the Township Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance authorizing the sale of four parcels of township-owned land at Northfield Center. The land had been purchased by the township many years earlier with the intent that it be added to existing commercial land to extend the limited parking facilities at Northfield Center.
Livingston’s secondary school principals and the administrator of special services presented their budget proposals to the Board of Education.
Repaving work on South Livingston Avenue had finally gotten under way, as contractors working for Essex County raised the manholes in anticipation of the greater road thickness. Mayor Dominick Crincoli told the Tribune that he had become distressed when contractors prepared the surface of the road several weeks earlier and then apparently dropped the project.
In other front page news, the United Way’s West Essex Christmas Committee had opened its annual campaign to help the poor during the holiday season. The Committee had also received its first donation toward its $5,000 goal.
Editor and publisher E. Christopher “Kit” Cone wrote a single editorial 40 years ago this week, entitled “The Sewer Ban’s First Effects.” He wrote, “The dampening effect on real estate values of the state-imposed ban on new sewer connections which had been foreseen by the Township Council was clearly evident when the municipality tried to sell a large parcel of prime land on Thursday morning. Although the 17 acre tract on Eisenhower Parkway would appear to be a first-rate piece of land for development, there was only one bidder, and only the minimum bid was offered.”
Explaining that developer Alan Sagner had offered to purchase the land for the minimum $2 million bid, Cone suggested the township wait to sell the property.
“We feel the bid should be rejected,” Cone concluded. “The sewer moratorium will not last forever, but the parcel of land will… Sewers and buildings and money will come and go, but nobody’s making any more land. The township should hang on to what it has until it is confident that it is getting an excellent deal in a sale.”
Carla Cotugno of Tower Road was selected as a Drexel University alumni ambassador for the 1984-85 academic year.
The Planning Board, with some reservations, approved a strip of stores proposed for 113 South Livingston Avenue, across from the current Post Office. Many Board members had commented, however, that they were reluctant to approve the plans, which they “felt barely meet township requirements for parking, access, flood protection, and use of the land.”
Ira C. Brickman of Livingston, a decision sciences and computer major at Rider College in Lawrenceville, was among the 44 students from Rider who were included in the 1985 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities, and Colleges.
Bernice Cohen of Livingston was among 18 volunteers who were to receive service awards at the 123rd annual meeting of the Jewish Counseling and Service Agency.
40 Years Ago
(Continued from Page A-4) Natalie Franzblau of Livingston has been named a co-captain of the women’s basketball team at Tufts University.
David Fine, son of Michael and Judith Fine of 44 Melrose Drive, was, for the second consecutive year, named the recipient of the Loeb Foundation Scholarship at Delaware Valley College. The award was presented to outstanding students of agriculture and landscape design from all over the United States. Two Livingston births and four weddings were announced in the Tribune this week in 1984. Martin and Dr. Beth Leiderman Statfeld of 77 North Ashby Avenue welcomed a daughter, Jenna Lee, on October 31. Joseph and Pia Corte of 33 Hazel Avenue announced the birth of their son, Nicholas Archangelo, on November 17.
Lynda Suzanne Clarkson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Clarkson of 48 Wellington Road, wed Mark Norman Grife of Philadelphia in a private ceremony at home. Lori Beth Greene, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Greene of Livingston and Boca Raton, Florida, was married to Robert M. Bock of Westbury, New York.
Janis Rose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morton Rose of Livingston, exchanged vows with Mark Yos of Plainview, New York. Kathy-Jo Manna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Manna of 80 Ridge Drive became the bride of David J. Ober Jr. of Mount Tabor.
