Return of Myxomatosis

It's been a while, but I thought it was a good time to resurrect this blog. Speaking of good times, now would be a good time to check out my other blog, The Word, a blog that reads the bible as a piece of literature rather than as a sacred text. You should check it out. And tell all your friends! Please?

I'm freelancing right now for a local weekly, the Randolph Reporter.

Here is my most recent article, as published.

Here is my most recent article as I submitted it, for the sake of comparison. I know it's not perfect - I should have given Collins a voice, or at least mentioned that she did speak. It was nice, however, to have the characters for the most part speak for themselves.

Debate Erupts Over Liquor Licenses

MINE HILL TWP. – After an hour of minimal public participation, the June 17 council meeting exploded into a lively debate concerning the renewal of New Jersey Bar and Grill’s liquor license.

A fairly laconic meeting saw the township council unanimously pass approval for liquor licenses renewals for three businesses: Gold ‘N Dough Partners LLC, Mine Hill American Legion and L & L Package Store.

After this, an hour-and-a-half long debate ensued over whether to renew without restrictions the liquor license for the New Jersey Bar and Grill at 100 Randolph Ave.

Both council president Sam Morris of 3 Indian Falls Rd. and council vice president Cindy Collins of 9 Indian Falls Rd. recused themselves as interested parties. Morris was the first to address the council from the public microphone. He suggested six restrictions be placed on the liquor license, ranging from the type of music that can be played to the late hour at which workers dump glass bottles into bins outside. Morris passed around pictures of an incident on June 6, in which a modified Jeep damaged another vehicle in the parking lot. The driver in that incident was arrested. Morris also passed around pictures of a person with a beverage in hand outside of the bar and photos of mulch dumped on the property, which he said was near a stream.

“The point is they are absolutely not in control of the outside of their building.” Morris said. “If you own it, you gotta deal with it. It’s a responsibility thing.”

“My reasons for rejecting the renewal of the license without any restrictions are completely selfish. I’m tired of my kids getting woken up.” Morris told the council. “And I’m going to say right now, if they won’t agree to any restrictions, all of these restrictions and have all these pieces put in place, I’m gonna ask you not to renew the license at all.”

Morris also said he would contact the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control if steps were not taken to remedy his concerns.

Gail Hrynio, of 107 Randolph Ave., addressed the council regarding the noise and drinking. “They’re just not in control of their property, or if they are they just don’t care” she said. She also said that calls to the police did not stop the noise.

Wharton Borough Police Chief Anthony Fernandez responded that a complainant must go to the Dover Court to sign an official citizen’s complaint: “We can’t just show up and determine that there’s noise. You’re the one that’s being disturbed by the noise. We will take the report, we will tell them to knock off the noise, but it’s up to the citizen to sign a complaint.” Complaints may be filed at the Dover Joint Municipal Court on 37 N. Sussex Street. Fernandez also said that without calls to the police station and complaints, it is difficult to argue against renewing a liquor license.

Attorney Edward Bilinkas defended the owners of the bar. He emphasized that most of the complaints had nothing to do with the liquor license: “Certain people have an agenda here and they don’t want the bar here. They would rather the bar not be in their neighborhood.”

Bilinkas described New Jersey Bar and Grill as a “family establishment.” As for the music, “I’ve looked at your ordinance. I don’t think it’s specific. I think if a charge is filed, that charge will fail.”

Bilinkas continued, “We’re looking to work with the town. We want to be considerate and we want to make everybody as happy as possible, but to place restrictions on the license would clearly affect the value of the license and their ability to stay in business and make a living.”

Afterwards co-owner Greg Galdieri, of 44 W Munson Ave., Dover, spoke with council members Conrad Pepperman and Kristine Kauzenbach on ways the bar could avoid complaints from the public.

In the end, the liquor license was approved without any restrictions. The room emptied quickly after the 90-minute long debate.

Morris said that last year he and Cindy Collins planned to voice similar complaints, but did not attend the correct meeting. “I don’t want anyone to think just because I’ve been elected to town council all of a sudden we’re showing up. Last year it was a date snafu.”

There was one more item of business before the meeting adjourned. “I want to put this in the record,” Morris said, again recusing himself and stepping up to the mic. Pulling out his cell phone, he described a text message he had just received from Hrynio, describing four cars that pulled out of the New Jersey Bar and Grill parking lot moments before blowing their car horns, one of which she said might have been driven by “the lawyer.”

“Now, is that substantiable? [sic]” Morris asked. “I don’t know. But now it’s on record.”

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