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1969
Ralph F. Batch, Chairman, Everett W. Vilett, Vice Chairman, William B. Gero, Streets and Sewers; Everett W. Vilett, Law, Finance, and Charities; Ralph F. Batch, Police; William C. Heilman, Fire Protection and Water Supply; John T. Reilly, Jr., Buildings and Lights.
Police Chief, Frank J. Stoeckle, filed his resignation effective December 31st of this year, concluding 44 years of service.
The 1969 real estate tax was raised to $2.93 which would cause an increase of about $140.00 in taxes on the average home.
Murray Klepsch was named new head of the Narcotics Control Commission.
Candace Johnstone of Sagamore Road won the National Silver Skates Dance Championship. Miss Johnstone, 12 years old, was the youngest skater ever to win the National title.
The worst snow storm of the Season fell on Sunday, February 14th, causing the closing of schools for two days, typing up traffic, and stopping mail deliveries.
As an aftermath of the excessive snow, both branches of the river flooded following their courses throughout the Town.
Two local students won Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Awards?Ruth Ann Borker and Matthew Geller, for which they received Foundation money. They were finalists in the competition of 11,704 candidates. Both were described as among the best future college teachers in the country. Dr. Harry Nyquist of Marion Avenue received the Foundation Medal of the National Academy of England in recognition of his many fundamental contributions to engineering. This is the 4th year of this Award. The Award is a comparatively new one having been created in 1966.
In March, a New Brunswick man, in what seemed to be a "Keystone Comedy Scenario" was arrested by Millburn Police. He had over $6,554.00 on his person taken from the Millburn Branch of the Montclair National Bank and Trust Co.
The old-style moving picture comedy developed from a bank robbery which took place here. The robber secured the money, but that must have been the only proud spot in his career. Rather, it was the beginning of his problems. As soon as he fled the Bank carrying his booty with him, the Millburn Police were alerted by a bank employee who remembered to step on the button which triggered the alarm in the Millburn Headquarters.
The thief was observed by employees, entering a light blue sedan, which information was also conveyed speedily to the Police. However, the thief had some trouble in starting his car, and was seen to be recklessly carrying what was eventually identified as a toy gun. When the car was at least moving he turned north into Myrtle Avenue which is a deadend street. However, this frustrating blockage was discovered by him. Turning away from that involved position, he next found himself behind "a little old lady", driving her car ahead of him, it was said, about 10 miles an hour, and no opportunity was offered for his being able to pass her. Finally, however, at the corner of Millburn and Wyoming Avenues, he did turn right.
On being alerted, Patrolman White went to the bank, received a description, and radioed the information back to Headquarters. Two sergeants were en route.
They saw the blue car waiting for another light to change, and that finally ended the mind-boggling old comedy. The Thief was secured and escorted to the Millburn Police Station. The booty was recovered in full.
On May And, Glen Avenue property owned by the Township was designated as a proposed site for a new Millburn Library, and was placed on the Township Master Plan.
The Master Plan was also amended to locate a new Police Headquarters on Essex Street, on property purchased by the municipality last year. Other sites considered were near the Senior High School on Millburn Avenue, and one site behind the High School.
95% of Senior High School graduates were accepted by colleges including four-year colleges, 111 of which were out of State.
Mayor Ralph F. Batch cited the following citizens for achievements and services:
John Murray, for many years of service to Millburn Patrolman, Edward Gallitelli William Fennimore William Matthews Robert White Sergeants Thomas, Thomas Carey, Frank Herman, and Harold Lacey. On May 29th, Rt. Rev. Bishop John J. Dougherty, President of Seton Hall University, resigned to become Pastor of St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church, replacing Rev. Mgr. John F. Ryan who was retiring.
An advertisement in the local newspaper showed the price of food to be a little higher, but it had not yet reached 1976 prices:
Sirloin steak, 99¢ a pound Porterhouse steak, $1.19 a pound Frankfurters, 68¢ Orange Juice, 5 cans for 89¢ Shrimp, 99¢ a pound A gallon of milk, 96¢ Whole wheat bread, 29¢ a loaf.
On Main Street, new apartment houses were planned with 20 families to be accommodated.
The Fourth of July Celebration was again a great success. Produced by the Millburn-Short Hills Fourth of July Committee, the program offered a Circus in the morning; a generous supply of mechanical rides, horses, and ponies for the afternoon with free popsicles, and in the evening music and fireworks to end the holiday.
A tornado like storm struck in July and damage throughout the Township amounted to about $100,000. The Wyoming section was most severely damaged. Within minutes more than 100 trees were toppled or seriously damaged. Streets particularly suffering were Chestnut, Sagamore, Wyoming, and Mountain Avenues. [N.B.: the following three paragraphs essentially duplicate material found on pages 6-7 of 1968]
The new planned Police Headquarters, it was announced, may top $500,000.00 not including the cost of the lot. An editorial in the Item held that while no one was pleased with the cost, nevertheless, the building must be built, and every delay would become a further increase in the price. It was estimated that the cost might rise to $800,000.00, including the land and complete construction. The latest design had not yet received entire approval. A cupola topping the brick design was not pleasing to many.
In August, Millburn dropped to No. 7 place in the nation in the most wealthy list for the nation, followed by Shaker Heights, Ohio. Millburn Township income, averaged, was said to be $24,856.00.
Another schedule was presented showing how Millburn spends its money:
Food, $12,000.00; general merchandise, $27,076.00; family house and supplies, $5,094.00; auto, $2,357.00; drugs, $1,460.00.
The story was told that a citizen here, name withheld, by the newspaper, lights up his Christmas tree every night of the year. He said, "I am tired of being pushed and shoved and slighted, and to cheer myself I light my tree every evening. This helps to make me feel that life is worth living."
Major Florence A. Zarnick was awarded the Bronze Award, one of the highest awards of the Army, upon her return to the United States from Vietnam where she cared for Vietnamese and Viet Cong prisoners of war, at $74 (?), Field Hospital. In September, C. Thomas Thomas was officially and unanimously elected as the Republican nominee for Township Committeeman.
Dr. Jacob H. Oxman of the Rotary Club, presented to William Bolan, President of the Millburn Scholastic Boosters, its 1969 donation.
A poll was held among the subscribers to the Item to find out what the feeling was about extending the vote to 18 year olds. The result showed 162 for, 77 against, the change, and the vote in the High School was 64 for and 8 against.
The participation in the desire for a Vietnam moratorium was increasing in the Township. At the High School, students met to formulate a common Peace Communication, including getting signatures to petitions, distributing pamphlets, etc. By October more than 500 favoring the antiwar side of the question had been collected. More than 70 students assembled at the Millburn Railroad Station on October 23d, with lighted candles, to march to the Maplewood Railroad Station, there to join Maplewood students. Many citizens of Millburn augmented the crowd which was led by drummers.
On reaching Maplewood, the Group from Millburn, joining the South OrangeMaplewood students, assembled in Farrell Park where it was reported that a crowd of 2,000 spectators were present and participating in the meeting and movement.
In the November election, Committeeman C. Thomas Thomas came out on top with 4,558 votes, followed by Mr. Heilman with 4,433.
A National Architectural Award was presented by the the American Institute of Architects to Temple B'nai Jesurun, for its "outstanding design" by Gruzen Partners, formerly Kelly and Gruzen, Architects. The award cited that the building carried a "sense of grandeur, inside composure, and exterior scale and balancing."
Par 3, White Oak Ridge Park's new 9-hole Golf Course was completed.
On November 13th, $1,600.00 in cash was taken from the Tax Collector's safe in the Town Hall. Vault had been checked at 5:05 p.m. All combinations have now been changed.
On November 20th the Millburn Library Trustees attempted to sell the idea of a new Library to a combined meeting of a number of community leaders, and the meeting ended by the Board's being urged to get started with the construction of a new library. It was said that the Board had been trying for a number of years to get a new library building, without encouragement. Mayor Batch rose to say that the Planning Board had approved a site for a new library on Glen Avenue. The Mayor said that it was possible, though, not surely, that an ordinance would be introduced before the first of the year. He thought it probable, however, that it might be necessary to acquire three houses in order to have room.
The Township, acting through the Library and the Planning Board, has more or less chosen a site on Glen Avenue, to have an entirely new and more spacious structure.
Cadet Diane Tully of Woodfield Drive was named to the Honor Squadron of the Cadet Officer Training School at Remstead Air Force Base, Nevada.
Cadet Captain Tully is the holder of several awards and honors received during her Air Force Training. She has also been an Honor Student at Ohio State University.
Guidelines were established for the Christmas observances in the high School?to include music appropriate to the Season, but not emphasized to such a degree as to be a manifestation of any particular dogma, creed, belief, or mode of worship.
Art Work may cover a wide range of subjects applicable to the Season and students may work on their own special interests. However, art to be displayed at School must meet some general requirements with respect to religion; with planned programs to be arranged so that students are not excluded from participation; all plans to be checked with the Superintendent of Schools.
Mayor Gero announced that a record leaf collection had been made on December 1st. Township had collected 1,100 truck loads of leaves, 400 more than last year.
Kim McDaniel received a perfect score on college boards both verbal and written; first Millburn student to achieve perfection. Less than 1% of those taking tests achieve perfect scores.
At a holdup at the Pathmark Store, Millburn, police killed a bandit and wounded a second; rescued hostages. Hostages were four civilians in the store and two policemen held as hostages. None were harmed. One policeman escaped death when his gun in the hands of a bandit, misfired.
It happened that two more employees arrived at the store during the holdup; saw what was wrong and managed to get out and call the Police, which finally brought the criminals to account and the rescue of the innocent victims.
A Workshop on Drugs is scheduled to be held. The Workshop will be led by a Group Counsellor, a Social Worker, or a Psychologist.
A public hearing has been scheduled to consider a new budget of Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000.00) instead of the more customary practice of its being adopted immediately.
