Front-runner Gov. Christie Whitman said on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, she was withdrawing her candidacy in New Jersey's 2000 U.S. Senate race to focus on fulfilling her second-term agenda, in an announcement that blew open the race.
"I just didn't feel that I could give both of these opportunities and both of these responsibilities the kind of attention they would deserve," Whitman said.
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
Sept. 4, 2019: More than 100 people gathered at the St. Mary's Parish Newark Abbey Church, where Cardinal Joseph Tobin, leader of the Newark Archdiocese, joined Catholics from several states to call for an end to the separation of immigrant families across the country.
Sept. 4: In anticipation of Hurricane Dorian hitting the Florida coast, 10 dogs had arrived at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater, with another 22 making their way to other rescue groups, it was reported.
Sept. 4: According to state Department of Education data released that day, about 44 percent of New Jersey students got passing grades in math, while 58 percent passed English exams.
Sept. 4-5: A private celebration for stakeholders, dignitaries and donors for the opening of the $172 million New Brunswick Performing Arts Center was held on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, followed by a public ribbon-cutting ceremony that included a stage naming in honor of Mayor Jim Cahill on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.
Sept. 5: It was reported that according to a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey analysis of vaccination data, the number of New Jersey kindergarteners receiving religious exemptions from vaccination requirements had been ticking up each year since 2013.
Sept. 7: In the season opener, the Immaculata High School football team took advantage of a fumble recovery and scored with just over four minutes remaining and held on to beat South Plainfield, 39-32, at Brooks Field in Somerville.
10 years ago
Sept. 3, 2014: Robert J. Watson, a Stuart, Florida, attorney representing Michelle Lodzinski, said Lodzinski was expected to begin the process on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, that would return her to New Jersey, where she was accused of killing her 5-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey more than 23 years prior.
Sept. 3: The New York Times Co. and its insurance carrier were spending millions of dollars to clean up contamination at a former printing facility on Woodbridge Avenue in Edison, although it said the groundwater contamination was not its doing, but state environmental law left the Times holding the bag, it was reported.
Sept. 5: Jerome Higgins, a former custodian at James Monroe Elementary School in Edison, pleaded guilty in Edison Municipal Court to smoking in public, a petty disorderly persons offense, and ordered to pay a $200 fine and court costs for smoking at the school, which was destroyed in a March 2014 fire.
Sept. 5: It was reported The Bouncing Souls, The Scandals and Tacocat would perform on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at The Court Tavern in New Brunswick.
Sept. 6: The Perth Amboy Board of Education was so bent on booting former Superintendent Janine Walker Caffrey from her post that it had its insurance carrier pay her and her attorney $184,000 to leave her Perth Amboy home and never come back, it was reported.
Sept. 7: It was reported the Rutgers University football team would have its first Big Ten home game on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, against Penn State, at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway.
1999
Sept. 2, 1999: A jury found former South Bound Brook police officer David Webb guilty of official misconduct and theft for stealing a $1,058 computer intended as a donation to his department.
Sept. 4: The Moody Blues performed at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.
Sept. 5: It was reported that in a week, the USS New Jersey, the nation's most decorated warship, would begin a journey from Puget Sound in Washington state, through the Panama Canal, to a temporary mooring in Philadelphia, before returning to NJ.
Sept. 5: Luis Lopez's three-run home run in the bottom of the 14th inning lifted the Somerset Patriots to an 8-5 win over the Nashua Pride at Somerset Ballpark in Bridgewater.
Sept. 8: Flash flooding forced at least two families to evacuate their homes after a mudslide poured onto South Main Street in Lambertville.
1974
Sept. 3, 1974: Joseph A. Gannon, 40, former state Democratic executive director, was killed instantly when the car he was driving collided with a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old boy on Route 18 under the George Street ramp in New Brunswick.
Sept. 3: The search by harbor police in Staten Island, N.Y., was continuing for John Marek, 18, of Perth Amboy, who went missing on Sunday, Sept. 1, 1974, after he and two friends attempted to cross the Arthur Kill in a rowboat, it was reported.
Sept. 4: It was reported that on Sunday, Sept. 1, 1974, more than 100 youngsters reported for opening practice session at South Plainfield High School. Coach Phil Graham said it would be the first time in years he would have to make a squad cut.
Sept. 5: According to Union County Treasurer Robert LiSooey, some $45,000 of a "missing" $150,000 revealed the week prior in an audit of the county's books had been accounted for, it was reported.
Sept. 6: In-the-round performances by the Circle Players of the William Inge comedy-drama, "Bus Stop," opened at Circle Playhouse in Piscataway.
1924
Sept. 4-6, 1924: The movie, "A Society Scandal," starring Gloria Swanson, was shown at Reade's Strand Theatre in Perth Amboy.
Sept. 5: A rumble and smoke pile led many to believe another explosion had taken place at Raritan Arsenal or other plants in the vicinity, but it was done by the arsenal itself to get rid of surplus powder that was of no use to the arsenal.
Sept. 7: The Perth Amboy Hungarian Sport Club and the Perth Amboy Workers Athletic opened the soccer program at Perth Amboy, with the game ending in a 1-1 tie score.
Sept. 8: It was reported the grocery store and butcher shop of Giuseppe Santisi in New Brunswick was robbed of 10 packages of cigarettes and $50 either on the night of Saturday, Sept. 6, 1924, or early Sunday, Sept. 7, 1924. Entrance was gained by removing a pane of glass from a rear window.
Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Whitman withdraws Senate candidacy: This week in Central Jersey history, Sept. 2-8
Local News
