New Jersey Nightly News; 12/22/1978

While. New Jersey nightly news. It was Rebecca suable in Trenton and Clayton Vaughn in Newark. Good evening Rebecca Sobel returns from vacation Monday on Clayton Vaughn in the news. A woman drove her car onto the steps of the state house in Trenton late today and threw out the severed head of another woman. Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson says he can handle

any threatened campaign to recall him from office. And if you've ever wondered what happened to the keenest quintuplets. We have an update in sports Paul bloodline previews tonight's basketball game between St. Peter's College and Rutgers. And on a closer look we'll tour the Newark museum's Ballantine house for a look at a Victorian Christmas. I woman crashed her car on the steps of the state house in Trenton late today. And when she was approached by police she threw the severed head of another woman out of the car window and tried to slash her own throat. Steve Taylor reports. It happened about 4:00 this afternoon just as state employees were beginning to leave for the holiday weekend. Police say Jean Zelinsky of Ringo's New Jersey swerved off State Street and ran her car up onto the sidewalk in front of a state house when a state policeman approached the car. She threw out a plastic bag containing a human head. One report said the woman shouted Merry Christmas. This is what you want to be a state employee.

Daoud came outside just after that. I saw two state troopers supporting the woman in the middle of the car seat apparently at that point trying to cut her throat and they had stopped her. They were holding her up and trying to restrain her from fighting back. And what happened then. Right after that in a very few minutes the Liberty rescue squad arrived and they remove the woman on a stretcher and took her to the hospital. The woman's wound was not serious. She was later released into police custody. State police say they've been to Mrs. Zelinsky house in Ringo's and found a headless body. The body has not been identified and no one is willing to speculate about a motive. In Trenton I'm Steve Taylor. And there's late word the woman who police think is Janine Zelinsky has been taken to Trenton psychiatric hospital for observation. Newark Mayor Ken of Gibson today said there is no way to save the jobs of the four hundred forty one city workers who face layoffs January 1st. Gibson says he's not certain if there is hope for the more than a thousand school employees who have been told that they too will be laid off soon.

In an interview today with reporter Sandra King the mayor claimed that he's not worried about any recall Gibson movement by the city's unions and it dismissed the union's threat of a general city work stoppage. Well first of all as you know it is illegal to strike on the part of public employees or the state of the DNC so they can't really use the word strike or that a fly in the face of the court or to withhold services. You talk about. Actual job stoppages is something that they maybe consider I would question however the morality on the part of any official of any labor union that claims to be concerned about the health safety or welfare of the public and do it at the same time talking about withholding or basic services for the people that they say they're concerned about. But if they were to go ahead with that work stoppage what would happen to the city of Newark if they're not going to stop work. They may get some people to withhold services they will not be able to get from

the citizens of this city and the workers there for any general acceptance of a complete work study that is out of the question and you do not think there will be a general strike in New York. Oh no there will not be a strike period. They may be able to have some people stay out of work. Frankly if those people stay out of work they won't get paid. We will probably pay some overtime that would be counterproductive because any payment of overtime would be pious and additional lives so I don't see how that solves them. So it relevant today is a combination of a mechanical failure and human error was apparently responsible for Wednesday's head on crash of those two Conrail trains near Somerville. Eleven persons were hurt in the cries two are still hospitalized. Officials today said an electronic signal system failed a backup manual system was put in use but communications evidently broke down among the trains and the dispatcher. When the engineers realized what was going on they both put on the brakes. Both trains were going only about 10 miles an hour when they collided. Twelve persons were hurt too seriously yesterday evening when a bus

crashed head on with a van on U.S. 40 outside Atlantic City bus was carrying about 40 people most of them elderly. The bus drivers at a van made a U-turn in front of the bus which after the collision hit a stone wall. A mother and her two children were killed yesterday in a traffic accident on route 88 in Brick Township. Twenty five year old fellows de Janeiro of Lakewood. Her 6 year old daughter and six month old son were the victims their cars skidded on a bridge and hit the van. Police said the crash itself was minor but the woman's car burst into flames. The victims were killed. Accidents become even more of a tragedy when they occur at this time of year but thousands of New Jerseyans are beginning their weekend at the night with travel in cars planes and trains. Steve Taylor reports on traffic. Newark Airport reports there won't be many extra flights this weekend just the usual 200 today and about 165 tomorrow and Sunday. But almost all of the planes will be full. Many flights from Newark JFK LaGuardia and Philadelphia have

been sold out for weeks. And there are as usual some problems with over booking. Airline officials advise getting to the airport early as the best way to avoid being bumped. Traffic on state highways is normal for the Friday before Christmas and Hanukkah. That means heavy. State police say a million and a half motorists will be using the turnpike between this afternoon and Sunday. They'll be the usual extra police patrols on the turnpike and Parkway. Amtrak reports most of its trains through the state are running extra sections to accommodate about 150000 passengers twice the normal load will be traveling up and down the Boston Washington Carter this weekend. One small advisory Amtrak will be adding New Jersey Department of Transportation commuter cars to its trains in order to handle the extra passengers. Amtrak usually leases some commuter cars but this weekend about 60 of them will be used. That's twice the normal number. This is Steve Taylor reporting. Shoppers crowded stores across the state today as the Christmas shopping season went into its final weekend. Merchants say Christmas seemed to come later this year at least as far as the

buying habits of many consumers were concerned. Result is that the pace of sales is somewhat off from last year's record. Jack Conway reports. Here at the primus park mall shoppers were out bright and early sifting through the merchandise that was surprisingly well stocked. Just three shopping days from Christmas. The big seller so far this season have been men in women's clothing. And sporting goods with shoppers seeming to lean towards the practical items this time around in a shopping season clouded by reports of the pending price rise for oil and wage and price guidelines that may or may not hold the glacier in tow. Merchants say it's been a good Christmas shopping season good but not great because sales figures are running below last year. 1977 as a Christmas season was a banner year so it's pretty hard to compare. It's a good year in terms of annual Christmas sales but it's not just 1977 by the same token going in a nine

hundred seventy nine. There's a great deal of cautious optimism. So you're going to see the merchants cutting back on inventories. You're going to see them very cautious about retailing in general it's going to be a very unpredictable year. Shoppers are more than a bit uneasy with prices and many say they want to stay away from credit sales and stick to cash. Well we see that there's been a large increase in the price of the goods than last year. But we're trying to. Cut down I guess on the most expensive items in keeping with the average goods such as clothing and toys for the kids. I'm spending about the same but I'm feeling guilty here. Why. Well because I think the economy's not in as good a shape as it was last year. The covers Department reports new factory orders are down for November reflecting that an easy attitude among many businessmen who expect to see a jump in sales by

mid summer. If inflation is held in check and if the threat of recession fails to materialize at Paramus Mall on Jack Carter the public nuisance charges against the owners of two so-called head shops in the Livingston mall have been dropped on their agreement not to sell drug related paraphernalia anymore. The owners also pleaded guilty to disorderly persons charges each got $150 fine. The public nuisance charges were the first such filed in the state on the basis of shops selling things like cocaine spoons and pipes for smoking marijuana or hashish. The defense attorney in the Mariel just college murder trial is asking the court to have the New York Times and its reporter Myron Farber pay him nearly twenty two thousand dollars for expenses incurred during the trial. Attorney Raymond Brown said the money represented out-of-pocket costs related to the refusal of the times and Barbour to turn over notes on the case. SCOTT of it was acquitted and a hearing on Brown's request is set for

January the 8th. Eight years ago there were five new additions to the keenest family and since they all arrive at once the keenest suddenly became New Jersey's most famous large family overnight sensations eight years later. How have the kids and their parents coped with the fame and fortune that came their way. Reporter Mike Power went to find out. Somebody told us we should start this story with a shot of the keenest quintuplets quietly filing off their bus so you could get a good look at them. Well we tried the keenest brute is 8 years old now and just a devilishly in the kids their age. If their name doesn't ring a bell with you let us refresh your memory. They were world wide news in 1970 only the second set of quints ever born alive in the United States. Their dad was

shocked because their mom was taking a drug to prevent multiple births. Eight years later Peggy Jo keen as has settled into the role of super mom and Bill Keane asked is still sometimes speechless. The family lives in the same large house in Liberty corner expanded since the children's birth for the quince and fame is fading. At age 8 they still do TV commercials but not as many. Their parents said they encourage the kids to be individuals and they are. Sarah is probably the most serious Gordon is the enforcer. Amy is not as dedicated to skateboarding as she is to dolls. Abigail is the talker of the bunch and Ted is such a car freak that he actually reads the car ads in the newspaper every day. So how are the quince eight years later. They're fine thank you. And if you're skeptical the quintuplets really can be individuals. Just talk to them. You think that this is as hard for your mom and dad to have this.

Why are you doing that when it was time I did that right. Like I said it's right Mike. I bet you were the first one of the top two weren't you. There are two other keen ass children. John is 10 and megas 12. She says it's not so bad now but there was a time when the quints got all the attention a couple times while we were doing commercials or something. A photographer walk up and say do you want your picture told the world of somebody else or me he say that to you if you say that to them. So to was No. Clue. What. Milkiness said the quince Brooks didn't retard his career in the plastics business. It advanced it.

What I told you know the company I was working for at the time if I'd been my president the next day if there were any given enough money or for this no one in their own. Business. As for Mrs. Kean asked she says there's only one thing she could suggest to any parents about to have quintuplets. Yeah I do have some advise I say you. Take all the help you can get really and aquariums Well they're really nice but they're really a handful. And you're right. We. Never. Know. But I want to thank all you kids for being such good sports and giving up your guest day over your nice kids. Mike incidentally has two children of his own and he agreed that five of the same age make for a nice day. So long as it's only a day Jews throughout the world lower aside prayers and light the first of their Hanukkah candles Sunday. And this morning in the statehouse rotunda governor Byrne participated in a

menorah lighting ceremony accompanied by youngsters from the Hebrew Academy in Trenton. Several members of the governor's cabinet were also present for the candle lighting which symbolizes the beginning of Hanukkah the Festival of Lights menorah lighting at the statehouse was instituted four years ago when Byrne took office. Here's weather forecast now for New Jersey. Clear and cold tonight throughout the state. Temperatures should range from the upper 20s to the lower 30s here in northern New Jersey and from the middle to upper 20s in the southern part of the state. Tomorrow we'll have a pleasant start for the holiday weekend with sunny skies mild temperatures will be in the lower 40s in the north and from the middle to the upper 40s in southern New Jersey on Sunday. Skies will become increasingly cloudy with a chance of rain developing. And the outlook for Christmas Day is not for a white Christmas but for partly cloudy skies and colder. I.

Uh huh. Allen Davis and the Boston Symphony Orchestra with soloists and chorus and part one complete of Messiah by George Frederick Handel. Don't miss it Sunday at 10 on New Jersey Public Television. Now here's Paul Budde line and drown him with the brightest boys. Thank you Clayton. In college basketball tonight it's an interesting match up St. Peters of Jersey City at Rutgers wreckers will be handicapped all-American center James Bailey is out of the starting lineup with a pulled hamstring that will put added pressure on the rest of the lineup especially number 24 Darryl Strickland.

Strickland a junior college transfer is coming off a 17 point performance against Princeton six days ago will be expected to pick up much of the scoring slack with Bailey on the bench. Darrell Strickland is averaging 12 points a game that average should improve as he gains confidence. Right now wreckers is four and two when should realistically be five and two after tonight. By the way if it's necessary coach Tom Young will be able to call on James Bailey tonight. But he'd rather give his big center a rest before the holiday festival tournament coming up next week and. On the other side St. Peters is a team you don't hear too much about the peacock's or even right now at 4 and 4 right now Dick Landis is at courtside with St. Peters coach Bob Kelly. Dick. Thanks a lot Paul. And I would say that there's still a question mark about James Bailey playing tonight this is Bob Kelly. He's in his second season as head coach at St. Peter's and his mission is to build a team that can play a tough schedule. He has a tough schedule and Bob how are your plans going as far as.

Being very competitive. Well I'm a priority right now is to change the image of St. Peters College. In terms of adults. We need more fan and we need more involvement from the college community itself. We have good players but we just have to change our image get a winning tradition at St. Peter's perhaps go back to the glory years of the 19. 67 68 when we finished we were semifinalists anyone I'd say. Well Bob listen I wish you all the best. And it's good to have you on the tube and keep up the good recruiting and thanks for stopping by and keep your eye on the peacocks because they're a common Team Paul. Thank you Dick that Rutgers St. Peters game can be seen live on New Jersey public television tonight beginning at 8:00. Also tonight Seton Hall five and one on the air is in California for the first round of the cable car classic. Their opponent Santa Clara University

tradition that word is sometimes overused when referring to various teams. But tradition is the appropriate word if you're talking about wrestling at Paulsboro High School in Gloucester County. First a gasper us reports. The polls bear a wrestling team just doesn't know how to lose. Right now they're on a 36 match winning streak since 1971. Coach Bob Frederick has compiled a record of one hundred twenty one wins and only one loss. But he says it's a lot to live up to. There's a tremendous amount of pressure on any rusher once he gets on the mat because it is an individual sport. Our young people have started in the second third and fourth grade and by the time they get up to the high school level they're sort of used to this pressure I don't think the pressure really ever accept them but you know it in order to win consistently they're going to have to get used to it. One wrestler who certainly gotten used to it is co-captain Joe Duca. Last year he finished fourth in the state in his weight class with a record of twenty nine and three. Joe what's it like to be on a team that almost never loses and how does it affect your own performance.

Every match everybody Duro after you because you're a winner and you've got it you've got to work hard to stay on top of the world and everything like it is. You're proud to walk in a school with like a possible jacket on and so you know they know you never want anybody that you were wearing. Next match is a week from tonight when they wrestle in the Edgewood holiday tournament they hope to rack up another win to add to their list of many in Paulsboro. This is your first guest Press reporting. Quite a team at balls where I have a very good holiday weekend that's sports for tonight. Thank you Paul. The senior citizens drug program was saved today from going broke as governor Burns signed legislation which doubles the cost to the elderly recipients. Until now the state picked up all but a dollar of the cost of a new prescription. Now it will be $2 The program is going broke because four times as many people as predicted signed up for. New rules also set up stiff penalties for fraud had been some evidence that New York and Pennsylvania residents were getting in on it and require the use of cheaper generic drugs unless specified

otherwise by the doctor or. One of the things that we do on New Jersey local is get around to visit the interesting people around the state and this month on our Christmas program we have a very special visit with the real Santa Claus. Old cat you know you've got a lot of where it all began for really right here bar staff. So join us Christmas on the New Jersey local at 8:00 o'clock and it will be our special present for you for your holiday. Watch New Jersey local Sunday at 8:00. New Jersey Public Television. Tonight on a closer look we visit another in our series of unique and interesting homes in New Jersey. Tonight's House in fact is no longer a home as such Let's just

say we were drawn there by the sentiments of the season which tend to conjure up a nostalgia for past almost forgotten time. The Ballantine house which stands on Washington Street in Newark is the most popular permanent exhibit of the New York museum now since its restoration three years ago. One hundred fifty thousand visitors walk this hall savoring a remnant. One of the few left of the Victorian era in New Jersey's largest city these days the house is decorated. As for Christmas of the late 19th century beating the curiosity more than ever about the people who actually live near Ballantine never lived in the house which put his family on the work social map. But he founded the dynasty which provided the wealth that built the house through his Scottish heritage. It is said Valentine landed on the shores by jumping ship to avoid the 50 Cent U.S. immigration tax. Newark had become a beer making center in the mid-1970s or Ballantine founded the brewery which was to become the largest in the country.

Peter's son John Valentine assumed control of the company on his father's death in 1883 two years later. He built a mansion on Washington Street which is wife Jeanette was to preside over as a kind of queen of New York society for 35 years. The John bomb in Times second generation Americans may have been considered social upstarts when they built what was the most imposing house in the fashionable Washington Park area. Most of their neighbors after all were descendants of people who had settled in New York. As much as 200 years before. But the valentines fabulously wealthy quickly proved the old adage that money has winning ways constant travelers to the far corners of the earth they fill their new house with all sorts of exotic treasures. Mrs. Valentine appears to have subscribed to the dictates of a Victorian decorating book of the time which said quote. It is the bric a brac the curious trifle the movable ornaments and goo guys unquote which give the house its style.

It was during the winter holidays especially that the valentines exercise their social prominence a new work Christmas week of 1887 exactly Ninety one years ago was described by the Newark news at the time as the gayest week Newark has ever seen. And about one time house was credited by the newspaper for much of that Valentines held three parties in one day that week. The highlights of the week at the house had been a music out on Tuesday a young people's dance on Wednesday a debutante party on Thursday and what the news called the Valentine ball. On Friday the news said it was the most brilliant ever given in Newark all this lavish entertaining was backed up by the Ballantine small army of 16 live in servants and money was no object in the favors the Ballantine is lavished on their guests. Solid gold pin set with turquoise and pearls for all the female guests at one huge party. For example a central figure in these parties was Alice the valentines only surviving daughter when she

married her new husband was Henry young. Zion of an old New York family a signal that the New Rich valentines had firmly and finally arrived in Newark society. Alice Valentine young and her husband lived on in the house with her mother until 1920 when Mrs. John Valentine died and the House passed from family hands. Undercutting its apparently happy existence the family was rocked by a series of tragedies which the valentines for all their wealth could not escape. All three of Alice's sisters who survived childbirth several were stillborn died in childhood as did one of her brothers another brother later committed suicide. And also John Ballantine died in 1895 leaving his wife to a 25 year widowhood after living only 10 years in the great home he had built. The day the Ballantine house stands as a curiosity a kind of Christmas

bauble from the past in the heart of the troubled modern city which surrounds it. But in the holiday season people are moved by the joys of Christmases past. The old house remains a symbol of those yarns. Once again our top stories for this Friday. A woman tried to kill herself on the steps of the state house in Trenton late this afternoon after she threw the severed head of another woman out the window of her car. New York mayor Kenneth Gibson says he's not worried about threats of a recall campaign and says city workers threatening a mass strike do not have New York's interests at heart. And holiday travelers have begun their efforts to get where they're going on this Christmas Hanukkah weekend. And that's the news for Rebecca Sobel returns Monday on Clayton Vaughn. My turn to be away next I'll see you again on New Years Day. Meantime have a happy holiday and Merry Christmas. Good night for the New Jersey night. And now.

And. From the director of the Public Television Studios in Trenton it's time to draw the winning ticket for numbers for December 22nd. I'm your host for tonight. And helping me tonight during the reign of the New Jersey State Lottery. As you can see each of these three machines contains 10 balls number nine. And. The winning number will be medical model. Each of the. Three machines. Ordered. That the automatic. Get.

To. That.