South Brunswick deer crashes galore: This week in Central Jersey history, Oct. 30-Nov. 5

Drivers had been involved in at least 21 crashes with deer in the past three weeks in South Brunswick, it was reported on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013.

That was 10 percent of the motor-vehicle accidents in the township that month. During this time of year, deer disperse and move around as they search for mates.

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. 31, 2018: It was reported that as part of an agreement reached the previous month with the ACLU-NJ and the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, changes had been implemented regarding the operation of the solitary confinement unit at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.

Nov. 1: Plainfield residents Alejandro Lopez, 30; Mayrenid Hidalgo-Bautista, 31, and Rodney Rosario, 33, were found guilty of their roles in the 2013 fatal shooting of Jose Disla-Cordero, 28, also of Plainfield, it was reported.

Nov. 2: Five-time Grammy Award winner Mary Chapin Carpenter performed at McCarter Theatre in Princeton.

Nov. 3: It was reported that after more than half a century, Piscataway had been given approval to ban commercial trucks weighing more than 10 tons on River Road between the Route 18 bridge and Centennial Avenue.

Nov. 3: In high school gymnastics, Bishop Ahr beat Old Bridge, 112.95-108.925, to win its fourth-straight North Section 2 title, which was its 15th sectional title since 2002.

Nov. 5: Animal control workers from St. Hubert's Welfare Center were called when 39 cats were discovered during an eviction at an apartment in South Bound Brook, it was reported.

Nov. 5: The Readington-based convenience store chain QuickChek said it would close its pharmacy departments and transfer records to CVS Pharmacy as it continued its focus on fresh food and beverages.

10 years ago

Oct. 31, 2013: Democrat Cory Booker was sworn into the Senate, becoming the first Black senator from New Jersey and the first Black elected to the Senate since Illinois sent Barack Obama to Congress in 2004.

Oct. 31: It was reported that according to a Courier News and Home News Tribune review of state campaign finance documents, in just three legislative districts in Central Jersey, combined spending by the state Senate and Assembly candidates, the two major state parties and the independent groups had topped $5 million.

Nov. 2: Court Tavern Phase 2, a one-year anniversary party with Small Town Scoundrels, the Roadside Graves, and more, was held at Court Tavern in New Brunswick.

Nov. 2: The East Brunswick High School girls soccer team beat Old Bridge, 2-1, lifting it to the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament title.

Nov. 2: Eight Middlesex municipalities were among 100 towns a study found had households most vulnerable to ongoing hardship due to superstorm Sandy, it was reported.

Nov. 4: New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson said it would settle the investigations into the marketing practices of prescription drugs including Risperdal, for more than $2.2 billion.

1998

Oct. 30, 1998: Superior Court Judge John Malone sentenced Gerard Watkins, 26, of Newark, to 50 years in prison for shooting Wayne Arbus, 45, of Scotch Plains, in the head before ransacking his home during a 1996 burglary.

Oct. 31: Former Rep. Bernard J. Dwyer, who represented Middlesex County for more than three decades as a congressman and state senator, and also served as Edison's mayor, died after suffering an apparent heart attack while driving.

Nov. 3: It was reported two incidents of ethnic vandalism had Bridgewater police wondering whether they were dealing with Halloween pranksters, youths seeking attention or hatemongers.

Nov. 3: A nighttime fire at a home on Westervelt Avenue in North Plainfield displaced three families.

Nov. 3: The New Jersey Devils beat the New York Rangers, 3-1, at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, ending New York's unbeaten string of six.

Nov. 5: A stack of papers ignited by an electrical heater caused the evacuation of the Lena and David T. Wilentz Senior Residences in the Somerset section of Franklin Township.

Nov. 5: Comedienne Joan Rivers would perform on Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, at the John Harms Center for the Arts in Englewood, it was reported.

1973

Oct. 31, 1973: It was reported that citing what they saw as "an obvious lack of good faith" on North Plainfield's part, Watchung's mayor and Borough Council vetoed agreements reached at the previous week's joint meeting of both municipal councils.

Oct. 31: Scott Buttinghausen of New Providence finished first in 14:28, but Roselle Catholic ran off with its ninth Union County cross country title in the last 10 years as the Lions outscored runner-up Cranford 48-55 at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth.

Nov. 2: Two armed men managed to elude police after their attempt to burglarize a home on N. Vosseller Avenue in Bridgewater was foiled by Michael Potopowitz, the owner.

Nov. 2: A six-performance run of the comedy, "Waltz of the Toreadors," by the Footlight Guild opened at St. Brigid's Auditorium in Peapack.

Nov. 3: The Plainfield-Somerset Hills Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America presented its 23rd annual "Mirth Quake of Harmony" show at Plainfield High School.

1923

Oct. 31, 1923: Seven robberies were reported in Woodbridge between 3 and 4 a.m. Gold watches, chains, rings and other small articles of jewelry, as well as pocketbooks, were taken.

Nov. 1: Fire was discovered by Marshall Dennis Dillon of North Plainfield at 38-40 Somerset St. in the borough. After more than an hour, the blaze was extinguished.

Nov. 3: Max Fenichel, proprietor of the Strand barber shop in New Brunswick, reported to police his shop had been entered during the night and $2 in cash, some cigarettes, candy and chewing gum were taken.

Nov. 3: The Rutgers Prep School eleven football team beat Bordentown Military Institute, 26-0.

Nov. 5-6: "Six Days," directed by Charles Brabin, and starring Corinne Griffith, Frank Mayo, Claude King, Maude George and Myrtle Stedman, was shown at Reade's Strand Theatre in Perth Amboy.

Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ history for the week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5