Hillsborough Farm

Halloween week seems like the perfect time to visit Hillsborough Farm Country Market on Hillsborough Road:

Like any modern farm, it has a website.

AVM Eagle Scout Project

During yesterday's huge Playground Build at Ann Van Middlesworth Park, at the other end of the parking lot, a much smaller group labored to complete an Eagle Scout project:

HNJJ doesn't have any further information about this project or its dedicated crew, but thank you.

AVM Universal Playgound Build

This morning was Universal Playground Community Build Day at Ann Van Middlesworth Park:

Over 100 volunteers worked to complete the playground which is designed to be used by all children, with and without special needs.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Keeping Track of Your Stuff

As part of the Learning Happens @ Your Library series, the Somerset County Library System presented Cataloging, Researching, and Evaluating Your Art and Antiques.

The presentation featured Somerset County Surrogate Frank Bruno, Carol Cruickshanks of Rago Auctions in Lambertville, NJ, and Doug Reeder of Somerset Hills Estate Services.

The program presented information about valuing, cataloging, organizing, and disposing of your assets or those of family members. Clear specific information with examples and "how to" information made the job seem less formidable.

This is one of those things that each of us knows is important and that it has to be done...but we put it off. This delay may not have to do with denying our mortality, but more with thinking of the job as huge and not knowing where to start.

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For more information about the Learning Happens @ Your Library programs, go here.

HEBDC 15th Social

The Hillsborough Economic and Business Development Commission's 15th Business Social was held this evening at Royce Brook Country Club on Hamilton Road.

There were over 200 local business people registered to attend the event which featured guest speaker Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.

For more information about the HEBDC, go here.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Prall Road Detention Basin Project

Boro Green and Sustainable Hillsborough sponsored a rain garden planting at the Prall Road detention basin this morning with volunteers completing the project in two-and-a-half hours.

According to their press release, rain gardens help mitigate flooding from stormwater runoff, help restore natural habitats by promoting the use of native plants, and reduce maintenance by the Department of Public Works. Volunteers helped plant 620 native grass plants.

At the November 23rd Sustainable Hillsborough meeting information about rain gardens will be presented to interested residents.

Boro Green is currently creating its webpage and Sustainable Hillsborough's site is here.

Hillsborough High School Band Festival 2010

Hillsborough High School's Raider Marching Band 17th Annual Marching Band Festival - it just gets bigger and better every year:

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For more photographs go to the mycentraljersey.com photo gallery here.

Somerset County History Weekend

This weekend Somerset County celebrates its Weekend Journey through the Past.

Proving that history doesn't have to be boring, this fun event opens twenty-six historic sites to visitors, with most offering special events, programs, activities, and tours.

The county has even grouped the sites into tour routes by their locations in the county: North, Central, and South.

The sites will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m.. There is no admission or parking fee. Adults visiting four or more of the sites during this event will qualify for a drawing for one of ten $25 gas cards.

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For more information go here.

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Notice that none of these sites are in Hillsborough. Work seems to be stalled on the Van der veer Harris House.
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For a list of the Somerset County locations on the National Register of Historic Places go here.

Slowing Sonic Speed

Local residents meet with their attorney following the Planning Board meeting.

Last night's exceptionally short Hillsborough Township Planning Board meeting seemed to be a major disappointment to those who hoped for a chance to comment and a decision on Thomas Mascia's application to construct a SONIC restaurant at Route 206 and Oxford Place.

The brief meeting - less than a half-hour - seemed to be an unexpected turn of events even to the Planning Board chairman who had announced that the board would hear the application only until 9:30 p.m.

Approximately 80 residents who are opposing the application appeared, represented by attorney Ron Gasiorowski. Mr. Gasiorowski raised a jurisdictional question, suggesting that the application should have been heard by the township's Board of Adjustment, not the Planning Board.

After a recess to allow the lawyers for the Board and the neighborhood objectors to meet, the application was carried to the Planning Board meeting of December 9th.

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The date for the next hearing is after the elections.
Quelle surprise!
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Photo courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

HHS Raider Marching Band Festival 2010

The 17th Annual Hillsborough Raider Marching Band Festival is this Saturday, October 9th, kicking off with the National Anthem at 4 p.m. There are 20 competing marching bands plus the HHS band performance.

While every year the audience members are enthusiastic and supportive, appreciation for these musical student-athletes can only increase if those attending understand how many years of physical and academic hard work goes into each performance.

In elementary school students are introduced to music and musical instruments. The students who choose to continue their musical education learn to play an instrument and join the school band where they coordinate their own instrument with the others. Somewhere in junior high school or at the beginning of high school, the school bands transform into marching bands; so at this point these young musicians are simultaneously reading music, playing an instrument with others, and marching together.

Next the marching band choreography is added.

But there is still another element: the colorguards. These students enhance the entire marching band experience, performing with rifles, sabers, ribbons, and flags.

Now the colorguards and the bands coordinate their performances while interpreting the music they have chosen.

So, just to help with audience appreciation: imagine that you are reading music, playing an instrument in harmony with another hundred-or-so musicians, and coordinating your movements with all the other band members. Meanwhile, the colorguard is criss-crossing around you. And you are doing all this with grace.

Are you confused? Are you out of breath? Out of step? Good. This can only increase your esteem for all these outstanding students.

The show starts with Manville High School at 4 p.m. and ends with the Hillsborough High School Band's performance of "Scheherazade" at 10 p.m. followed by the final awards. Food is available. The admission fee is $9, $7 for students and seniors.

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For photographs of last year's competition, go here. Scroll down the post for links to four different albums.

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From last year's post, this personal comment:
The sportsmanship exhibited at the show by all the band members and their friends and relatives is stupendous. Those attending who can really appreciate the work involved, show unwavering support for each band, from the smallest schools to those powerhouse bands with seemingly unlimited resources.

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Wear comfortable shoes. Be prepared to climb up the bleachers for an overview of the bands. The evening will get cool, dress in layers. Bring a few dollars for food. Be prepared to be overwhelmed. Give a cheer for all the band parents who act as "roadies."

This is a great family activity.

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The photographs in the collage above are from last year's competition.
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The HHS Raider Marching Band website is here.

Quilt Show Today

Today is the final day of this year's Courthouse Quilters of Hunterdon County's 2010 Quilts in the Mill Show.

Take this opportunity to enjoy a drive through the beautiful Hunterdon County countryside to historic Prallsville Mills on Route 29 in Stockton and then enjoy this extraordinary show - only held once very two years.

There is so much to do. First attend the quilt show - two floors of beautiful quilts. There are techniques and patterns that my grandmothers (and grandfathers) never dreamed about. While admiring the quilts notice the historic mill.

After exploring the hundreds of quilts on display, look for the demonstrations, the raffles, and the craft boutique. Dalen Keys, author of Just a Quilt, will be at the show.

Go to the Sawmill for the guild's Breast Cancer Awareness Month fundraiser, a 2011 calendar entitled The Bra Brigade.

If you are inspired to actually quilt, there are vendors galore.

Food is available with outdoor seating where you can appreciate today's pleasant early fall weather. If you prefer to bring along your own picnic lunch, there are tables near the river behind the mills.

Take a walk along the paths along the river. As a result of flooding from last week's rain, you may not be able to walk along some parts of the river paths.

Wear comfortable shoes and take your camera!

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For more information about The Courthouse Quilters of Hunterdon County, go here.

For more information about the show - which closes at 5 p.m. - go here.

Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Rabies Clinics

With dog licenses due in January, it's time to make sure that your pets' rabies shots are up-to-date.

If they expire between now and January, the local clinics you may attend are listed here.

Note that the first one is today, from 9-11 a.m. in Branchburg.

VNA Rummage Sale Cancellation

Today's first day of the Visiting Nurses Association Rummage Sale in Far Hills was cancelled due to the rain.

We drove up there to find empty parking fields spotted with puddles of water, not the usual hundreds of cars. It's amazing that they cancelled, as we have shopped when it was raining and they kept going by throwing straw down over the muddy walking paths.

If you go, wear comfortable walking shoes and leave yourself plenty of time.

To make up for today's cancellation, the VNA has announced that they are extending their hours tomorrow and Sunday from 9 a.m. until at least 3:30 p.m.

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For more information about the VNA sale go here.