Notwithstanding section 601, all probate notices, notices of foreclosure, other legal notices, legal advertising and other matter required by law to be published in a newspaper that have been published in the Coastal Journal from the date of its first publication on November 3, 1966 and in the Somerset Gazette from the date of its first publication on April 16, 1990 to June 2, 1993, and that would have been valid but for the provision of section 601 that requires a newspaper carrying such notices to be entered as 2nd class postal matter, are declared to be valid. [RR 1997, c. 2, §2 (COR).]