Happy New Year 2014

The HNJJ crew's traditional New Year's song - Mama
Cass Elliot (1941-1974) performing New World Coming...



There's a New World Coming
And it's just around the bend
There's a new world coming
This one's coming to an end

There's a new voice calling
You can hear it if you try
And it's growing stronger
With each day that passes by

There's a brand new morning
Rising clear and sweet and free
There's a new day dawning
That belongs to you and me

Yes a new world's coming
The one we've had visions of
Coming in peace, coming in joy, coming in love

Open Space: Flagg Way Park

It has recently come to the attention of the HNJJ crew that a former Hillsborough Township Committeeman who is a current member of the Open Space Advisory Committee is apparently completely unaware of all the open space that is accessible to residents. In the spirit of helping everyone find these areas, including the aforementioned person, we will be presenting information about some of these preserved properties.

Flagg Way Park 2013 - slideshow

According to the township's Parks Directory, Flagg Way Park is two acres containing a playground and a tennis court. A macadam path with a sign reading Flagg Way Field leads to a baseball field. The baseball field behind the Woods Road Firehouse is visible through a narrow wooded area next to the Flagg Way baseball field.
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For more information about Hillsborough's Open Space and the current attempt by the Township Committee to divert "up to 20%" of monies intended for the continued purchase of open space, go to FOHOS Facebook page.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Open Space: Singley Park

It has recently come to the attention of the HNJJ crew that a former Hillsborough Township Committeeman who is a current member of the Open Space Advisory Committee is apparently completely unaware of all the open space that is accessible to residents. In the spirit of helping everyone find these areas, including the aforementioned person, we will be presenting information about some of these preserved properties.

Singley Park 2013 - slideshows

Mark E. Singley Park, 14-acres located at 425 Woodfern Road next to Woodfern Elementary School, contains softball fields, soccer fields, rest rooms, and a picnic area. There is a macadam walking path and wonderful views across the farm fields to the nearby mountains. Next to the stone parking lot, stop for a moment's reflection at the September 11, 2001 Memorial.

For more information about Hillsborough's Open Space and the current attempt by the Township Committee to divert "up to 20%" of monies intended for the continued purchase of open space, go to FOHOS Facebook page.

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford

Welcome, FOHOS!

Get used to seeing the initials FOHOS - Friends of Hillsborough Open Space. As a result of the Township Committee passing Ordinance 2013-17 regarding the diversion of 20% of our Open Space Trust Fund money from the purchase of land, a group of residents formed FOHOS. Here is their press release:

Formation of Friends Of Hillsborough Open Space (FOHOS)
Announces Opposition to November Ballot Question

August 26, 2013

A group of concerned Hillsborough citizens recently met and agreed to the formation of a new, non-partisan, grassroots organization, the Friends of Hillsborough Open Space (FOHOS). FOHOS's mission is to build a community wide volunteer group dedicated to assisting the Township in supporting the preservation and stewardship of open space lands in order to maintain Hillsborough's semi-rural character.

In 1995 Hillsborough voters overwhelmingly passed, by a margin of over 62% of the vote, a ballot question to establish an Open Space Tax that would be reserved solely for protecting farmlands from development and for the acquisition of undeveloped lands as open space. Recently, the Hillsborough Township Committee passed an ordinance that places a question on the November ballot that, if approved by the voters, would authorize the Committee to divert up to 20% of the Open Space Tax collected each year to uses other than preservation. This was done despite significant resident opposition expressed at the meeting at which the ordinance was adopted.

FOHOS opposes the diversion of any of the Open Space Tax funds away from the originally authorized use of protecting and preserving additional open space lands. Approximately $1.5 million dollars is collected each year for the Open Space Trust Fund. Of this amount, about half goes towards paying down the debt incurred from previous open space purchases. The proposed 20% diversion would leave only 30% of the money collected each year ($450,000) for new preservation efforts. Considering the high cost of property in central New Jersey and that matching funds from the state Green Acres program are currently no longer available, FOHOS strongly believes that every dollar of locally collected funds should be dedicated only for preservation. Money Magazine's recent acknowledgment of Hillsborough as one of the best places to live in America was based largely on the township's efforts to maintain a balance between new development and preservation of the semi-rural character of the community – a process that should continue.

FOHOS will be holding a meeting to discuss in more detail the history of the open space program, the economic and environmental benefits of open space, and the reasons why the diversion of open space tax dollars is a bad idea for Hillsborough. The time and place for the meeting will be announced shortly. All Hillsborough residents are strongly encouraged to attend and become members of FOHOS. Additionally, they may visit the FOHOS Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/FOHOSNJ or email FOHOS at fohosnj@gmail.com.

Please follow their Facebook page.

Rotary Fair Week 2013: Making The Magic Happen

The 2013 Hillsborough Rotary Fair runs through Sunday. The HNJJ crew would like to recognize the volunteers - the Rotarians and their friends and family - who make it happen...

2013 Rotary Fair Wednesday - slideshows

Thanks for the memories.
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For more information on the Hillsborough Rotary Club and the Fair, including the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Raffle, go here.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

A Cautionary Tale for Hillsborough

In 1998 Bernardsville voters approved an Open Space Trust Fund.  In 2008 voters approved a referendum allowing the use of 20% of the fund for the development of open space properties.   [Hillsborough voters, does this sound familiar so far?]

Before the Bernardsville referendum a recreation study showed a need for more playing fields. [Wait...you mean they did the needs study first?  What a concept!]  But, stuff happens; Hurricane Sandy's cleanup cost money and their Board of Education proposed building an artificial field on borough-owned property.

In November, 2012, Bernardsville voters decisively defeated a plan to pay for a $1.2-to-$1.4-million artificial field with 66% voting no.  Unfortunately a non-binding referendum.

Undeterred, the council is now proposing a November, 2013, referendum to decide whether to pay for the new artificial field with Open Space monies or a 10-year bond.  Yes, they are going ahead anyway.

It may be worthwhile for Hillsborough residents to watch what is happening just up the road in the northern end of Somerset County.

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June 29, 2012 - New Jersey Hills Newspaper:
http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/bernardsville-turf-vote-eyed/article_218bc4ec-c13e-11e1-95d2-001a4bcf887a.html

March 15, 2013 - NJ Hills Newspaper:
http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/new-field-turf-vote-possible-in-bernardsville/article_2352f174-8c59-11e2-9a85-001a4bcf887a.html

June 7, 2013 - NJ Hills Newspaper:
http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/decision-on-field-turf-question-draws-near-in-bernardsville/article_0329b77e-ce59-11e2-b985-001a4bcf887a.html

July 10, 2013 - NJ.com:
http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2013/07/bernardsville_leaders_wants_artificial_turf_at_upper_polo_grounds_one_way_or_the_other.html

Ordinance 2013-17: Plan Ahead???

It has been proposed that Hillsborough's voters decide whether 20% of the Open Space Trust Fund be used for something other than the purchase of Open Space.

The proposed ordinance generalizes that the 20% is "...to be utilized for the the development and, or improvement of park and recreation facilities that are located on property within the open space and park inventory for recreation, conservation and general open space purposes."

What exactly do they want to do and where do they want to do it?

On May 3rd Committeeman Carl Suraci made a presentation to the Open Space Advisory Committee which included vague suggestions about ball fields, active and passive recreation, and synthetic fields. He couldn't exactly state what those needs were, but reassured those present that they would do a needs assessment later.

The township news release that was supposed to explain the proposal to divert 20% from Open Space purchases states, "If the ordinance is passed [on July 23rd] at a public hearing, the Township Committee will also consider a resolution calling for a study to conduct a thorough analysis of the passive and active recreational needs for Hillsborough Township. The resulting report will provide guidance to prioritizing any improvements."

This proposed ordinance is too general and has too much latitude for unknown persons to make unspecified spending decisions.

Why should a critical use such as purchasing currently available open space suffer for some unidentified and apparently unexplainable recreation use?

Is it that Parks and Recreation needs more money? Then make that an issue on next year's budget, don't play a shell game where the taxpayer has to guess which shell to choose.

This would be a good time for the Township Committee to graciously withdraw proposed Ordinance 2013-17, figure out what exactly is needed and where and how much it cost.

Then, next year, explain specifically what is being proposed, why it is more important than purchasing open space while it is available, and ask the voters what they want to do.

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"Act in haste, repent at leisure." - various

"Unreasonable haste is the direct road to error." - Moliere

"What do we tell our children? Haste makes waste. Look before you leap. Stop and think. Don't judge a book by its cover. We believe that we are always better off gathering as much information as possible and spending as much time as possible in deliberation." - Malcolm Gladwell

Open Space Confusion?

Hillsborough's press release regarding Proposed Ordinance 2013-17 headlined Open Space Fund Expanded Use Proposal contained this surprising statement:

“Over 30% of Hillsborough Township is preserved from development in open space and this ordinance would permit a ballot question to be placed on the upcoming November 5, 2013 General Election, allowing the voters of Hillsborough to weigh in on whether or not the use of funds from the Open Space Fund can be expanded for additional uses,” stated Mayor Frank DelCore during his comments upon introducing the ordinance.

Intuitively this 30% number seemed, well, just wrong.

Research produced an October 2011 report, Preserved Lands in Hillsborough Township showing "Percent of Land Preserved 30.19%" with a breakout of the numbers.

It is this breakout that explains the confusion.

The report's 30.19% - a total of 10,411 acres - includes such properties as lots owned by NJ DEP/DOT, the Hillsborough section of the Somerset County Sourland Preserve, preserved farmland, Duke Farms wetland easements, and private conservation easements. Would Hillsbrough have the right to develop State-owned, county-owned or privately owned land?

Finally there is Preserved Open Space - Hillsborough 1,679 acres.

Interesting. 1,679 acres is 4.8% of Hillsborough's 35,008 acres, not 30.19%, and Open Space is not the same as preserved land.

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Song of the Day: Ball of Confusion by The Temptations (1970)...

Ball of Confusion 1970 by Tushratta

Dedicated to Open Space

The HNJJ crew is not generally terribly religious, but the Christian hymn This Is My Father's World has been on our minds this week. So for this Sunday...

Pay Attention: Open Space Funds Diversion

The Hillsborough Township Committee is considering Ordinance 2013-17:

“SHALL THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH MODIFY AND EXPAND THE USES AND PURPOSES OF THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO ALLOW FOR NOT MORE THAN 20% OF THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TAX COLLECTED IN ANY ONE YEAR TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND, OR IMPROVEMENT OF PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES THAT ARE LOCATED ON PROPERTY WITHIN THE OPEN SPACE AND PARK INVENTORY FOR RECREATION, CONSERVATION AND GENERAL OPEN SPACE PURPOSES?”

It sounds pretty harmless, doesn't it?

It sounds like a good thing, doesn't it?
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"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot..."
- "Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell.

HHS Band Casino Night

Last night the Hillsborough High School Band Parents held their annual Casino Night - more fun than Atlantic City, closer to home, and doing good while having a great time...

HHS Casino Nt 2013 - slideshow

The HNJJ crew enjoyed a few hours of "gambling" with a congenial group while being entertained by band parent Jonni Drue, who does a great Frank Sinatra tribute show called I'll Be Frank.  And fabulous food, too.
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Photographs compliments of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz who want to disclose that they won a Lawn Care basket compliment of Central Jersey Nursery, Belle Mead Co-op, and Fairway Green.  Thanks.

Belmar Six Months After Sandy

This afternoon two members of the HNJJ crew returned to Belmar six months after Superstorm Sandy hit.  Unfortunately they were not allowed on the beach...

Belmar After Sandy 4/27 - slideshow

But finding that Avon-By-the-Sea's Macaroon Shop was still open made the entire trip worth while.

Hillsborough and the County Access and Mobility Study

The HNJJ crew noticed that the former K-Mart Shopping Center was included as a pilot site in the Somerset County Access and Mobility Study. Two members of the crew had already attended one of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority meetings and there is a second meeting this evening.

From the Somerset County Press release:

SOMERVILLE – The public is invited to a second meeting on the Somerset County Access and Mobility Study on Tuesday, April 2, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The program will be held in the third-floor freeholders’ meeting room in the county administration building at 20 Grove St. Free parking is available in the Bernie Field Parking Deck; enter off East High Street.

“The Access and Mobility Study is part of the county’s efforts to support economic growth and investment in the county,” said Freeholder Robert Zaborowski, planning liaison. “We encourage interested citizens to offer their opinions on the progress of the study to date.”

Seven pilot sites have been identified for potential land-use and traffic improvements. They include sanofi-aventis on Route 202/206 in Bridgewater; a hotel site near the I-287 off ramp at Easton Avenue in Franklin; the K-Mart Shopping Center on Route 206 South in Hillsborough; Weldon Quarry off Valley Road in Watchung; Somerville’s East Central Business District between Route 28 and Veterans Memorial Drive; Green Brook’s Village Commercial District off North Washington Avenue; and the Nora Shopping Center on Hamilton Street in Franklin.

At the meeting, the project team will discuss the study goals, the process used to identify and screen the candidate sites and the collaboration efforts of the county, municipalities and partner agencies.

Draft recommendations for the seven pilot sites will be presented, including current status, site issues, constraints to be addressed and the proposed recommendations.

Public comment is being sought before the project team prepares the final study report. For more information, contact Walter Lane at the Somerset County Planning Board at 908-231-7021 or lane@co.somerset.nj.us

Funding for the study has been provided by a grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

Ethnoarchaeology and Your House

Do you have room in your garage for your car?  How many of your neighbors use their garages?

How many items do you have displayed on your refrigerator?  There is a correlation between that number and the "number of objects per square foot in the house as a whole."

How much food do you have stored? How often does the family eat together?  By the way, families using pre-packaged foods take 26 minutes to prepare a meal while from scratch takes 38 minutes.

How often does anyone use the yard?  For many families the time spent in the yard - even with swings, decks, outdoor furniture - is zero.

How many family photos hang on the walls and in which rooms?  How many Barbies, books, TVs, etc.?  Sports memorabilia?  Religious items?

How do your answers compare with other American families?

After reading this picture-rich book Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century - 32 Families Open Their Doors, you will never look at your home - or anyone elses' - in the same way.

This engrossing book is based on a study done by the Center on Everyday Lives of Families (CELF) at UCLA using ethnoarchaeology: "... the scientific study of societal groups, esp. for understanding the behavioral relationships which underlie the production of material culture...".  Thirty-two California families opened their homes for a thorough research project researching not only what they had in their homes, but how they lived - how they used their possessions.  Applying ethnoarchaeology to modern homes and families produces a type of modern archaeology.

According to this book, Americans currently have the "most possessions per family in global history."  Not only will you compare your family to those in the study, but you will take a second look at all the possessions you have and wonder why you have them.

The only drawback?  The study centered on middle-class families with two working parents and two-to-three children one of whom is 7-to-12-years-old, making it hard to compare your family if you don't fit into these demographics. 

The Hillsborough Public Library has a copy of this book and it isn't often that you read a book that actually makes a difference in the way you live your life.

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Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century - 32 Families Open  Their Doors, by Arnold, Graesch, Raggazzini, and Ochs. (2012).

Fire Company Fish Dinner Today

From the Woods Road Fire Company - HVFC#3:

Hillsborough Fire Company #3 will be holding its annual fish fry buffet on Friday February 22 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Buffet menu includes baked tilapia, fried cod, fried clams, fried shrimp, chicken fingers, pierogies, vegetable medley, french fries, rice, home made cole slaw, salad, desserts, coffee, tea, and cold drinks.

•Adults - $12
•Senior Citizens (60 and up) - $11
•Children (5 to 12) - $9
•Children 4 and under free
Tickets will be sold at the door.

Duke Farms Eagle Cam 2013

The Duke Farms' eagles are back and so is the Eagle Cam!


Fans of the American Bald Eagle pair in Hillsborough can get their fix once again as Duke Farms has replaced its Eagle Cam and is back on the air.

Rumor has it that there was at least one egg in the nest as of last week, but unfortunately the new camera angle does not allow a view down into the nest the way that the old one did. Maybe that can be corrected when this year's eaglets are banded.

Just to hold over the peeping Toms, here are the 2012 eaglets...

Additionally, Duke Farms hosts the Duke Brook Habitat cam, overlooking a shallow pool below a spillway on the property...


Live video for mobile from Ustream

Vote Today on Fire Budget and Two Commissioners

Today Hillsborough Township voters choose two fire commissioners and decide whether to approve or disapprove the 2013 Fire Budget.

Three firefighters are running for two seats on the Board of Fire Commissioners: incumbent Matthew DeCicco, Charles Nuara, and John Catrombon, Jr.  For more information about the three candidates, go to this Hillsborough Beacon article.

The fire district budget, covering salaries and benefits, insurance, and equipment, is $2.1 million with $1,706,673 from local property taxes.  For more information about the budget, go to this Hillsborough Beacon article.

Voting runs from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hillsborough Municipal Building, 379 South Branch Road.

Happy Valentine's Day!

From Miss Rose...

...and Foxie (who swears that Miss Rose told her there would be a treat in the candy box)...

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Click on this Valentine's puzzle to go to the Jigzone
to mix it up and solve it...

Duke Farms in the Snow

The cross-country skiers have found the new Duke Farms...

...as have the photographers...

Visitors have also been spotted on snow shoes, but no sledders reported. That hill in front of "the mansion that was never built" would be an awesome sled run! Unfortunately you would have to carry in your sled.

Duke Farms has also introduced a Geotrail with 11 caches.

And you can post your Duke Farms photographs on flickr.
Remember they are closed to the public on Wednesdays.

Operation Shoebox NJ Saturday

From an Operation Shoebox NJ press release:MANVILLE - Volunteers are invited to join Operation Shoebox New Jersey pack care packages for US troops overseas and commemorate the organization’s 8th anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 9.

The packing will be at the Kavanaugh VFW Post #2290, 600 Washington Ave., Manville, with registration at 11 a.m., followed by opening ceremonies. Packing begins at 11:30 a.m. A light lunch will be provided.

Soldiers and Marines who received packages from OPSHBX NJ gift packages during their deployments are expected to attend and extend their thanks to the volunteers.

Volunteer packers are encouraged to donate personal care items for shipment, including snacks and toiletries. Check the shopping list on our website and bring along a bag of needed items.

The packages sent overseas will include a box of Girl Scout cookies donated by troops in the Heart of New Jersey Council; bagged candy collected from 15 Walgreen stores donated by shoppers; cans of tuna, cans of fruit, trail mix, beef jerky, gum, candy, granola bars, powdered drink mixes, coffee, tea, oatmeal, hot chocolate, toothpaste, tooth brushes, ear swabs, moist wipes, sun block, eye drops, soap, shampoo, socks, stationary, envelopes, pens, batteries and other items.

Volunteers will also have the opportunity to sit down and write a short letter to the troops; all cards and letters will be inserted into the boxes. We'll also add stuffed animals and other gift items for the troops to hand out to young Iraqi and Afghan children.

Since its founding in February, 2005, OPSHBX NJ volunteers have shipped over 61,000 personal care packages overseas. Financial support is also needed to help pay the costs of shipping the packages. All donations are tax deductible. Volunteers are asked to sign up in advance on the OPSHBX NJ website.

Sourland Mountain Preserve Expands

From a Somerset County press release:
HILLSBOROUGH & MONTGOMERY – In the final week of 2012, Somerset County completed the acquisition of more than 250 acres from Carrier Clinic Inc. in the southern part of the county.

The Carrier property acquired by the county consists of 256.5 acres of wooded and agricultural land located at the base of the Sourland Mountain in Hillsborough and Montgomery townships along East Mountain Road and County Route 601.

“This acquisition is a great addition to the county’s growing Sourland Mountain Preserve,” said Freeholder Director Peter S. Palmer. “The county’s commitment to preserving the Sourland Mountain has made it the largest park area in the county’s park system.”

“The preservation of the Carrier Clinic property continues the county’s goal of preserving the environmentally significant Sourland region,” said Freeholder Mark Caliguire, liaison to the county’s Open Space Advisory Committee. “In addition to helping to protect the region, the acquisition of this property will maintain the unobstructed views across the open fields to the Sourland Mountain.”

“Through the sale of Carrier Clinic acreage to Somerset County for open space, Carrier has been able to continue the legacy of the surrounding grounds remaining a place of serenity and relaxation,” said Carrier Clinic Chief Financial Officer Randy Jacobson. “Additionally, the proceeds will enable Carrier Clinic to continue its 103-year mission in serving the behavioral health needs of thousands of residents within our Somerset community and beyond.”

A 2,500-foot section of a Pike Run tributary traverses the northern boundary of the property, providing water to the Delaware & Raritan Canal. The acquisition represents a substantial expansion of the Sourland Mountain Preserve, which provides both critical habitat and watershed protection to the Sourland Mountain region.

The acreage of the Carrier property will increase the total area of the Sourland Mountain Preserve to just over 5,450 acres. The property will be limited to passive recreational uses such as trails and bird watching.

The Carrier property made up the bulk of the 302 acres added to the county’s open space holdings in 2012. Total parkland as of the end of the year was 13,302 acres.

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For more information about the Sourland Mountain Preserve, start with the Sourland Planning Council website.

HNJJ's Two Trees

Following October's Hurricane Sandy, the ensuing Nor'easter snowstorm, and last week's wind, it was comforting to drive over to the field where the two trees stand and find them still there...

It would have been easy to spend time mourning the large limb that had broken off and was laying on the farmer's access lane, but it is much more satisfying and productive to celebrate what is still standing...

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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford who notes that almost every local art show includes a sketch or painting or photograph of these two old companions who apparently inspire other residents.

Sunday Breakfast

RVSB 2013 Children's Concert: Heroes and Villains

From the RVSB website:
Bridgewater, NJ, February 3, 2013— The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band (RVSB) will present its annual children’s concert Sunday February 3, 2013 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.

This concert is a great opportunity for children to learn to recognize musical instruments, while sharing a cultural performance with parents. Under the musical direction of Jennifer Eidel, RVSB Assistant Conductor, children will listen to music from popular kid’s movies like The Incredibles, Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter. The band will also perform “Symphonic Marches” by John Williams and “Armed Forces Salute” arranged by Bob Lowden.

A musical instrument “petting zoo” will follow the 45 minute concert. This demonstration of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments will be given by members of the band and will take place in the lobby of the auditorium.

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Every detail of the RVSB Children's Concert series is designed to appeal to the younger set, while still providing a fun musical experience for the adults.

The band members dress in a less formal manner, audience participation is encouraged, the music is familiar to the children, and the concert is less than an hour - short enough to keep the attention of the most wiggly audience member.

Save time for the after-concert "instrument petting zoo". Members of the band show-off their instruments to the children who collect stickers as they make the rounds.

The concert is held at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, 600 Garretson Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Donations are accepted.

HHS Winterguard Competition 2013

The Hillsborough High School Winterguard is hosting 32 units at today's 13th Annual Winterguard Homeshow starting at 4:30 p.m. at Hillsborough High School.

Bridgewater Raritan High School, shown here performing at the HHS Winterguard Dinner in January, is one of the participating competitors...

BRHS Colorguard 2013 - flash slideshow maker

According to the preliminary schedule, the two Hillsborough High School units will perform starting at 9:44 p.m. and BRHS at about 8:30 p.m.

Food is available for purchase. Spectators can come any time during the show for an entrance fee of $10, students and seniors $7.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Copart in the News

Today's Times of Trenton had an interesting story about Copart, a vehicle salvage business, that is currently having a dispute with Mansfield Township (Burlington County) officials.

Apparently Copart leased 22-acres from Vanco, a trucking and trailer company located in Mansfield Township, and, according to the article, "... Over the last two months, thousands of cars have appeared — sometimes in the middle of the night — turning the open space into a massive junkyard and breaking local zoning laws, Mansfield officials said." A NJDEP report says that there are approximately 2,400 vehicles onsite.

Why does the HNJJ find this interesting?

In December, 2012, there was a fire at Hercules Enterprises, a company specializing in custom truck chassis and trailers, on Valley Road. According to a December 3, 2012, NJ.com article "... Officers found about 20 vehicles actively burning in the southeast corner of an expansive staging area on the industrial property where hundreds of salvaged cars were parked, police said. ...The property is leased by the Copart Salvage Auction company on Camplain Road in Hillsborough for storage of its vehicles, police said."

Vanco is scheduled to appear before the Mansfield Township Zoning Board on Monday to get permission to store the vehicles for up to 18-months. It would sure be an interesting meeting for Hillsborough officials.

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Copart of Connecticut, Inc., appeared before the Hillsborough Township Planning Board on January 6, 2011. According to the agenda..

COPART of Connecticut, Inc. – File #10-PB-13-SRV – Block 73.01, Lot 1 – 2124 Camplain Road. Applicant seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval with ‘c’ bulk variance from maximum impervious coverage and waivers to construct an on-site detention basin, staging area for vehicle deliveries, frontage landscaping and driveway access improvements. The Applicant is proposing to use this property in the I-1 District as an internet vehicle processing facility.

Hurricane Sandy: Making Lemonade...

HNJJ guest poster Sam here. During Hurricane Sandy we lost some trees in our yard. The trees were nice, providing shade, places for the birds, privacy in the yard, and, most important for us doggie guys, a nice tree trunk to mark.

When my human started cleaning up the debris, he decided to leave one of the trunks and, being a nice person, he thought of a way to help out the displaced birds...

Humans call this making lemonade out of lemons. In the spring we hope that the birds will just call it home...again.

The Family World War II Teapot

A member of the HNJJ crew, while going through boxes of her late parent's belongings came across a teapot that she didn't remember...

The teapot is not in great shape with some obvious repairs, but it is an unusual World War II memento. The lid reads For England and Democracy...

...while the bottom is decorated with a Staffordshire Knot and the words World War II Made in England Escorted to U.S.A. by Royal Navy...

Some Internet research identified this teapot as made in Stafford County, England, circa 1939 to 1945. The United States and Canada were shipping cargo to England and the ships returned with loads of English ceramics that not only served as ballast, but were sold to raise money for Britain.

The family story of this pot is lost. A grandparent or parent may have bought it and the purchase probably strained the family budget, but many family members were still back home in Wales and England...so it was personal.

This was a time when mom would ship parcels to family wrapped in pieces of sheets - instead of paper - with the address and return address written on the material. Why? Because the family needed everything, even pieces of material with writing on it had value.
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Information about these teapots was found in a Press of Atlantic City article and on the Kovels website.

Rabies Clinic Today

With January being the time to license your dog, it's also time to make sure your dogs - and cats - are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.

Hillsborough Township is having a free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats today, Saturday, January 19th, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Hillsborough Public Works Garage, 21 East Mountain Road, next to the YMCA.

Cats should be in a secure carrier and dogs must be leashed.

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If you have never been to one of these popular clinics, here are a few hints:

It will be cold...its January. Dress warmly; you may have to stand in line for a while.

If your pets are not used to being outside or are sickly or elderly...or aggressive toward other animals or strangers, bring an extra family member or friend to stay in the car with your pet until it gets to be near your turn.

Make your life easier, bring along one person per dog to hold them while each dog gets its shot. Cat carriers can be awkward, so it will make your life easier if you allot one person per cat carrier.

Have your dog leashed. This seems to be common sense, but there is always someone...

Cats are usually done inside the old municipal building. With all the activity and other dogs and cats it will be best for your cats if they are in a carrier.
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If you miss this clinic, there is another one next Saturday, January 26, 2013, in Montgomery Township at their Public Works building on Harlingen Road, Belle Mead.
9am to 10:30am for dogs
10:30am to 12noon for cats
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Photo courtesy of Miss Rose who heartily wishes that the HNJJ crew would find another picture and stop using a picture of her getting a shot in her...

Winterguard 2013: Dinner and a Show!

The Hillsborough Colorguard 2013 Premier Performance and Dinner is this evening, Friday, January 18th, at Hillsborough High School.

The soup, salad, and ice cream dinner runs from 5:30-to-9 p.m. in the HHS Commons.

At 7:15 p.m. five guard performances will be presented in the HHS Gym, including the Bridgewater Raritan Guard, West Essex Guard, North Plainfield Guard, Hillsborough Scholastic Novice Guard, and Hillsborough Scholastic A Guard.

Following the free performances, the popular "Spin with the Guard" event offers audience members a chance to try flag spinning with coaching by HHS Guard members for a $5 donation.

Dinner tickets are $10, $8 for seniors (55-and-up) and children (5-11).

Add the Winterguard Home Show onto your calendar: Saturday, February 2nd.

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For more information on the Hillsborough High School Raider Bands and Winterguard, go to their website.