2010 Rotary Fair

Last night was the final evening of this year's Rotary Fair in Hillsborough.

Despite the heat - it was still around 90 degrees - attending the local fair was a childhood tradition worth reliving.

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For more fair photographs - especially of the hard-working Rotary members - courtesy of Susan Gulliford go here.

Tonight's Music in the Park

The Hillsborough Education Foundation and the Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Department are presenting another Music in the Park Concert this evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Ann Van Middlesworth Park on Pleasantview Road.

Thsi evening's featured group is The DADZ. According to their website, they are a rock'n'roll band.

Take along a chair or blanket and enjoy your evening. There is no admission charge.

Down in the Valli..with the Four Seasons

For all us baby boomers who grew up loving the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, this is going to be a great Central Jersey nostalgia weekend with two free concerts featuring their music.

This evening starting at 7 p.m. the Ragdoll Frankie Valli Tribute Band will be performing at Deer Path Park in Readington Township, NJ, as part of the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation "34th Annual - Music Under the Stars".

Sunday evening starting at 7 p.m. the Somerset County Park Commission 2010 Summer Concert Series presents The Boys in Concert with special guest Nicolas King.

While we expect to hear such standards as Big Girls Don't Cry, Sherry, and Walk Like a Man at both concerts, the Boys in Concert also performs other sixties standards from such groups as The Beach Boys and the Motown groups.

There is no charge for either concert. Bring a blanket or chair.

SCPC Concert: Kenny Vance and The Planotones

The Somerset County Park Commission's 2010 Summer Concert series continues tomorrow at 7 p.m. with Kenny Vance and the Planotones.

Those of us who remember the music of the 1950s and 1960s will remember Jay and The Americans; Planotone front-man Kenny Vance was one of the founders. Think Cara Mia. Come a Little Bit Closer, and She Cried.

For more about this group, visit their website.

These free concerts are held at Duke Island Park on Old York Road in Bridgewater. Bring a chair or a blanket. Bring a picnic dinner or buy some ice cream at the concert. Have a great evening!

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These photographs were taken at their hugely popular Somerset County Park Commission appearance in 2007.

HNJJ CHEF: Shelby's Quick Stroganoff

1 lb. ground turkey
3 slices diced bacon
1/2 c. chopped onion
scant 3/4 t. salt
1/4 - 1/2 t. paprika
dash pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c. plain yogurt


1. - Brown the ground turkey with the bacon in a large frying pan.

2. - Add the onion; cook until tender, but not brown.

3. - Drain the excess fat, if there is any.

4. - Add the three seasonings to the meat mixture.

5. - Stir in the soup.

6. - Cook slowly (on low) uncovered for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

7. - Stir in the plain yogurt and heat through - do not boil.

8. - Serve over hot cooked noodles.

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In the early 1970s, when I had my first apartment and no money, my sister-in-law passed along her recipe for Shelby's Hamburger Stroganoff. Over the years the recipe has evolved. The hamburger is now turkey, the bacon is low sodium, the sour cream is yogurt, the salt has been cut down, and the whole-grain noodles are not buttered.

Additionally, you can add a small can of mushrooms.

If you are making it for company or want it a little thicker and have an extra dollar, buy Greek yogurt at Taste of Crete (on Route 206 next to the Cost Cutters mall). It is worth it!

Serve the stroganoff over the noodles with a bright-color vegetable. Should serve 4.

The Return of Bigfoot

Amwell Auto & Tire Center hosted Bigfoot again at today's Customer Appreciation Day.

They had some antique cars, the fire company, and free hot-dogs, soda, cake and various goodies, but when it came to pictures, Bigfoot beat out everything. Everyone wanted a photograph next to the giant tires.



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To view a few more photographs by Susan Gulliford of today's activities go here.
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Also, a few Tire Center friends hadn't seen last year's pictures. For the 2009 pix, go here. At the bottom of the post is a link to Last year's photographs.

Hillsborough Elementary School: In Play

Hillsborough School is officially in play.

Any residents who contributed to the Township's town center design charettes has to have noticed that the elementary school at the corner of State Route 206 and Amwell Road (Somerset County Route 514) didn't appear on the maps.

At the Planning Board meeting of June 10,2010, township planner Bob Ringelheim reviewed three draft ordinances for the consideration of the Board, one of them being "Revisions to Town Center Regulations". One of those amendments involved Hillsborough Elementary School.

Mr. Ringelheim pointed out that the school is located on a prime site, one of the highest valued sites in the Town Center zone. Obviously, a township can't just raze a school without providing for a replacement. So, the town is proposing a bonus of three additional dwelling units per acre (with a cap on the number of units) to encourage a potential developer to provide a new school site and build a new school at no cost to the taxpayers.

The Investopedia definition of "in play" seems perfect for this post's purpose: "...A slang phrase used to describe a firm who has become a potential takeover target or has put itself up for sale. Once a bid is made, a company is put "in play" and will often attract additional bidders..."

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As the HNJJ doesn't have a zoning specialist or politician on its staff, for more information, watch the tape of this meeting on the local government channel or through the Township website or stop in at the municipal building.