Slowing Sonic Speed

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

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

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

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

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

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

HHS Raider Marching Band Festival 2010

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

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

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

Next the marching band choreography is added.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is a great family activity.

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

Quilt Show Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wear comfortable shoes and take your camera!

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

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

Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford.

Rabies Clinics

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

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

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

VNA Rummage Sale Cancellation

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

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

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

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

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For more information about the VNA sale go here.

Welcome Autumn!

Fall arrived last night at 11:09 p.m., but I was already getting my beauty sleep...so welcome to the first full day of fall!

With the temperatures in the upper 80s it's a little difficult to get in the mood, but I'm shedding more than usual, so I know it's autumn.

TeTe's Post

Okay, TeTe here. I saw yesterday's post by Rose and although I was mentioned, I wonder if anyone noticed that I was the only one whose picture was not included. Well, I complained, so here I am in my very own post...

Before you ask, of course I know it's not a real bird. What do you think I am, a dog?...

I enjoy watching Animal Planet, even when they show penguins...

You can't even nap at our house without having your picture taken, but I am still beautiful even when I am asleep...

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This is me and my sister Silver who died in December. We were only about 7-days-old when one of our human's Dobermans found our litter and our mother in a construction site debris pile and took us home. Silver is the only person in our house with whom I would have my picture taken...