RVSB Children's Concert

Every detail of this weekend's Raritan Valley Symphonic Band Children's Concert is designed to appeal to the younger set, from the multi-colored polo shirts worn by the musicians...
to the chance for wiggly audience members to dance in the aisles led by enthusiastic band members...
and sing-along with familiar friends...

Following the 45-minute concert (short enough for the most fidgety audience member) the children are invited to stop in the lobby and see the individual band instruments up close...

The Children's Concert is this Sunday, February 1st at 3 p.m. in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Auditorium, 600 Garretson Road, Bridgewater.

For more information on the concert go here.

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The concert is designed to allow those who wish to watch football to get home in time. Take your camera; this is a photo-op for your favorite kids.

HHS Winterguard Competition

The Hillsborough High School Winterguard is hosting its Ninth Annual Winterguard Show this Saturday with 30 groups performing.

Combining dance and gymnastics moves and individual and team choreography, all while tossing and twirling sabers, rifles, flags, and hoops, the teams never fail to amaze the audience and, sometimes, each other.

Each team is judged in five categories: the difficulty of the equipment moves and how well they perform them, choreography, the coordination of the equipment and the choreography, and two general effect scores – the overall appearance of the pattern, color, flow, visual, and props.

About the props: be sure to include a cheer for the “roadies”, most of them parents, who design and construct many of props such as the multi-color flags, the backgrounds, and the floor cloth, and set up and disassemble the sets at the competitions.

While this is the place where HNJJ wishes the team well and hopes they win [and, we admit, it is nice to have the trophies and the accolades], that is only the icing on the cake. It is obvious that they have already won by participating in Winterguard.

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For Saturday's schedule go to www.mainguards.com then Click on "Schedule" and then on "January 31 Hillsborough Show."

Computer Literate Burglar

The Courier News ran a story about the escapades and capture of a prison inmate who escaped from a state prison farm in Montgomery.

He used the computer in one of the houses he burglarized to get directions home and left the screen on...with the directions still showing.

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.

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By the way, he also stole approximately $2,000 in loose change. Wouldn't the weight of that much change slow you down?

Super Bowl XLIII Ticket Auction

The Hillsborough Township Police Department PBA Local 205 is auctioning two tickets to Super Bowl XLIII with the proceeds benefiting Officer Dave Wilson who is battling leukemia.

The tickets have been donated by local resident and former NY Giant Brad Benson.

For more information and to bid on the tickets click HERE.

HTPD Blood Drive, Part 2

The response to the Hillsborough Township Police Department blood drive for Officer Dave Wilson on January 20th was so overwhelming that a second blood drive has been scheduled on Monday, February 2nd: 2pm. to 4 p.m. for emergency services personnel only and 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the general public.

Photography Exhibit

Hillsborough resident and artist Valerie Chaucer-Levine has two photographs included in the Princeton Photography Club exhibit which opens this afternoon.

When I first saw the above picture Mall of America , I wondered if Valerie had a serendipitous moment when she turned around and her artistic eye said "wow, there's the shot!" or did she patiently wait for just the right moment.

Having admired other photographs by this artist, including a recent display at Hillsborough Library, it could be her artistic sensibility, patience, and technical know-how and her willingness to combine them.

Township residents may know Valerie as a teacher, parent, and past member of the Planning Board.
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Princeton Photography Club exhibit at
Art Way Gallery
Princeton Alliance Church
20 Schalks Crossing
(just north of Scudders Mill Rd.)
Plainsboro, NJ

Please join us for the Opening reception Sunday, January 25, 3:00 - 5:30 pm
Gallery Talks begin at 3:30. Exhibit continues through March 8th.

For further information: www.princetonphotoclub.org or carlgeisler@gmail.com
www.princetonalliance.org artwaygallery@princetonalliance.org (609) 799-9000 x18

Rabies Vaccination Clinic

Today is the township's FREE Rabies Vaccination Clinic for Dogs and Cats, from 10 a.m. to noon at the DPW garage, 21 East Mountain Road:


In addition to the information on the Township website, wear warm clothes and be prepared to stand for a while.

The rabies clinics are getting more popular, but I'm not sure if it's residents becoming more aware of rabies, the licensing requirements, or the downturn in the economy making the "free" part more enticing...or some combination of all three.

Another Strip Mall

Local residents have been following the construction of another strip mall on Route 206 at Raider Boulevard.

The former site of Hillsborough Lawn & Garden...


...is slated to become another chain drug store and four other businesses...

Progress?

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HNJJ has some photographs of the barn being moved which will be posted in the future.

HEBDC Business Social

The 11th Hillsborough Economic and Business Development Commission Business Social was held on January 20th at CoccaLa Restaurant. It's obvious from the growing attendance numbers that these meetings are becoming more popular and providing useful information and networking opportunities for local businesses.
Following dinner...

EBDC Chairman - and local business owner - Shawn Lipani welcomed the members:

Mayor Frank DelCore spoke about the Economic Action Plan...

The guest speaker for the evening was Robert Loderstedt, President of NJ Manufacturers Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP)...

Paul Ritz and artist Doreen Lorenzetti spoke about the Hillsborough Historical Mural project...
Township Business advocate Gene Strupinsky and Shawn Lipani presented a plaque to CoccaLa Restaurant thanking them for hosting the HEBDC meeting...
As usual, local businesses were generous with their door prizes.

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More pictures of the EBDC Business Social:

HTPD Blood Drive

It's easy for the general public to think of police officers as the people who protect us and care for us, who respond when we are at our worst - sick, hurt, drunk - or when we are victims of unpleasant and/or unexpected natural and man-made events.

They are the people we call when we are in need.

Now one of Hillsborough's officers needs us. Officer Dave Wilson has leukemia and the Hillsborough PBA and Hillsborough Rescue Squad are sponsoring a blood drive on his behalf tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.at the Municipal Building.

For more information:
http://www.hillsboroughpolice.org/ofcwilsonblooddrive.html
or
www.hillsboroughpolice.org and then click on "Ofc. Wilson Blood Drive."

New Lows

You probably thought that this was going to be a post about the stock market...


...but it's not.

Readers in other areas are saying "so what?", but this was big news around here.

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Sorry for the posting delay. Home sick.

Hillsborough High School Winterguard Pasta Dinner

Support Hillsborough High School Winterguard:



And mark your calendars for January 31st when the Hillsborough High School Winterguard is sponsoring its annual winterguard competition.

Forgotten But Not Gone

It was probably an ego thing when I decided to put a site counter on the Hillsborough NJ Journal. I was curious if anyone was interested in the blog, how many people were at least looking briefly, but I discovered that there was a lot more information provided than just numbers.

By checking referrals I could discover how people were finding the HNJJ. And I found that the blog was getting hits through a Google Alert for "erickson retirement community in hillsborough" and a search on "erickson hillsborugh star ledger" and "erickson retirement communities hillsborough NJ".

Being a curious sort, I drilled down a little further and found a website for the Construction Journal.

Under Project Planning I found Project #537612, first reported on May 15, 2008 and updated on August 4, 2008 and apparently still active as of today's date.

The details:

Title: Erickson Retirement Community
Project Type: New Construction
Physical Address: Login Required. Click Here for a Free Password
City/County: Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (Somerset County)
Category(s): Commercial, Entertainment/Recreation, Government/Public, Residential
Sub-Category(s): Apartments/Condominiums, Fitness Center, Food/Beverage Service, Library - Public, Pharmacy, Supermarket/Convenience Store
Contracting Method: Bids by Invitation Only.
Project Status: Pending Property Purchase. Seeking Site Plan Approvals. Construction Start Expected fourth quarter 2009. Working Drawings Underway

Somerset County Freeholders 2009

The 2009 Somerset County Freeholders reorganization meeting was held on Friday afternoon at the the Historic Court House in Somerville.

Here is the 2009 Board of Chosen Freeholders:

While none of the Freeholders are Hillsborough residents, there are a number of our residents who were appointed or reappointed to terms on various County groups including:
Linda Andersen - Commission on the Status of Women

Art Carlson - Library Commission

and Doris Flatley and Don Scher - Firewatch Advisory Board, Cheryl D'Altrui - Mosquito Control Advisory Board, Helen Haines and Suzanne Ochse - Open Space Advisory Committee, and Thomas Kinst - Workforce Investment Board.

Congratulations and thank you to all these local volunteers.
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Correction:

HNJJ apologies to Somerset County Freeholder Jack M. Ciatarelli who does live in Hillsborough and was sworn in as Deputy Director:

2009 Planning Board

There were no surprises at the Planning Board reorganization meeting last night.

The Board members re-elected members Greg Burchette as the Chair, Sam Conard as the Vice-Chair, and Steven Cohen as the Secretary of the Board. New Township Committee member Gloria McCauley joined the Board.

Following the reorganization, the regular meeting was a little livelier. The Board heard the application of Mary Mother of God Church for additions to the Church; it seems as though not all the church members were in agreement over the plans.

The Board also began hearing the application of Cornerstone Professional Center for a 16,470-square-foot building on Route 206 north of Homestead Road.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 15 at 7:30 p.m.

2009 Board of Adjustment

The Township Board of Adjustment reorganization meeting was held last night.

New members John Stamler (Alt.#2), Leon "Skip" Krals (Alt.#3), and Frank Herbert (Alt.#4) were sworn in by the Board Attorney.

Hard working Board Member Joseph Jaghab was moved up from his Alternate 1 position to Seat 1. Walter Dietz was chosen by the Board Members to continue as the Board Chair and Mark Wetter will continue as Vice-Chair.

Township Committee 2009

The Hillsborough Township Committee reorganization meeting was held on Tuesday night. The following members were sworn in by State Assemblyman (and Hillsborough resident) Peter Biondi.

New Committee member Gloria McCauley:

Re-elected Committee member Anthony Ferrera:

Mayor Frank DelCore (chosen by the Committee members):

Deputy Mayor Robert Wagner (chosen by the committee members):


And a photograph of the 2009 Township Committee:


Compliments to Junior Girl Scout Troop 1204 for their service Presenting the Colors and leading the Salute:


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Some Hillsborough citizens are confused that Anthony Ferrera was not sworn in as Mayor. This is understandable as many residents misunderstood [or were were misled by] various campaign signs asking for votes for "Mayor" Anthony Ferrerra.

Okay, one more time: Hillsborough residents do not vote for their Mayor. They vote for the members of the Township Committee and then the Committee members chose one of their own as Mayor and one of their own as Deputy Mayor.

Attention Stakeholders

Your assigned homework for 2009 is to get involved in your local government. I don't mean get on a board or run for elected office (unless you want to), simply attend a meeting of the Township Committee, or Board of Adjustment, or Planning Board or even a commission - Cultural Arts, Historic.

You may learn something and, if nothing else, it's an evening's entertainment and the members of the board will wonder why you are there - which never hurts as it keeps them on their toes.

One of the currently popular political words is stakeholder:

a person, group, organization, or system who affects or can be affected by an organization's actions [Wikipedia]
Any person or group with a vested interest in the outcome of a project or plan. [www.nmsu.edu]

And if you think you are not a stakeholder in the actions of your local government, you are mistaken.

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This is a good family activity for those with children from about 13-years-old and older, although I warn you that the questions they will ask later will be hard to answer.

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For my Hillsborough readers, the meeting schedules are usually on the township website: www.hillsborough-nj.org or you can check at the municipal building. You can watch some of these meetings on Channel 25, but it isn't the same as being there.