Municipal Building Rename ?

At the Hillsborough Township Committee meeting of December 13, 2011, Committeeman Anthony Ferrera proposed "renaming the municipal building...The Peter J. Biondi Building" in honor of our assemblyman who died on November 10th.

After reading several comments regarding this proposal on the Hillsborough Patch, the HNJJ crew suggests that the proposal be amended to add "The Peter J. Biondi Building" below the current Hillsborough Township Municipal Complex sign.

This prevents any confusion about what the building is, helps visitors, and maintains the Hillsborough Township identity while still honoring Mr. Biondi.

Additionally, one of the online commentators asked how much this name change would cost, a legitimate question in these economic times. Adding a line below the present name would certainly save the cost of the unnecessary removal of the current signs.

A more significant saving would be realized in the replacement of all the stationary and places where the municipal building appears online. As such items as business cards and letterhead are restocked, the line reading "The Peter J. Biondi Building" could be added/inserted into the address.

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The HNJJ crew would like to have seen this honor presented apart from the Township Committee reorganization, maybe at the Memorial Day ceremony which meant so much to Mr. Biondi.
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The HNJJ slideshow of Mr. Biondi can be viewed here.

Merry Christmas from the HNJJ Crew

Christmas Eve

This is our first Christmas Eve since Babchi died, with the celebration now at our house. The family did the best that they could with her traditional menu and no recipes...

Babchi's granddaughter did a great job recreating the fish. Babchi's son got the pierogi, stuffed cabbage, sauerkraut stew,and beets from Halinka Polish Deli on Route 206, while her daughter picked up a babka from a shop in Manville.

Babchi's great-grandsons had been told that Santa left some presents for them. It wasn't Christmas yet, so when the question came up about Santa delivering the presents early...well, the boys came up with their own explanation.

"Santa delivers the presents first at the houses of old people."

*sigh*

Merry Christmas From the ACLU

Christmas, the time of the year when anonymous forum posters around the United States mistakenly rant about the American Civil Liberties Union being anti-Christmas. These posters apparently pass around anti-ACLU emails filled with deliberately erroneous information and, without checking the facts, cut-and-paste them all over the Internet.

This year the HNJJ is going to be proactive, presenting only a handful of the many past ACLU cases that have supported the celebration of Christmas:

In 2003, the ACLU successfully defended the right of the members of a Massachusetts’ high school student Christian Bible Club to hand out candy canes with religious messages attached.

Five days before Christmas, 2006, Maui County, Hawaii, put up a Christmas tree after receiving a letter from the ACLU.

The Rhode Island ACLU “…successfully interceded on behalf of an interdenominational group of carolers who were told they could not sing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve to inmates at the women’s prison in Cranston.”

While preempting the annual anti-ACLU Christmas posts, its also time to address the annual years-old “send a Christmas card to the ACLU” message which has been debunked by many fact checkers including Snopes and Urban Legend.

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As Hillsborough is located in Central Jersey, we couldn’t sign off without mentioning Turton, et al. v. Frenchtown Elementary School, et al. In this case, a second-grader was denied permission to perform Awesome God at an after-school talent show due to the religious content of the song. The ACLU participated amicus curiae, defending the child’s right to sing her chosen song.

Belmar: Almost Christmas

According to an HNJJ friend, the Jersey Shore in winter is a special time, so we took a trip down there this weekend...

Here is Belmar's 4th Avenue beach early on Friday morning. There is plenty of parking and not much traffic.

If it hadn't been so cold...

Belmar = Ecological Education

Visiting Belmar this past summer proved to be not only fun, but educational.

Thanks to a series of Treasure Trail signs located throughout the town, tourists - well, everyone - can learn about the original shore, the dunes, the geology of Silver Lake, and Shark River's name, birds, and fish.

According to the Belmar website:

"...The Treasure Trail in Belmar is an interactive educational initiative developed in 2005 by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium/New Jersey Sea Grant (NJMSC/NJSG) in partnership with the Belmar Environmental Commission (BEC) and is meant to educate beachgoers about coastal ecosystems and beach dynamics in Belmar..."

Additionally, along the jetty where fishing takes place, there is a fishing line recycling container with information about the danger of carelessly discarded fishing line.
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For more information about the Belmar Treasure Trail, go here.

The Belmar website also provides a link to Belmar: A Natural & Historical Treasure which also includes their Environmental Resources Inventory.

There is also an Educational Activities Supplement online, An Addendum to the Belmar Environmental Resources Inventory.

- by Susan Gulliford

2012 Environmental Steward Training Program

The Rutgers Environmental Steward Training Program is now accepting registration for the Class of 2012.

Classes are held on Tuesday mornings from January 10th into May, 2012. Past lectures have been presented by specialists in geology, soil, climate change,leadership, wildlife, health, mosquitoes, and the indoor environment,

Hillsborough residents are in a particularly advantageous position as the Central Jersey classes are held at our own Duke Farms.

For more information on the program go here.

RVSB Winter Concert

The size of the enthusiastic audience at Sunday's Raritan Valley Symphonic Band concert Musical War Horses and Holiday Classics illustrates that the RVSB has become better known and appreciated over the decades.

Additionally, a number of audience members took advantage of a new opportunity - a Pre-Concert Chat presented by RVSB Conductor Larry Markiewicz. During his half-hour multi-media presentation Mr. Markiewicz spoke about the music that was going to be presented during the afternoon's program, the composers, and the history behind both.

Also seen in this slideshow is the RVSB's interim Assistant Conductor Andrew Lawrence.

In Memoriam - Joe Morrison

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band announced the establishment of the Joe Morrison Service Award in memory of Hillsborough's Joseph A. Morrison, Jr., who died on November 7th after a brief illness. Mr. Morrison served the RVSB for many years behind the scenes, he may have greeted you at the door of a concert, giving out programs and handling the donation box. His wife Audre is a charter band member.

The first honoree of this award is Joe Morrison.

RVSB 2011 Holiday Concert

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band presents it's 2011 holiday concert Musical "War Horses" and Holiday Classics this afternoon, December 4th, 3 p.m., at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.

A pre-concert presentation starting at 2:15 p.m.will help the audience further appreciate the music.

According to their press release:

The concert will feature a number of great concert hall classics including, “Festive Overture” by Soviet Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich; the first movement from Symphony in B Minor, “The Unfinished Symphony” by composer Franz Schubert; scenes from “The Louvre” based on Ancient Airs by composer Norman Dello Joio; John Philip Sousa’s “King Cotton” march and more widely familiar musical works.

A new feature will be added to this concert— Larry Markiewicz, RVSB Conductor, will be hosting a multimedia pre-concert chat about the music to be performed, with a focus on scenes from “The Louvre”. This free, informal session will be held in the choir room directly next to the auditorium, from 2:15-2:45pm and is open to the public.

There is no admission charge for the concert although donations are accepted. Additionally, as a fundraiser the RVSB "...will be selling ShopRite gift cards at this concert (cash/check only). This is a great way to support the RVSB. Just purchase the gift cards at face value ($20, $25, $50 or $100) and use them at any ShopRite. The band receives a percentage of all gift card purchases. ...".
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For more information about RVSB go here.

HTPB Application: Green Village

The Hillsborough Township Planning Board agenda for this evening's meeting includes a public hearing for an application for a major development on Route 206:

GREEN VILLAGE – File #11-PB-11-SR (previously referenced as 11-PB-11-MJFSR) – Block 141, Lot 30 – Route 206 North. (AMENDED Application) Applicant requesting Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan approval to develop the subject property containing 50.0016 acres with 469 apartments, of which 352 units will be market rate and 117 units will meet the Township’s affordable housing obligation. A clubhouse with recreational amenities, 20,000 sq. ft. of retail space and a 130 room extended stay executive suites hotel in the GV District. The Planner Report dated 09-19-11 finds the following ‘c’ Bulk Variances: tree removal (31% allowed: 75.44% proposed); encroachment into buffer area(Building #34) for currently proposed trash area; Sign Waiver; and Fence (height) Waiver. The Applicant is requesting an Economic Hardship Waiver for tree mitigation for property in the GV District (previous request for major preliminary and final subdivision has been withdrawn). (EC Review: 09-26-11)

This is one of three proposed projects involving Hillsborough's COAH requirements. The HNJJ last wrote about this proposal in February,2009 .

Here is the Power Point presentation that was made to Hillsborough Township by COAH consultant Jennifer Beahm on December 23, 2008 which includes information about this project.

This evening's agenda can be viewed here.

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Courtroom.

- by Susan Gulliford

Ciattarelli Fills Biondi Assembly Seat

It is expected that Hillsborough resident and former Somerset County Freeholder Jack Ciattarelli will be filling the New Jersey 16th Legislative seat previously held by the late Peter Biondi until January 12, 2012.


Ciattarelli has resigned from his Freeholder position anticipating his selection to the NJ Assembly on November 29th by the Republican party.
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For more on this story, go to articles in The Somerset Messenger Gazette and the Hillsborough Beacon.

HHS Team RoboRaiders BoroBlast 2011

The Hillsborough High School RoboRaiders Team 75 hosted eighteen teams at the BoroBlast FLL (First Lego League) robotics competition on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at the High School:

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For more information about the RoboRaiders go here.

For more information about the FLL (First Lego League) go here.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Hillsborough Veterans Day Ceremony 2011

Hillsborough Township's 3rd Annual Veterans Day Ceremony was held yesterday evening at the Garden of Honor at the Municipal Building. The speakers included Father Sean Broderick, Committeeman and township veteran's liaison Robert Wagner,Jr., Mayor McCauley, Congressman Leonard Lance, and United States Marine Corps Veteran Corporal Nauman Chaudary.
The ceremony was followed by an indoor reception.

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Hillsborough resident and Assemblyman Pete Biondi, who died on November 10th, was remembered by several of the speakers and a wreath:


Photographs taken of Assemblyman Biondi at the 2009 ceremony.

Hillsborough's Pete Biondi (1942-2011)

Hillsborough resident and New Jersey Assemblyman Pete Biondi died yesterday. He had been fighting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

HT Candidates' Night

At the Hillsborough Township Candidates' Night on October 18th, Democratic candidate Aldo Martinez said during his opening statement that he was applying for a position and he was here for his interview.

In the following hour, Mr. Martinez and his running mate John Reddan were interviewed for the positions of Township Committee person. The Republican candidates were conspicuous by their absence.

The students of the AP US Government and Politics class designed and ran the forum, which was divided into two parts. Part one included the candidates' opening statements, followed by five questions previously chosen by the students. The second half comprised five questions submitted by audience members and candidates' closing statements.

First Half
The topics of the first five questions were town center zoning and the Hillsborough Elementary School property, how the candidates would limit or decrease taxes, the role of the township in adding or attracting businesses, do the candidates believe that Hillsborough is less safe and why, and how the candidates would address a defeated school budget that was before the Township Committee.

Regarding the Town Center Zoning, Mr. Martinez mentioned that the 206 Bypass could have an effect on businesses located on Route 206 and that the Town Center Zoning should be reviewed. Mr. Reddan pointed out that the HES property is valuable.

As for limiting or decreasing taxes, Mr. Reddan stated that he wouldn't do away with any services, but would find the money without any specifics. Mr. Martinez mentioned professional part-time contracts, specific line items, and questioned the addition of the Business Advocate position.

Both candidates felt that attracting and assisting businesses should be one of the jobs of the Township Committee members.

Regarding public safety, both candidates pointed out the decrease in the number of officers while the population has increased. Mr. Martinez mentioned that Hillsborough's FBI crime statistics were up.

When it came to addressing a defeated school budget, the candidates both mentioned working closely with the Board of Education.

Second Half
The five audience submitted questions covered sustainability, shared services, COAH, increasing the openness of government, and cutting taxes and still keeping services.

Mr. Martinez seemed especially knowledgeable about sustainability, feeling that it makes economical sense and is part of the future. Mr. Reddan appeared confused by the topic.

Both candidates supported shared services as long as residents' safety wasn't compromised.

Both candidates recognized a need for some type of COAH housing, feeling it was beneficial to have diversity in choice. Mr. Reddan mentioned the diversity he saw while campaigning and felt that COAH would be helpful to young couples starting out and older couples who may be downsizing.

Regarding openness in government, Mr. Redden felt that there should be more accountability and said he sees some confusion during committee meetings. Mr. Martinez would like to see more openness, suggesting that department heads come in and present their arguments for their budgets in public. He also asked if they can make cuts why haven't they done it?

The final question about cutting taxes and still keeping services, brought Mr. Martinez's general comment that there should be more transparency and fiscal responsibility. He also reiterated that he felt that public safety was important. Mr. Redden mentioned that the township should clarify taxes and the revaluation as he felt they were very confusing.

During their closing statements Mr. Martinez mentioned that his parents sent him to the United States from Cuba when he was 11-years-old. He was here to give his life meaning, find his passion, and to represent everyone.

Mr. Reddan said that he was giving back to the community. In order of importance he mentioned his family, his country, and his party.
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Usually when you miss an appointment for a job interview, you don't get the job.
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The HNJJ crew has attempted to condense the evening's information from their notes. While we would like to suggest that everyone watch the forum on Channel 14, we have been unable to find it. Quelle surprise!
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For the HNJJ's previous post about this forum go here.

Auten Road Dump Opening Extension

As a result of the extensive damage caused by the October snowstorm, the Auten Road Dump opening has been extended to Saturday, November 12th, to allow Hillsborough residents to dispose of brush only.

The dump will be open this week Monday-to-Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Any questions? Contact DPW.

McRibs Are Back!

The Hillsborough McDonalds has McRibs again...

The HNJJ crew serves their McRibs with a glass of chilled White Zinfandel tapped directly from the box into an inexpensive juice glass.

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Do you think that we are the only people who have a passion for McRibs?
Think again! If you Google "locate McRibs" you will find multiple sites dedicated to finding McRibs.

BoroGreen Sustainable Practices Conference Saturday

BoroGreen, Sustainable Hillsborough, and Sustainable Jersey are sponsoring the Central Jersey Best Sustainable Practices conference this Saturday, November 5th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Duke Farms.

From the BoroGreen site:

Energy, Transportation, and Recycling are the 3 main themes of the conference. Keynote speakers are Carolyn Ehrlich, Chief of Staff for Woodbridge Township (2009 Sustainability Champion Award) and Albe Zakes, the VP of Media Relations from Terracycle to encourage participants with their sustainable efforts. Participants will then break out into Learning Circles where they will hear Best Practices from a Green Team/Municipality and a moderator will lead the discussion on how to implement in your own town. Learning Circles include presentations and discussions about the NJ Clean Energy program, electric cars, Walking School Bus, lighting retrofits and efficiencies, and recycling improvements.

For more information and to register, go here.

Happy Halloween!

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Halloween Caution!
After this weekend's snowstorm, trick-or-treaters should use additional caution:
*Be careful of icy patches on sidewalks and porches.
*Watch for low hanging and/or broken limbs.
*Some sidewalks are blocked by fallen trees.
*Do not go into areas where there are wires down or low-hanging wires.
*Just skip areas whose residents have had extensive damage: give them a break this year.

Snow Damage? Dump Hours

Following the extensive damage that many Hillsborough residents suffered from the weekend snow, the township is opening the Auten Road dump for brush only this week:

Tuesday-through-Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The dump is not open today, Monday.

Any questions, contact the Department of Public Works (DPW).

October Snow

The first crack we heard early yesterday afternoon as the heavy October snow began to accumulate turned out to be a large limb falling on our clothes line. We started to go outside to take some pictures, but as we were walking across the yard we realized that other limbs and sometimes whole trees were snapping off under the weight of the snow.

From the relative safety of the front porch we watched a large tree in our front yard lose most of its limbs.
A large tree behind the two-story house across the road shook, made a cracking sound, and disappeared.

This morning instead of looking at a beautiful mature row of trees, we are looking at the road.
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It has been noted that if the downed tree in the front yard can't be removed by tomorrow afternoon the trick-or-treaters won't be able to get to the house for the Halloween candy and we get to keep it.

It appears that procrastination may have its rewards.

-by Susan Gulliford

Postponed: HHS Raider Marching Band Festival 2011

The 18th Hillsborough High School Raider Marching Band Festival, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed to Wednesday, November 2nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. due to inclement weather predictions for tomorrow.

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Visit the Hillsborough High School Raider Band website here.

HHS Raider Marching Band Festival 2011

The 18th Hillsborough High School Raider Marching Band Festival is this Saturday, October 29th, kicking off with the National Anthem at 12:45 p.m. There are 26 competing bands plus the Raiders 9:45 p.m. exhibition of this year's show The Glory of Light.

This is the perfect event for those who attend football games only to see the halftime show and get a thrill when the bands pass by in a parade.

The bands are judged on the music, the program, and the execution.

The admission fee is $10, $8 for students and seniors.
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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 HHS Raider Marching Band website is here. For more information about the 2011 program The Glory of Light go here.
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The photographs in the slideshow are from last year's competition courtesy of George Mariasz.
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For the mycentraljersey.com Photo Gallery of the 2010 Festival go here.

Signs of the Season

Just in case you haven’t noticed, elections are coming up in just over a month. The signs are everywhere – and I don’t mean signs as in “symbolic evidence,” but real signs. Those irritating cardboard “Vote for Me” miniature billboards that spring up everywhere and reproduce faster than cockroaches.

In the last few years they have become so intrusive and numerous that they are irritating the voters – not the effect the candidates want.

What is this proliferation of signs saying to the voters?

* This candidate has way too much money to spend.
* This candidate has no regard for the appearance of my town.
* This candidate is not discriminating.
* This candidate is wasting his own money and, therefore, will have no problem wasting mine.
* This candidate is very insecure.
* This candidate feels the voters are incredibly stupid and will forget his name if they don’t see it every ten feet.

Well, this voter will remember that candidate’s name when pulling the levers (or pressing the lights) in the voting booth.

And that candidate won’t like the results.
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By Susan Gulliford
Originally contributed and posted October 12,2007:
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."

Food Fundraiser Weekend

This past weekend the HNJJ crew ate way too much - but thoroughly enjoyed the food and the company - at two Hillsborough fundraisers.

Friday evening the Woods Road Fire Company No.3 held their All-You-Can-Eat Italian buffet...


Sunday morning the Hillsborough High School RoboRaiders held a Pancake Breakfast...

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

RoboRaiders Sunday Breakfast

The Hillsborough High School RoboRaiders Robotics Team is holding a Sunday morning all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8:00-to-11:30 a.m., October 23rd, at the Hillsborough Municipal Building.



The event also includes a clothing drive. The proceeds will benefit injured Iraq war veteran Brandan Marracco through the Brandan Marrocco Road to Recovery Trust.

The cost is $7 per person.
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For more information on Team RoboRaiders go to their website.
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Articles about this breakfast:
Hillsborough Beacon and Patch.

Woods Road Fire Company Italian Buffet Today

This evening the Woods Road Fire Company located at 324 Woods Road is having an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet dinner from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. ...

Hillsborough Fire Company # 3 will be holding an Italian Buffet on Friday October 21 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Buffet menu includes six kinds of sauces (vodka, Alfredo,white clam, pomodoro, meat and marinara), spaghetti, whole wheat and penne pasta, sausage, meatball, eggplant, Italian bread, salad, desserts, coffee, tea, and cold drinks.

•Adults - $11
•Senior Citizens (62 and up) - $10
•Children (5 to 14) - $9
•Children 4 and under free

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For more information about Hillsborough Fire Company #3 (Woods Road Firehouse), go here.

Miss Rose - Cutest Dog Competition

Miss Rose here doing another guest post. It has been brought to my attention that the Huffington Post published an article about some 5-year-old Pomeranian named Boo whose owner thinks that he is the world's cutest dog. It may not be modest, but I think that I can surpass him in the cuteness sweeps. It's hard to be humble when you are so cute...and notice that my cuteness doesn't depend on my haircut...like that other dog.


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My owner wanted to add a link to the HuffPost article, but I objected.
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Miss Rose, who is about 10-years-old, was adopted through petfinder.com two years ago.

Township Committee Candidates' Forum

The Hillsborough High School AP Government Class is sponsoring a Township Committee Candidates' Night this evening in the HHS Auditorium from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Four candidates will be running for two Township Committee seats: Democrats John Redden Sr. and Aldo Martinez and Republicans Gloria McCauley and Doug Tomson.

Only the Democratic candidates will be facing the students and the public at this forum.

The Republican candidates apparently initially said there were scheduling conflicts, then they didn't like the format. The Democratic candidates offered to change to an alternate date to accommodate the Republicans.

The Republican's campaign manager stated that their candidates go into classrooms to meet with students and go door-to-door to answer questions. This is not the same as meeting the adults of the community and your opponents face-to-face.

Please attend this Candidates' Night this evening. Support the students. Educate yourself.
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Articles regarding this Candidates Forum:
Hillsborough Patch - October 13th.

Hillsborough Beacon - October 12th.
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The HNJJ Op-Ed:

The Republican candidates shot themselves in the foot when they decided not to appear at this forum.

The Traveling Vietnam Wall - Closing Day

The Ride of Honor and Closing Ceremony for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute featuring the Traveling Vietnam Wall was held at the Somerset County Park Commission's North Branch Park in Bridgewater, NJ, on the afternoon of October 16th.

The ceremony began with the Rolling Thunder Ride of Honor...

The closing ceremony included the Honor Guard from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, singing of the National Anthem by Somerville's Lena Acosta, comments by Somerset County Park Commission Director Raymond Brown, Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, Rolling Thunder President Gary Scheffmeyer, Vietnamm Veterans of America Chapter 452 President John LeGates, the benediction by Temple Shalom Rabbi Ron Isaacs, and the playing of Taps...


And The Wall presided over it all. Visitors walked the length of The Wall commenting on the size and the number of names while parents tried to explain The Wall. Others took photographs of the entire wall and, often, searched for that one particular name - or more than one. They made rubbings of names.

Many reached out and touched The Wall and that special name...

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.
Slideshow by Susan Gulliford.

The Traveling Vietnam Wall: Clark and Garwood

This is a personal post by one of the HNJJ photographers who grew up in Clark and went to Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School which Garwood students also attended.

These seven names on the Vietnam Wall honor residents of Clark and Garwood in Union County. They played on the same streets we did, went to some of the same schools. They grew up. They graduated...



Joseph Vincent Whelan - Garwood - 1942-1969

John Winters - Clark - 1950-1969

Thomas Edward Badavas - Garwood - 1946-1967

Richard Danner Hartman - Clark - 1935-1967

Kenneth Edward Kuspiel - Clark - 1947-1968

Robert Lee Sevell - Clark - 1943-1968

Kevin Corcoran - Garwood - 1950-1968


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Forever Young by Joan Baez

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Each name is linked to their Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page.
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The photographs were taken at the Traveling Vietnam Wall last week in Bridgewater, NJ.
Thank you.
Susan G. - ALJRHS Class of 1968

The Traveling Vietnam Wall - Saturday's Ceremony

On Saturday the American Veterans Traveling Tribute featuring the Traveling Vietnam Wall held Military Service Day Honoring All Who Served.

The ceremony featured the NJ Civil Air Patrol Cadet Color Guard,US Air Force Auxiliary, the National Anthem sung by Somerville's Tess Giardina, remarks by Somerset County Freeholder Peter Palmer, North Branch Reformed Church Pastor Todd Buurstra, Somerset County Director of Veterans Affairs Peter Niemiec, Bridgewater Mayor Patricia Flannery, AVTT Marketing Director Tom Zarcone, US Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, former Freeholder and Park Commissioner John Kitchen. The mayors and representatives of 13 Somerset County municipalities laid wreaths honoring the 34 Somerset County residents who gave their lives during the Vietnam War...

The people who attended - the veterans, those who worked on the program and participated, the sponsors, the family members, those remembering those whose names are on the Wall, and residents who thought that it was important to be there...


Overseeing everything - The Wall...

The Traveling Vietnam Wall - Sunrise

Saturday sunrise at the American Veterans Traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit at North Branch Park...


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For music click on the smaller triangle below:
Kujicity blog: Four Seasons 2010 in My Hometown

[Due to a translation problem HNJJ doesn't have the exact name and performer...yet.]

Traveling Vietnam Wall Honors Law Enforcement and First Responders

Friday evening's ceremonies at the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit honored Law Enforcement and First Responders.

The ceremony included speeches by Peapack-Gladstone Chief Gregory Skinner,Deacon Lawrence Duffy, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano, and Somerset County Mutual Aid Fir Coordinator Doug Rue. Karren Newman of the Somerset County Park Commission sang the National Anthem, three wreaths were laid and the Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums played...

The people who attended - the veterans, the police,rescue squad members,and fire fighters,those who worked on the program and participated, the sponsors, the family members, those remembering the veterans whose names are on the Wall, and residents who thought that it was important to be there...

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Once to Every Man and Nation arranged and played by Ray Pool...

First verse (hymn):

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.

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The rain broke for the ceremonies...

Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford
and George Mariasz.

Traveling Vietnam Wall Opening Day

The Opening Day Ceremonies for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute including the traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit took place at North Branch Park on Thursday, October 13, 2011.

The Opening Ceremonies included the presentation of the colors, the singing of the National Anthem, speakers, and the laying of wreaths...

The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented commemorative medals honoring Somerset County veterans who served during the Vietnam war...

The people who attended - including the veterans, those who worked on the program and participated, the sponsors, the family members, those remembering the veterans whose names are on the Wall, and residents who thought that it was important to be there...
A final thank you to the musicians who wrote and performed three songs for the ceremony, Tyler Mylroie, Joe Reina, Joe Reina,Jr., and Bob Burke...

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Try to Remember by Andy Williams...

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Traveling Vietnam Wall in Bridgewater

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Traveling Vietnam Wall opens tomorrow at the Somerset County Park Commission's North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater.

The centerpiece of the display is the Traveling Vietnam Wall, a 370-foot-long 80% scale model of the Washington D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The wall opens to visitors at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 13th and is open 24-hours-a-day until Sunday, October 16th at 3 p.m.. There are daily events scheduled and the VA will have counselors on site at all times.

Thursday's Schedule:
The Wall and Exhibits open to the public at 1pm.

Opening ceremonies at 6pm -
Presentation of colors by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 452 color guard
Opening Remarks and Pledge of Allegiance led by NJ Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman
Singing of the national anthem by Isabel Stein, Annandale NJ
Invocation and blessing of the wall and exhibits by Deacon John R. Pacifico, St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, Raritan NJ
County Welcome by Somerset County Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski
Remarks by NJ Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs Ray Zawacki
Remarks by NJ Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi
Remarks by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 452 President John LeGates

Laying of wreaths:
POW/MIA wreath by Freeholders Robert Zaborowski and Peter S. Palmer
Gold Star Mothers of New Jersey wreath by Charlene Cosgrove-Bowie
Military Order of Purple Hearts Chapter 27 wreath - Ted Dima and Ken Meaney
Department of New Jersey Marine Corps League wreath by Rosemary Fleming

Presentation by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of commemorative medals honoring Somerset County veterans who served during the Vietnam Era

Musical Performance by Tyler Mylroie, Joe Reina, Sr., Joe Reina, Jr., and Bob Burke
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For more information on this event go here.

The daily events schedule is here.

Somerset History Weekend: Day 2

This afternoon, the second day of Somerset County's Weekend Journey Through the Past, the HNJJ photographers visited four more of the 22 historic sites: the First Reformed Church of Rocky Hill on Washington Street in Rocky Hill, the 1830 Griggstown Schoolhouse on Canal Road in Franklin Township, the Old Millstone Forge Blacksmith Shop and Museum, and the Old Presbyterian Graveyard on East High Street in Bound Brook.
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Photographs courtesy of George Mariasz and Susan Gulliford.

Somerset History Weekend: Day 1

Today, the first day of Somerset County's Weekend Journey Through the Past , the HNJJ photographers went to four of the 22 historic sites: the South Branch School House on South Branch Road in Branchburg, Andrew Ten Eyck House on Old York Road in Branchburg, the Codington Farmstead on Mt. Horeb Road in Warren, and the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead on King George Road in Basking Ridge.

Somerset County History Weekend

The Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission's annual Weekend Journey Through the Past starts tomorrow.

Twenty-two historic sites are open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. with many of them planning special exhibits, tours, and activities. Admission and parking at all the sites are free.

Dress comfortably. Take your camera. You will have more fun if you participate in the activities and you will learn stuff. All ages will enjoy this. Take a picnic lunch or find a place to eat while you are touring Somerset County. [Miss Rose says to mention that dogs are not welcome at all the sites.]

The HNJJ staff has a special soft spot for Codington Farmstead in Warren Township. The last resident Codington family member died in 2003. The 21st century is already history and so many items in the house remind us of our own grandparents. And not everyone in Central Jersey lives in a new house with all the technical gadgets - or needs to. [Note: That last comment is from the resident Luddite.]

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The Somerset County Weekend Journey Through the Past website is here or here.
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The slideshow photographs were taken during the tours from 2007 through 2010 and are provided courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Visiting Nurse Association Sale - October 2011

This weekend's Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills' Rummage Sale starts tomorrow, opening at 9:30 a.m., a sale that is such a tradition that there are people who take off from work to attend. Pickers from NYC line up early on opening day.

Take a list of what you need or you will be overwhelmed and forget half your stuff. We have purchased a sink protector that fit a twenty-year-old sink for a quarter. Located a copy of a current best-selling non-fiction book and found a 1967 copy of Gans' classic study The Levittowners. Matched a computer cable that we needed and purchased a nearly-new London Fog raincoat for $3. For 50-cents we got the nice soup plate under our basil plant and matched a broken piece of china.

Be prepared to spend time there. You may have to stand in line to get into some of the "stores". Take small change. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. If you get hungry you can get a hot dog and a soda.

For more information, hours, and directions go to the VNA website.

Belmar Beach Gold

Belmar - Sunrise to Sunset

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years

Belmar Marina Sunset

This grey sunset may not make for spectacular photography, but it can be very calming...

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Sea Fever by John Masefield (1878 – 1967) [Salt-Water Ballads (1902)]

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Bluegrass Concert at the Library

Yesterday afternoon the Friends of the Hillsborough Public Library hosted a concert by Mark Miklos and the Raritan Valley Ramblers...

Following the show some of the fans met the band...

Food donations from the audience supported the Hillsborough Food Bank.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Bluegrass Concert at the Library Tomorrow

The Hillsborough Library will host a performance by Mark Miklos and the Raritan Valley Ramblers tomorrow, Saturday, September 24th at 2 p.m.

This popular bluegrass music program is free, but audience members are encouraged bring donations of nonperishable food items for the Hillsborough Foodbank.
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From the Library:

An afternoon of traditional roots style Bluegrass Music with Mark Miklos and the Raritan Valley Ramblers. Mark's powerful performances have been captivating country music fans everywhere. A favorite performer at country and bluegrass music festivals, Mark has opened for such country music stars as Ricky Skaggs, Leeann Rimes and Lee Ann Womack. The performance is free but we would appreciate your support by donating nonperishable food items for the Hillsborough Township Foodbank. ...Registration is required. Registration can be done using the online library calendar, or at the Adult Services Desk. For more information call Adult Services at 908-369-2200 ext 12

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The slideshow photographs were taken at the 2010 show by Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Remembering Mark Singley and 9/11?

The Hillsborough e-news September 9th issue suggested a number of ways that residents might remember the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks including a visit to the 9/11 Memorial at Singley Park - shown in a beautiful photograph.

The HNJJ crew thought that this was a good suggestion for those who would prefer a quiet place to meditate or pray instead of an organized ceremony or event, but after a visit to the memorial, we held off on our recommendation.

The "Singley Park" directional sign on Amwell Road was mostly obscured by vegetation, but we knew the park was somewhere on Woodfern Road. After a few minutes of wandering around the area we came upon a worn broken sign next to Woodfern School identifying Mark E. Singley Park...

A ride up the rutted driveway brought us within sight of an American flag at half-staff and a bench that resembled the one pictured in the e-news...


Maybe refreshing the Memorial would have been a good project for the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, but that has passed. October 22nd is USA Weekend's Make A Difference Day, but we shouldn't have to wait for a declaration.

Take gardening gloves, pruners,and something to hold the weeds that you pull. There should be some type of working spotlight for the American flag. As for refurbishing the park sign, at least some paint would help, even if you can't repair the whole thing; there is probably some kind of township regulation about this, including approved park sign colors.
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Here are some September 5, 2009, photographs of the memorial that were posted on flickr.
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For those of you who don't remember Mark Singley, the September 13, 2000 resolution and the proclamation naming the new Woodfern Road Recreational Complex “Mark E. Singley Park” is here.

Miss Rose Visits Belmar

Miss Rose here doing another guest post.

In August my people took me to Belmar. We have a friend who let us use her doggie-friendly apartment. Everyone said that we were going to the beach. You can look at the slideshow and judge for yourself whether we went to the beach...

I did get to see the beach.
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The second anniversary of my adoption was on Wednesday. As I am now about 10-years-old my humans don't know if I have ever been to the beach...and I'm not telling.

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Photographs by Susan Gulliford who also wrote down what I told her to. - Miss Rose

Somerville September 11th Ceremony

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

HVFC#2: 9-11 Ceremony

On the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the United States, Hillsborough Township Volunteer Fire Company #2 - Unit 37 located on Route 206 - held its annual service recognizing the victims, particularly the first responders, who died that day...


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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

HTVFC#3: 9-11 Memorial Garden Dedication

Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company #3 held it's 9-11 Memorial Garden Dedication Ceremony yesterday.


The first responders who died at the World Trade Center 10 years ago were recognized: Station 38 members read the names of the 343 FDNY fire fighters, Hillsborough Police Chief Paul Kaminsky read the names of the 23 NYPD officers, and Station 38 Auxiliary President Diane Nagy read the names of the 37 Port Authority Police Department officers...


The Monument...


The people...



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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Somerset County's September 11th Memorial

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The slideshow photographs of the Somerset County September 11th Memorial at the corner of Main and Bridge Streets in Somerville were taken by Susan Gulliford during Somerville's Friday Night Cruises over the last five years.

September 11th, 2011

Several services commemorating the tenth anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001 are being held in and around Hillsborough:

In Somerville at 8:46 a.m. the Somerset County Board of Freeholders will host a ceremony at the September 11th Memorial at the corner of Main and Bridge Streets remembering particularly the 39 Somerset County residents who were victims of the World Trade Center attack. The ceremony is scheduled to include a tree-planting, wreath laying Sheriff's Honor Guard, and Somerset County Police Pipes & Drums.

At 10 a.m. Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company #2 on Route 206 will hold their annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony.

Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company #3 - Woods Road will hold its 9-11 Memorial Garden Dedication Ceremony. The garden will open at 11 a.m. followed by a ceremony at 12 p.m. followed by light refreshments.

Norz Hill Farm will open their Freedom Maze to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will observe the National Moment of Silence at 1 p.m.
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Photographs in the slideshow of the 2002 and 2006 September 11th Memorial services at Hillsborough Township Fire Company #3 courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Today's Tuxedo Park KC 2011 Show Cancelled

The Tuxedo Park Kennel Club dog show, scheduled for today, is one of the shows cancelled this weekend due to flooding at North Branch Park in Bridgewater,NJ. Here is a slideshow from last year's show:

North Branch Park Dog Shows Cancelled

This weekend's entire four-day North Branch Cluster of dog shows has been cancelled due to flooding at the Somerset Park Commission's North Branch Park including:

Thursday, Sept 8 – Three specialty shows: Central New Jersey Hound Association, Non-Sporting Group Club of the Garden State, Big Apple Sporting Society

Friday, September 9 – Tuxedo Park Kennel Club

Saturday, September 10 - Somerset Hills Kennel Club

Sunday, September 11 – Westchester Kennel Club

Usually when I write about dog shows I advise my readers that "dog shows are held in all but the most dangerous weather" so they should plan accordingly. Since the beginning of my involvement in dog shows in 1975 I have never run across a cancelled show so this is another indication of how serious Hurricane Irene and the follow-up rain storms are.

According to the AKC website, there has also been a show cancellation in North Conway, New Hampshire,...another area hard by flooding.

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Because our photographer Susan Gulliford was looking forward to this weekend's shows as a break from cleaning out her water-damaged basement and it's contents, we are including a slideshow of her photographs from Somerset Hills Kennel Club shows back to 2004. Once again Blogger has cut off the right side of some of the pictures.

POTUS: Damned If You Do...

President Obama visited flooded Paterson, NJ, this past week.

It's interesting that if a President travels out of Washington, DC, to another area of the country (or even another area of the world), he is criticized for not staying in Washington and working.

If he stays in Washington, he is criticized for not getting out and seeing other areas.

If he visits an area hit by a natural disaster, he is wasting time and money and causing problems. If he doesn't visit, he is too insular and doesn't understand what is happening outside of the Beltway.

One forum even had commentators arguing about whose flood was worse as the President should have visited the worst one.

Can't win.

Exclusions...

Last weekend it rained here in HNJJ territory. It rained a lot.

Before sunrise last Sunday morning the dog wanted to go out. While we were up, we headed down the cellar to check up on the cat's breakfast supply...and were greeted at the bottom of the cellar stairs with several inches of water.

After spending two hours carrying buckets of water up the stairs and making no appreciable difference in the water level, we finally got the sump pump out of the sump pump well and took it outside. After washing it out we found that a red silty mud had jammed the impeller. A good cleaning and it was back working.

But meanwhile...we had a wet cellar rug and all the stuff stored in the basement.

Like all good homeowners who had dutifully paid our insurance bills for nearly a quarter-of-a-century, we telephoned our insurance company, reported our very-first- ever claim, and received a reference number.

Like all bad insurance companies, two days later (about the time that the cellar was really beginning to smell)they declined our claim. They pointed out this exclusion...

"...water which backs up through sewer or drains or water which enters into and overflows from within in a sump pump, sump pump well or other type of system designed to remove subsurface water which is drained from the foundation area..."

They don't even have a sump pump rider available.

Other friends who had the exact same problem and other insurance companies were covered.

*sigh*

Have to go now and move more boxes and carry out more pieces of rug...

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To our readers: This would be a really good time to review your homeowner policy.

When It Rains, the Water Has to Go Somewhere

Did the rain and the subsequent flooding this week get your attention?

Good. I’m now going to give you a lesson about impervious coverage. No, no – don’t you turn away! Pay attention!

Hillsborough residents – especially those of us who remember Hurricane Floyd – should worry about the increase in impervious coverage in our town.

Attend a Board of Adjustment meeting and listen to an application for an impervious coverage variance. It always seems like such a little thing and the individual applicants often seem annoyed that they even have to be there for such a minor item.

Just to clarify “impervious coverage” to the uninitiated (after all, I’ve noticed how empty those BOA meetings usually are), it’s when you put something over the dirt that will prevent or substantially reduce the natural percolation of water. Breaking it down further, people put down/construct something that stops rain from draining into the earth where it falls.

Okay, that still doesn’t do it for me. Let’s say a homeowner puts in a cement sidewalk 5-feet wide and 20-feet long. They have just installed 100-square-feet of impervious surface. The rain that would have soaked into that 100-square-feet has to go somewhere. The more impervious surface installed, the more water runoff has to be accounted for.

[I’ve done my best. Try Google or go to Wikipedia under Impervious Surface or talk to an engineer who does this type of work. On second thought, forget the engineer; you’ll only get more confused]

To continue, each building lot has a percentage of its surface that may by ordinance be covered by impervious surfaces – usually, for single-family home residential areas, around 15% to 20%, depending on the zoning laws, use laws, lawsuits, and laws I don’t even know about.

With the number of square feet covered by their home, driveway, sidewalk, and, maybe, a small patio, most homeowners max out on their allowable impervious coverage. That’s when they appear before the BOA for a variance to build that sunroom or the tiny little walkway around the pool.

The majority get their variance, although sometimes they have to scale back their projects. They are often irritated: It’s only a small amount and a man’s home is his castle and why did they bother to ask permission they should have just gone ahead with their project and not even asked and it’s a stupid law anyhow.

Okay, now that you have gotten that out of your system, think about the anxiety you may have felt this week watching the rain fall.

Think again.

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Attend a Planning Board meeting sometime when a developer is arguing for an upward change in the amount of allowed coverage in their large subdivisions (just a little bit – maybe 5%) or smaller lots with closer, larger houses. Remember this week’s flooding.

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Update: This was first published by the HNJJ on April 18, 2007, but applies(unfortunately) this week. It came to mind as two of the HNJJ crew were spending their third day carrying wet boxes out of their cellar.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

Fireworks Cancelled

Apparently three-is-not-a-charm, at least when it comes to Hillsborough's Independence Day Fireworks. They were re-scheduled for Labor Day after two weather- related cancellations; they have now been cancelled for the third time and are not being rescheduled.

According to the Hillsborough e-news:

The Fireworks Vendor has notified Hillsborough that the fireworks have been cancelled. As a result of Hurricane Irene, the field conditions are not conducive to having the large trucks drive upon it and that concern was raised by the Vendor. There are also concerns about the weekend weather forecast and it is feared that the event will be cancelled again after having multiple rain dates. These issues, coupled with the fact that the Township is concentrating their efforts on the restoration and clean up after the storm, prompted the cancellation.

Bigger and better Fourth of July fireworks will be established for next year by the event sponsors, Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi and TD Bank.

Hillsborough Shop Rite Update

The Hillsborough Shop Rite Pharmacy is open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Hillsborough Shop Rite food store is scheduled to reopen tomorrow at 7 a.m.

Hillsborough Shop Rite Closed

If you need to go to the Hillsborough Shop Rite...












..don't bother...








That includes the Pharmacy.

SCPC Concert: The Infernos

Enjoy these photographs from last night's Somerset County Park Commission concert featuring The Infernos..

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Photographs courtesy of George Mariasz and Susan Gulliford.

Jersey Quake??

Here at HNJJ at 1:53 p.m. we were working on a calming photo slideshow of a Sunset at Belmar Marina when our office shook with two distinct shakes a few seconds apart.

Hillsborough Police dispatch already knew about it and were looking into the possibility of an earthquake.

An earthquake in New Jersey?

When you aren't used to it, it rattles your composure. The Californians are probably laughing at us.

Sunset at Belmar Marina

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.