Somerville Cruise Night

Today's weather is perfect for Somerville's Cruise night...

This evening the free Connie Tarantino Summer Concert Series presents Marshall’s Dixieland Band Jazz from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Somerset County Courthouse.

Take a camera. Wear comfortable shoes. Have fun!

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Photographs of past cruises and concert courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Chase-ing Approval

Yesterday evening the Hillsborough Township Planning Board began hearing Southeast Investments' proposal to construct a Chase Bank on the former Charlie Browns Restaurant site on Route 206.

The applicant's engineer, architect, and traffic specialists testified and answered board members' questions regarding the lot size, impervious coverage, floor area ratio, lighting, site plans, traffic, and street trees.

Chase Bank agreed to remove one wall sign in order to make the plans more conforming to Hillsborough's sign ordinance.

There was extensive discussion regarding the traffic pattern around the remote drive-up which resulted in suggested changes.

The application was carried to the July 7th meeting to allow the applicant to make the suggested changes for the Board to review.
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HNJJ Quote of the Day:
"[Our signs] are in conformance except for the waivers."

New Bank at Old Charlie Browns?

The Hillsborough Township Planning Board is scheduled to hear Southeast Investments' proposal to construct a Chase Bank at the location of the old Charlie Browns Restaurant at 381 Route 206.

The 1.4191-acre lot is located on the northbound side of Route 206 at the intersection with Hamilton Road. The applicant proposes to raze the old restaurant building and construct a 4,120-square-foot one-story bank with 26 parking spaces.

Variances are needed for the lot size as the lot is undersized by .509-acres and for the size and number of the signs.


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The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 2nd, at the municipal building:

Southeast Investments, Inc. – File #11-PB-09-SRV – Block 181, Lot 2 – 381 Route 206. Applicant seeking Preliminary/Final Major Site Plan approval with ‘c’ Bulk Variances for relief from Minimum Lot Area; Minimum FAR; and Waivers to construct a 4,120 sf. one-story Chase Bank after demolishing the former Charlie Brown’s restaurant on property in the GA District. (EC Review 05-23-11)

http://www.hillsborough-nj.org/uppages/110602PBagenda2.pdf

Two-Hoop Basketball?

Hillsborough parents have developed a habit of placing portable basketball hoops along the curbs of public roads.

I don't know who first thought "Wow! Having my children play basketball in the road is a great idea! They can not only put themselves in danger of being struck by a car, but simultaneously block traffic. And, for a triple play, the poles make it difficult to park and anyone who does park there can damage their car doors!"

Gee, if they really work at it maybe the kids can ding a passing car! Or cause a driver to swerve and hit a curb or another child or car!

To get even more bizarre, look at the picture above. These are two adjacent hoops. Same height. Not only on a roadside, but less that 100-feet from an intersection. And there is a beautiful Hillsborough Township park directly behind these houses that contains - tah-dah! - a marked half basketball court with a hoop and benches.

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The question of liability looms large...Just try Googling a few combinations of basketball hoops, public roads, hazards, etc. They have hazards I hadn't even thought about - i.e. overhanging nets and damage to road maintenance equipment such as street sweepers.

Traditional Memorial Day for Uncle Mel

This essay was first posted on HNJJ on August 14, 2010 under the title "V-J Day: For Uncle Mel". It is being reposted today, the traditional date of Memorial Day, in order to include two recently located photographs of Uncle Mel.

Today is the 65th Anniversary of V-J Day, Victory over Japan Day; the date used in America to memorialize the end of World War II. So I want to tell you the little that I know about my Uncle Mel.

He was only 10-years-old when my paternal grandparents immigrated to America with their eleven children, ten of them boys.

In his 20s, Uncle Mel ended up in the United States Army, possibly the only one of "the boys" who served in World War II in the battles in Europe. Some of them were too young, at least one may have served elsewhere, and most of the older boys held jobs that were considered necessary to the war effort, coal miners or, I think, some type of railroad work.

According to my father, Uncle Mel was an Army medic.

After his return to the United States, Uncle Mel confided to my father some of the horrible things he had seen in Europe, but my father never broke that confidence. Unfortunately none of us will ever know those stories...or, maybe, fortunately.

Uncle Mel moved "out West" to Ohio before I was even born, becoming a butcher. His brothers kidded him about having been a medic and then becoming a butcher. That's what brothers do.

That and hold your confidences, your worst memories, close.

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Born: 1912. Enlisted: 1941 Died: 1983

Memorial Day 2011: Breakfast of Champions

On Memorial Day, before the bands and public ceremonies, before the politicians and the fire trucks and ambulances, before the scouts and little league, before the balloons and waving flags, and before the antique cars, Hillsborough hosts an even more important event: the Salute to Veterans Breakfast.

The breakfast guests are the veterans of Hillsborough, their spouses, and their widows and widowers.

After the great food and hot coffee, after the greetings and welcoming speeches, after the reunion of friends who may only see one another once a year, comes the moment that is the most important time of the day. The moment for which each one has ultimately waited. The most important moment of this important event: the Roll Call of Veterans.

At the Roll Call each veteran - from World War II to those still serving - stands and states their name, their branch of service, when and where they served, and what they did. Sometimes they add a poignant memory - a certain battle, a loss. For some this is hard. Occasionally they make a joke about their service, understood best by those other veterans in the room.

No matter how long it takes, each one has his unhurried moment. The attention of the room. Dignity. Empathy. Respect.

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For more about Memorial Day 2011 in Hillsborough, go here to meet the parade marshals.

Go here to see pictures of the parade.

Go here to see the Garden of Honor Ceremony.

Go here to see the people and their pets.

Memorial Day 2011: The People...and Pets