This week in Central Jersey History, October 21-27

The Smithereens were among the New Jersey J Hall of Fame Class of 2018 inductees during a ceremony held on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park.

The band’s frontman, Pat DiNizio, who died in December 2017 at the age of 62, was inducted posthumously.

Here’s a look at the events that happened five, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years ago this week in Central Jersey.

Five years ago

October 21, 2019: Bruce Springsteen talked about his Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, visit to the AMC Loews Freehold Multiplex Cinema to introduce his new movie “Western Stars” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” which was taped earlier that day in Brooklyn.

October 22: It was reported that the controversial “P is for Palestine” book reading went ahead as planned on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at the Highland Park Public Library, after being rescheduled from May 2019. Approximately four adults and three children attended.

October 23: In the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, the East Brunswick High School girls soccer team won its fourth straight provincial title and 36th place overall with a 1-0 victory over second-seeded Old Bridge at Woodbridge High School.

October 24: Thomas J. Wilkie, 46, of Bear, Delaware, who was found outside Tamaques Elementary School in Westfield earlier that year with a loaded gun, ammunition and a knife, was charged with six weapons offenses, it was reported.

October 24: Richard Sawicki, 21, of Lackawanna, NY, pleaded guilty to causing a crash in Sheldon, NY, that killed three members of a Perth Amboy family and injured six others, including a four-year-old girl who prosecutors say would never fully recover.

October 26: It was reported that millions of New Jersey residents were drinking tap water contaminated with carcinogens and other dangerous chemicals, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.

10 years ago

October 21, 2014: In a statement, North Plainfield school officials said the district’s point was made by raising the issue of what it felt was an inappropriate and possible racial slur — bananas through a door to the locker room of the predominantly African-American football team push – before a varsity football game in Summit.

October 22: Normalcy returned to Sayreville War Memorial High School as the school and community came together to celebrate homecoming. Seven football players from the school were charged on Friday, October 10, 2014, with hazing and aggravated sexual assault of four teammates.

October 24: Four Edison police officers – Michael A. Dotro, 37, of Manalapan; Brian Favretto, 39, of Brick; and Victor E. Aravena, 42, and William H. Gesell, 46, both of Edison – were indicted for plotting to retaliate against a North Brunswick police officer who arrested a Dotro relative for driving under the influence.

October 24: After squandering a two-touchdown lead and falling behind by a touchdown with four minutes to play, the Hillsborough High School football team rallied for 10 points in the final 50 seconds to defeat Elizabeth 31-28 and clinch the championship of the Delaware Division.

October 25: Comedian Chris Tucker performed at The State Theater in New Brunswick.

October 25: Rutgers student John Wu of Clinton and 24 other students from 22 countries working with local faculty and a group of notable American and British visiting scholars at the Vatican Observatory run by the Roman Catholic Church were granted an audience with Pope Francis, who praised the students, it was reported.

1999

October 22, 1999: It was reported that on October 11, 1999, police found a dead crow in a retention pond in the southern part of Bernards Township, the first in Somerset County to test positive for the West Nile-like virus.

October 23: Nearly 40,000 people attended the 79th annual Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland Farms in Far Hills.

October 26: In the first round of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, the Sayreville High School girls soccer team defeated South Plainfield 4-0.

October 27: Ten years of perseverance paid off when the US Postal Service informed Watchung Municipality officials about approving their own zip code. “07069”, which would come into effect from Saturday, July 1, 2000.

1974

October 22, 1974: The Lafayette School in Bound Brook, where 40 cases of head lice had been found, would be closed until Tuesday, October 29, 1974, it was reported. The school had been fumigated and a doctor’s note would be required for infected children to be readmitted to the school.

October 23: Five workers were injured when an anti-pollution device exploded at the Anaconda Co. Raritan Copper Works in Perth Amboy.

October 24: The calm that had returned to New Brunswick High School on Wednesday, October 23, 1974, after three days of tension, was shattered when an estimated thirty white students left the classroom and walked out of the building. Some then marched along Livingston Avenue in front of the school holding signs that read, “School is not safe” and “Whites have rights.”

October 25: It was reported that regulations that did nothing more than cost consumers and businessmen money would be wiped off the books in Franklin after a plan inspired by President Gerald Ford was put into effect.

October 25: “Desire Under the Elms,” a play by Eugene O’Neill, opened at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.

October 26: In college football, Rutgers defeated Air Force, 20-3, before a screaming crowd of 18,000 at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway.

1924

October 21, 1924: Golfer Zoe Terry, after winning the President’s Cup by beating Mrs. A. L. Ellis by 2 in the final round for the trophy at Plainfield Country Club, managed to win further honors by beating Mrs. Howard H. Craig in an approaching and putting competition. with Terry winning with a score of 11.

October 24-25: The Paramount film, “Men,” starring Pola Negri, was shown at Reade’s Strand Theater in Perth Amboy.

October 27: On a day set aside by North Plainfield Mayor William L. Smalley, the high school students were in charge of the town’s governance that day.

October 27: Determined to get her hair cut despite the protests of her husband, Edward McKinnon, of the Avenel section of Woodbridge, Evelyn McKinnon left home in a fit of rage on Friday, Oct. 24, 1924, and was still missing, it was reported.

Brad Wadlow is a writer for MyCentralJersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ History for October 21-27