HEF Summer Concert at AVM 2012

This summer's Hillsborough Educational Foundation Music in the Park series starts at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, with  John Nobile's Summer Swing Orchestra...

John Nobile band 2008 - slideshow

This free outdoor concert is held at Ann Van Middlesworth Park on Pleasant View Road from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

For more information about the Hillsborough Education Foundation, go here.
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The photographs of John Nobile's Summer Swing Orchestra were taken at a performance in Somerville in 2008 and are provided courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Marriage & Battleground?

For at least two years some members of the HNJJ crew have been passing this bill board on the way to the shore...

For some reason it just seems so wrong to have anything associated with a wedding - the reception, ceremony, bridal shower - held at a venue called the Battleground Country Club.

Just bad karma.

Gas Price Budgeting

Traditionally, vacationers gas-up the car when leaving for a trip, even just a day trip.  But that may no longer be the case as gas prices have fluctuated.  On June 18th, when gas in Hillsborough was 329.9/gal., it was 321.9/gal. on the way to Belmar...

Just to make our readers feel better (maybe), a blast-from-the-past: Somerville, July 11th, 2008:

A Retail/Residential Conundrum

If one of your neighbors proposed operating an internet-based retail business out of their home, how would you feel about that?  

Would it depend on how many customers came to the house or how many stops the UPS and FedEx trucks would make? If they were going to erect a sign in the front yard?  Have any employees?
Would it depend on what they were selling?  What if it were drugs?  "Adult" items?  Guns?

For one Hillsborough Township residential neighborhood, considering these questions is more than a philosophical exercise.

This evening the Hillsborough Township Board of Adjustment will consider an application from a Brittany Estates development  homeowner requesting a variance to establish a "home occupation for retail sale of firearms."  The home is located on .43-acres on Walker Drive.  There would be no business sign or off-street parking. 

While home occupations are a permitted use, this specific proposed use is not permitted. 

According to the BOA file, applicant Paul Grappone's  PLG Collectibles Ltd., established in 2005,  is an internet-based home business specializing in dealing with military antiques whose primary clientele are dealers and collectors of militaria.  He is requesting a use variance to permit retail sales of firearms from his residence, but states that it would not be a primary retail sales location as the majority of the business is conducted by telephone and internet.  According to the application, there is no intent for public over-the-counter transactions at this premises, but it is permissible under certain NJ and Federal licenses.

The Board of Adjustment meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillsborough Township Municipal Building.

From this evening's agenda:

Paul GRAPPONE – File #BA-12-06 – Block 207.01, Lot 58 – 52 Walker Drive. Applicant seeking a ‘d’ Use Variance and such other variances, waivers and approvals as are necessary to permit the applicant to use 3% of the total square footage of the residence as a home occupation for retail sale of firearms. The applicant is not proposing any additional off-street parking or a sign on property located in the R District.

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Around 1980 one of the HNJJ crew lived in a small town in a neighboring municipality. The houses were on tiny lots.   A neighbor wanted to establish a gun shop in one of the houses which would include the storage of 200-pounds of black powder.  Denied...the gunpowder may have been the deciding factor.

Practice, Practice, Practice...

Flagtown Water Train 2012 - slideshow

What do Hillsborough's volunteer firefighters do with their "free" time?

Practice!

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Photographs of Flagtown Fire Company #1's Water Rescue Drill held on Saturday, June 9, 2012 courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Raritan Valley Symphonic Band Concert - June 2012

Many Americans think of concerts held in the town park gazebo as an 1800s-early-1900s phenomena, certainly not within the memory of living persons.

Well, think again! Certain members of the HNJJ crew happen to have actually participated in summer concerts where the band did perform while sitting in a park gazebo - in Westfield in the 1960s and 1970s.

This Sunday, June 10th, the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band performs its summer concert Americana: Summer Sounds from the Gazebo.

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band (RVSB) will present its annual summer concert Sunday June 10, 2012 at 3:00 pm in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School auditorium. The school is located at 600 Garretson Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey. Admission is free and open to the public.

Under the musical direction of Lawrence C. Markiewicz, who is a Director of Bands at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, the band will perform a concert titled, “Americana: Summer Sounds from the Gazebo”. Featured songs will include “Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company” by John Phillip Sousa; “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George Gershwin, arranged by Warren Barker; and “The Star Spangled Banner,” arranged by Bill Moffitt. A special highlight during this program will be the performance of the full transcription of Anton Dvorak’s “Symphony No 9 ‘From the New World’ ”, arranged by Erik Liedzen.

This concert will feature three talented local high school musicians. Becky Orlando, of Bridgewater-Raritan High School, will be featured playing the tuba in “Tubby the Tuba”. Orlando was the first chair tuba player in the Region II Wind Ensemble, as well as the NJ All State Wind Ensemble this year. She plans to major in music at Montclair State University in the fall. Also featured in this program will be Bridgewater-Raritan High School senior clarinet players Catherine Heiba and Nicholas Mossa. Heiba and Mossa have solo parts in “Concertino Opus 26” by Carl Maria von Weber. For the last two years Heiba was first chair Eb Soprano clarinet in the Region Wind Ensemble and NJ All State Wind Ensemble, as well as the NJ All State Orchestra. She plans to major in music at Rutgers University next year. Mossa has also held a prestigious first chair seat in the NJ All State Symphonic band in 2011 and placed fifth overall in the All State Wind Ensemble this year. He too will be studying music at Montclair State University in the fall.


This concert is made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program. The Band is sponsored by the Jointure for Community Adult Education and by contributions from local businesses, corporations, foundations and private citizens. For more information about the concert, becoming a sponsor, to request assistance for persons with disabilities, or to inquire about joining the Band, consult the Band’s website at www.rvsb.org, or call 908-359-3136.

The concert is free, but the RVSB accepts donations. They will also be selling Shop Rite gift cards(cash/check)with the band receiving a percentage of the gift card purchases.
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Photographs from the RVSB June 2011 concert courtesy of George Mariasz and Susan Gulliford.