Smithereens inducted into NJ Hall of Fame: This week in Central Jersey history, Oct. 21-27

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

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

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

Five years ago

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

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

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

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

Oct. 24: Richard Sawicki, 21, of Lackawanna, N.Y., pleaded guilty to causing an accident in Sheldon, N.Y., that killed three members of a Perth Amboy family and injured six others, including a 4-year-old girl who prosecutors said would never fully recover.

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

10 years ago

Oct. 21, 2014: In a statement, North Plainfield school officials said the district's point was made in pressing the issue of what it felt was an inappropriate and possible racial taunt ― pushing bananas through a door and into the locker room of its predominately African-American football team ― before a varsity football game in Summit.

Oct. 22: Normalcy returned to Sayreville War Memorial High School when the school and the community came together to celebrate homecoming. Seven of the school's football players had been charged on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, with hazing and aggravated sexual assault on four teammates.

Oct. 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 with planning to retaliate against a North Brunswick police officer who arrested a relative of Dotro on a drunken driving charge.

Oct. 24: After squandering a two-touchdown lead to fall 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 capture the Delaware Division championship.

Oct. 25: Comedian Chris Tucker performed at The State Theatre in New Brunswick.

Oct. 25: Rutgers graduate student John Wu of Clinton and 24 other students from 22 countries who worked alongside resident faculty and a group of notable American and British guest scientists at the Vatican Observatory that is run by the Roman Catholic Church, were granted an audience with Pope Francis, who commended the students, it was reported.

1999

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

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

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

Oct. 27: Ten years of persistence paid off when the U.S. Postal Service informed Watchung borough officials about approving their own ZIP code. "07069," which would go into effect beginning Saturday, July 1, 2000.

1974

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

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

Oct. 24: The calm which had returned on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1974, at New Brunswick High School after three days of tension, was broken when an estimated 30 white students left class and walked out of the building. Several then marched along Livingston Avenue in front of the school with signs proclaiming, "School ain't safe" and "Whites have rights."

Oct. 25: It was reported ordinances which did nothing but 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.

Oct. 25: "Desire Under the Elms," a play by Eugene O'Neill, opened at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.

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

1924

Oct. 21, 1924: Golfer Zoe Terry, after winning the President's cup by beating Mrs. A.L. Ellis 2 up in the final round for the trophy at the Plainfield Country Club, succeeded in winning further honors by beating Mrs. Howard H. Craig in an approaching and putting contest, with Terry winning with a score of 11.

Oct. 24-25: The Paramount picture, "Men," starring Pola Negri, was shown at Reade's Strand Theatre in Perth Amboy.

Oct. 27: In a day set aside by North Plainfield Mayor William L. Smalley, students at the high school had charge of the government of the borough for the day.

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

Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Smithereens inducted into NJ Hall of Fame: This week in Central Jersey history, Oct. 21-27