HHS Winterguard Competition 2012

The Hillsborough High School Winterguard is hosting 27 units at tomorrow's 12th Annual Winterguard Homeshow starting at 6 p.m. at Hillsborough High School ...


Food is available. Spectators can come any time during the Homeshow for an entrance fee of $10, students and seniors $6.

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From the Winterguard:

Any support from our township and our community is welcome and much appreciated. Donations to support the band and guard programs at HHS can be sent to the Hillsborough Band Parents Association c/o June Blauvelt, 92 Rivendell Road, 908-369-7778. We thank the Gold Sponsors of our show – Bench Fashion Floors, Jules & Mr. F, Just Subs, Lowe’s of Hillsborough, Safety First Driving School, Somerset Orthopedic Associates, The Green Standard, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; and our Silver Sponsor, Petrock’s Bar & Grille. We also thank all of the local businesses and Hillsborough residents for their continued support of our wonderful band and guard programs. For the 2012 competing schedule for both guards go here.

HNJJ CHEF: Saving Bread

Many HNJJ readers are finally getting smart about sticking to a food budget, so we are going to help you along.

Last week the HNJJ crew made their latest trip to the Pepperidge Farm Thrift Store in Franklin Township (Somerset), NJ, and tracked the cost.

The purchase of six loaves of bread, a package of cranberry raisin sweet rolls, two packages of Texas Toast, and a package of Ecce Panni French Dinner Rolls cost $17.40.
At full price, the items would have cost $32.96.

The store also carries cookies, snacks, turnovers, puff pastry, crackers, stuffing, croutons, hamburger and hot dog rolls,and desserts. With Pepperidge Farm being owned by Campbell Soup Company, they may have some Campbell's products.

This is a thrift store, meaning some of the items may be near expiration, holiday specialties, short weight, box damaged, etc. Sometimes there is a sign near the item explaining why it is there.

Some days have specials, such as an extra 15% off for seniors on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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The store is located in a strip mall, 120 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873, telephone (732)271-7079.

Hillsborough Board of Adjustment Reorganization 2012

The Hillsborough Township Board of Adjustment 2012 Reorganization Meeting was held yesterday evening.

The board members chose Leon Krals as Chairperson and Helen Haines as Vice Chairperson.

Barrett Quick and Mark Wetter left the Board and Shawn Lipani and Curtis Suraci joined the Board.

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To assist the HNJJ readers with the cast of characters:
Ms. Haines is well-known as "Chickie" Haines.
Mr. Krals is also known as "Skip" Krals.
Curtis (Curt) Suraci is Mayor Carl Suraci's brother.

Winterguard's Spin Festival, Dinner,and Premiere 2012

This past Saturday evening the Hillsborough Winterguard served an excellent fundraising dinner...

Followed by the premiere presentation of three of this year's shows:
The Bridgewater Winterguard performed its 2012 show Reflecting Black, the Hillsborough Scholastic A Winterguard presented its 2012 program The Breaking of Dawn, and the Hillsborough Scholastic Novice Winterguard was introduced performing its 2012 show Statuesque...

Following the shows, members of the audience had an opportunity to try out spinning the flags under the watchful eyes of the team members...


For more information about the 2012 Hillsborough High School Winterguard go here.
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Photographs courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

2012 Winterguard Dinner Tonight

The Hillsborough High School Winterguard's annual Spin Festival and Dinner takes place this evening at Hillsborough High School.

The three-course dinner runs from 5:30-to-9 p.m., costing $10 per person and $8 for seniors (age 55 and up) and children under 5-years-old. Takeout is available.

The Bridgewater Winterguard will perform its 2012 show Reflecting Black beginning at 7:15 p.m. The Hillsborough Scholastic A Winterguard will present its 2012 program The Breaking of Dawn starting at 7:30 p.m.

At 7:45 p.m. the Hillsborough Scholastic Novice Winterguard will be introduced performing its 2012 show Statuesque.

Following the performances, guests are invited to try spinning flags with the guard members for a $10 donation.

The evening's proceeds will be used to purchase equipment and fund travel costs for competitions.
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For more information about the Hillsborough High School Winterguard and this year's show, go here.

The Courier News article about this evening's activities can be viewed here.
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Slideshow photographs taken at the 2011 Winterguard dinner, courtesy of Susan Gulliford and George Mariasz.

Sonic: The Epilogue

Recently it has been brought to the attention of the HNJJ that many residents are not familiar with the Sonic Restaurant application that was heard by the Hillsborough Township Planning Board from the summer of 2010 until the withdrawal of the application in March, 2011. Although HNJJ covered this application with six posts, we never provided an epilogue, the final chapter, a conclusion.

In August, 2010 HNJJ reported that Thomas Mascia submitted an application to build a Sonic drive-in fast-food restaurant on an undersized 1.5-acre lot on Route 206 and at the corner of Oxford Place. As proposed, the application needed multiple variances and waivers and included a huge freestanding sign.

On September 2, 2010, the Hillsborough Township Planning Board began hearing the application with testimony from the applicant and his engineer and questions from the dozen-or-so neighbors who attended the meeting.

By the October 8th meeting the neighbors behind the proposed restaurant had organized and hired an attorney. After a jurisdictional dispute was raised, the application was carried to December.

With the December meeting approaching, Sonic made a few minor changes.

By the December 9th, 2010, meeting the number of neighbors attending had swelled to about one-hundred. The applicant's traffic expert and engineer testified. The giant sign still loomed large over the hearing. And...the application was carried.

In February, 2011, the HNJJ was reporting on one of the most contentious hearings, a three-hour-long meeting. The neighbors had incorporated. Their planning expert testified and members of the public commented. Unexpectedly

"...Following the public comments, Sonic's attorney Donald Whitelaw addressed the board about a clarification on their site plan that would require an amendment. According to their engineer Brett Skapinetz the NJDEP had just advised them that there were wetlands at the rear of the property about 20-feet off the rear lot line requiring changes in the site plan particularly in the stormwater management."

This caused a little uproar in the chambers. The hearing recessed for a few minutes while the board attorney spoke with the engineers and planners.

The application was carried to March 10th at which time Sonic was ordered to submit its new site plan incorporating the wetlands.

But this was not to be. In a letter to the Board, Tom Mascia's attorney withdrew the application.

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For those wishing further information,two posts of the Planning Board Minutes:

September 02, 2010

October 07, 2010

Hillsborough Rabies Clinic 2012

January is the time to license your dog, which means it's also time to update rabies vaccinations.

Hillsborough Township's next free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats is on Saturday, January 14th, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Township Public Works Garage, 21 East Mountain Road (next to the YMCA).

If cancelled due to inclement weather the new date will be January 28th.

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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

Have your dog leashed. This seems to be common sense, but...

Dogs may get nervous. Do the right thing: bring along a plastic bag for cleanups.

Cats are usually done inside the old municipal building and must be secured inside a carrier. With all the activity it will be best for your cat.

For more information call the Hillsborough Health Department at (908)369-5652.

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For other local clinics as listed at the Somerset County Health Department website go here:

Their events calendar lists a clinic in Manville on January 21st and Raritan Borough on January 28th.
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You've already chipped in to these clinics with a penny-or-so of your taxes, you may as well take advantage of them!