Montgomery News - Features

2012 Run With Rotary Another Success

2012-05-08 11:55:39

The 2012 Run With Rotary went off without a hitch on Sunday, April 29, with sunny, crisp weather and nearly 600 people registered for the 1-mile Ramble and the 5K Run. The Match for Marilyn bone marrow donor drive associated with the event registered 85 new bone marrow donors. The event had seventy-five sponsors and benefactors. All funds donated by sponsors, benefactors and friends support charitable projects locally and around the world.

With the weather sunny and cool, the annual Run With Rotary drew a record number of registrants.
Mahesh Sambasivam of Pennington placed first with a time of 16 minutes 32 seconds.
Christine Witt of Rocky Hill was first among female runners with a time of 19:44.
Complete results are available at www.RunWithRotary.org.

"Thanks to generous sponsors, energetic volunteers, a great community and perfect weather, this year's Run With Rotary was a big success," noted Rotary Club president Doug Merritt. "This is our primary fundraiser of the year, and enables our organization to act on our philosophy - that is, Service Above Self. One hundred percent of our sponsorship dollars are used charitable works in the community, college scholarships for students who show an exceptional commitment to service, Shelter Boxes for victims of natural disaster in the US and around the world, and life-saving projects like clean drinking water in remote African villages."
Since its founding in 1990, Montgomery-Rocky Hill Rotarians have offered their personal time to people in need and for projects in Montgomery and Rocky Hill and have raised hundreds of thousands for worthwhile causes. The Club raises funds by hosting the annual Run With Rotary 1 mile/5K Event held in Montgomery Township each April, selling raffle tickets, and manning a Funnel Cake booth each year at the Somerset County 4H Fair (which will take place this year on August 8, 9 and 10). Rotary supports local, regional and international service projects. Services to the community are generally provided behind the scenes and always with the goal of making a difference in the lives of others.

The Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman NJ. To find out more about the Club, visit our website at www.MontgomeryRotary.org.

LANCE CONGRATULATES SEVENTH DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS

Apr 25, 2013

11 Seventh District Schools Cited By U.S. News and World Report As Best in New Jersey

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today congratulated the eleven Seventh District high schools for being recognized by U.S. News and World Report as among the best in the State of New Jersey and the Nation.

“I am proud to congratulate the eleven Seventh District high schools for being named among the best in New Jersey and recognized nationally by U.S. News and World Report’s annual best schools in America,” said Lance. “This national recognition is testament to the hard work and dedication of students, teachers and parents and I am proud to represent these schools in Congress.”

Seventh District schools included in U.S. News and World Report’s top schools in New Jersey are listed below with their U.S. News ranking:

#14 Ridge High School in Basking Ridge

#15 Millburn High School

#18 Summit High School

#20 Montgomery High School in Skillman

#22 Westfield High School

#24 North Hunterdon High School in Annandale

#26 Union County Magnet High School in Scotch Plains

#33 Bernards High School in Bernardsville

#34 New Providence High School

#38 Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights

#51 Dover High School

According to U.S. News and World Report, the rankings include several factors such as students' performance on state exit exams, student-teacher ratio, proficiency in college-level and advanced placement courses and participation in advanced placement classes.

Police Advise Residents: Be Aware of Students Playing "Senior Assassin" Game This Spring

Apr 25, 2013

It has once again come to the attention of the Montgomery Police that the annual spring activity of certain high school seniors known as "senior assassins" is being carried out in the Township. Senior assassins involves those competing students or teams chasing their opponents and squirting them with large water guns thus eliminating them from further play. The game is not supported or condoned by the Montgomery School District. Furthermore, the activity has caused both residents and law enforcement alarm due to the devices and methods utilized by participants.

In our continuing effort to keep residents and motorists safe and fully informed, the police department would like to inform the public this game is currently being played and citizens may notice an increase in both vehicular and pedestrian traffic involving groups of students. Motorists are asked to use extra caution especially at night when those involved may be walking inattentively through residential areas.
Parents of participating students should caution their children on the dangers of possessing realistic looking weapons, careless driving, and overall risky behavior that could put them or others in jeopardy.

While this game is being played, residents should not assume unusual behavior is associated with the game and police remind anyone who observes any suspicious, unsafe, or illegal activity to contact the Montgomery Police at 908-359-3222 or dial 9-1-1 in case of an emergency. Anyone with any questions can contact Lieutenant James Curry at 980-359-5011.

Thank you.

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PBA TO HOST SPORTING CLAY FUNDRAISER BENEFITTING CHARITY FUND

Apr 26, 2013

SKILLMAN, NJ-- On Monday, May 20,the Montgomery Township PBA will be partnering with The Hudson Farm Club to host a special Sporting Clay Fundraiser to benefit selected charities. The event will feature a 100 Sporting Clay Shoot on the 3,800 acre hunting preserve.

A special clinic for novice shooters will be held in the afternoon. All proceeds will benefit the Montgomery Township PBA and its associated charities. The Sporting Clay Outing, which is similar to a golf outing, allows participants to shoot at an assortment of clay targets available at 20 different locations throughout the sprawling grounds of Hudson Farm Club. Each shooting station offers a different presentation of targets, allowing participants to simulate game shooting in a variety of ways.

“On behalf of the Montgomery Township PBA, we are thrilled to be working with Hudson Farm for this special event,” said Montgomery Township PBA President Brian Hofacker. “We are looking forward to the beautiful scenery at Hudson Farm and are greatful to our attendees and sponsors. Mark your calendar and do not miss this event!”

Each participant in the sporting clays competition will receive a continental breakfast, shot gun shells, goodie bag, and a seat at the pig roast luncheon following the competition. In addition to the shooting competition and meals, the after shoot festivities will include beverages, live and silent auctions, cigars and more!

The Hudson Farm Club will provide cartridges, ear and eye protection, and instruction and guidance tailored to each participant’s experience level. In addition, teams will have access to golf carts to navigate the course with ease and take in even more of the spectacular scenery. With 20 different electronic stations, the Hudson Farm Club provides one of the most extensive shooting layouts in the country. While guests are asked to bring their own break-open shotguns, rentals may be arranged for those who don’t own a gun and/or who may have limited shooting experience.

The Sporting Clay Outing is open to all ages and skill levels. Participation in the full day event is $200 per person, or $800 for a foursome. Multiple levels of Sponsorship Alliances are available as well. Registration for the 20-station shoot begins promptly at 8:00 AM on Monday, May 20th, and the shoot begins at 9:00 AM.

The farm is located at 270 Stanhope Sparta Road in Andover, New Jersey. To make a donation to Montgomery Township PBA, to register for the event, or become a sponsor, contact:

Brian Hofacker | 609-577-0433 | mtpd755@gmail.com

300 ATTEND SOAP BOX DERBY CAMPOREE

May 1, 2013

Two hundred Cub Scouts and nearly one hundred Boy Scouts attended the Soapbox Derby Cubarama at Rosedale Park in Pennington.

The main event was scouts racing in Soap Box Derby cars. Trenton Thunder Mascot Boomer even sat in one of the cars. Other events included rock throwing, archery, outdoor cooking in which scouts made tortilla smores with marshmallows and chocolate, and hiking.

Hunter Lance of Pack 79 in Robbinsville caught a 12 inch bass. John Southerst of Pack 850 in Belle Mead came in second with an 11 and a half inch fish. Ian Wong of Pack 29 in Lawrenceville was third with a 9 and a half inch catch. Ben Simon of Troop 33 in Ewing reeled in 13 fish, for the most fish caught.

The Montgomery Economic Commission announces the: 1s Annual Business Booklet

May 10, 2013

The Montgomery Township Economic Development Committee has announced the kick-off of a printed Montgomery business directory. It will be an attractively formatted booklet highlighting participating Montgomery businesses. It will describe the products/services of each and provide a map showing their locations.

The business book will be distributed widely by Montgomery Economic Development Committee's network, and be included in Montgomery Township New Resident Packets.
Copies will be available to the public in the lobby of Town Hall and the Otto Kaufman Community Center, and will also be available in all participating stores/businesses.
The lay-out and printing cost will be shared among all participants. Interested business provide an electronic copy of their logo and fill out a short form providing info on their products and services.

Interested businesses, contact EDC Chairman Dan O'Kavage at 609-578-2484 or email EDC@twp.montgomery.nj.us [mailto:EDC@twp.montgomery.nj.us] .

VOLUNTEERS WANTED to meet local businesses and spread the word about this new printed Montgomery business directory and map. Training, hand-outs, and guidance will be provided. Hours are flexible but availability during the day is preferred. Business people, retirees and students are welcome.

Gain business communications skills! Community service hours can also be provided for older scouts.

Target areas include Tamarack Circle, Wall Street, Research Park, Harlingen, Blawenburg, and all store mall locations.

EDC will accept approximately 20 volunteers to meet with less than 10 businesses each over a course of a few weeks starting this spring.

Interested volunteers, please contact EDC Chairman Dan O'Kavage at 609-578-2484 or EDC@twp.montgomery.nj.us [mailto:EDC@twp.montgomery.nj.us] . Thank you!

DC Seeks Businesses & Volunteers for Biz Directory Trailblazer Volunteers Needed Tomorrow & June 2

May 10, 2013

Environmental Volunteer Corps Work Days - Rock Mill Preserve

May 11th & June 2nd

Starting at 9:30 AM

Invasive Plant Species Removal & Trail Clearing Rock Mill Preserve 360 Grandview Road, Skillman

No experience is necessary to participate in trail work and stewardship activities.
Training is provided when we meet at the site. Please wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes. Bring leather work gloves, pruning shears, rakes, saws, and loppers if you have them. Bring plenty of water. Please park on Sourland Hills Road, a side street off Grandview Road due to very limited parking on the site.

Members of the Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Committee, Open Space Committee and Montgomery Friends of Open Space have joined forces to form the Volunteer Corps, a new effort to work collaboratively on projects to improve Montgomery's environment and public open space. There was an excellent turn-out for their inaugural spring event on March 23rd at Van Horne Park but it is not too late to join in and volunteer at events as your time allows.

Come out & enjoy the springtime with us!

The funds to buy the land were provided through a non-profit grant to Montgomery Friends of Open Space, from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres and matched by open space funds from Montgomery Township. The park improvements taking place at Rock Mill Preserve are possible through a generous grant from Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies Contributions Fund.

Volunteer Corps work days are organized and announced once or twice a month. Future projects may also include shade tree plantings maintenance; litter cleanup days along pathways and/or in parks; tree/shrub planting projects; light weeding; and other tasks. Please contact Open Space Coordinator Lauren Wasilauski at (908) 359-8211 ext. 343 M-F with questions.

Mayor Trzaska Thanks Groups for 2013 "Meet The Mayor" Town Hall Series

May 10, 2013

Mayor Ed Trzaska has wrapped up a series of 8 town hall meetings with various community organizations in Montgomery this spring.

He would like to thank the following organizations/communities for hosting him and for the pleasure of meeting their members: Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill, Tapestry Homeowners Association, Montgomery Business Association, HuaXia Chinese School, Pike Run Masters Association, Stonebridge at Montgomery, Montgomery Tea Party, and the Cherry Valley Homeowners Association.

Over 300 residents attended these town hall meetings which included extensive question and answer sessions. The Mayor would like to see this initiative established as an annual tradition in Montgomery Township.
"These town hall style meetings have been rewarding and an excellent way for town government and me personally to stay connected with residents," Mayor Trzaska said. "We have a very engaged population and I would like to thank the 300+ residents who attended. It is a very important way to keep me up-to-date on what our community cares about and I look forward to doing more events in the future."

Food For Thought -June 2013

By Mark R. Vogel May 10, 2013

foodforthoughtonline.net

Poaching 101

Poaching is a wet-heat cooking method whereby food is submerged in liquid and gently cooked. Shallow-poaching is a subtype of poaching in which the food is only partially submerged. Heat is transferred to the food via conduction, (direct contact with the hot liquid), and convection, (the movement of the fluid medium). The difference between poaching, simmering, and boiling is the temperature of the liquid. Poaching is from 160 to 185 degrees, simmering is beyond 185, and boiling is when you obviously achieve a full boil. These temperature differences are not arbitrary and have significant ramifications for the food to be cooked. The hotter the fluid, the more destructive it’s force, not only from the higher temperature but the increased turbulence as well. You would never put a fragile piece of fish into boiling water. The heat and agitation would disintegrate it. Therefore, the temperature of the poaching liquid should be checked during cooking with an instant read thermometer.

As stated, poaching is gentle cooking. The surface of the water should only be shimmering and devoid of any roiling bubbles. The foods best suited for poaching are naturally tender and delicate, e.g., fish, eggs, chicken and fruits. Common fluids used for poaching include water, stock, wine and court-bouillon, a broth made from water, wine, vinegar and/or citrus juice, aromatics and herbs. Sometimes the poaching liquid is employed only for cooking and sometimes the leftover liquid is incorporated into a sauce. Poaching liquids used only for cooking should be amply seasoned. All wet-heat cooking methods leach some flavor from the food. This can be offset by a flavorful poaching liquid. If the poaching liquid is to be used as a sauce, you may need to reduce it further once the food has finished cooking. This will depend on how much liquid you started with, how much is left over after poaching, and the target concentration of the sauce. If further reduction is required, place the food in another container with some of the liquid to prevent it from drying out while you prepare the sauce.

Poaching can be done with or without a lid. Covering the pan will increase the temperature of the poaching liquid. Thus, you will need to decrease the heat source accordingly to maintain the proper temperature. The lid will also inhibit the evaporation of the poaching liquid. This is a moot point if the liquid is to be used only for cooking and not for a sauce. But if the liquid is to become a sauce, and if reduction is required, the lid will thwart that effort, unless your plan is to do all the reducing after the item is cooked. For example, if you have just enough liquid to cover the food, and you wish to keep the food submerged throughout the cooking, then you would employ a lid and reduce the liquid afterwards.

Shallow-Poached Sea Bass

6 oz. chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
½ teaspoon McCormick lemon-pepper seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
Juice and zest from half a lemon
Salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste
1 lb sea bass

Combine all the ingredients for the poaching liquid in a straight sided skillet, (known as a sautoir), with a lid. Bring the liquid to about 175-180 degrees. Add the fish and leave the lid slightly askew for some evaporation. Cook the fish until an instant read thermometer registers 140 degrees, turning it once halfway through the cooking. I like to also spoon some of the liquid over the top of it as it cooks. Depending on the thickness of the fish this may take as much as ten minutes. You probably won’t need to reduce the liquid. Strain the liquid and pour it over the fish before service.

I strongly recommend you use a rather thick piece of fish. Standard fish fillets are too thin to use a thermometer and can be easily overcooked if you lack experience judging their doneness from appearance alone. With a good sized fillet and a thermometer the guesswork is eliminated and the fish can be cooked precisely. Overcooking will cause it to dry out and crumble.

Poached Pears In Red Wine

1 bottle dry red wine
1 cup sugar
1 cup water plus more if needed
1 vanilla bean, sliced
2 star anise
2 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
6 ripe pears

Peel, halve, and core the pears, and then place them in acidulated water to prevent browning. Combine all of the remaining ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a poaching temperature and add the pears. Add more water if needed to submerge the pears. You can place a small lid on top of them or cut out a round piece of parchment paper with an inch and a half hole in the center to place on top of them. Either method will help keep them submerged. Cover the pot and poach until the pears are fork tender. This will vary with their degree of ripeness but usually 10-20 minutes. Allow them to cool in the poaching liquid. You can also take some of the liquid and reduce it further to form a syrupy sauce. Pour it over the pears with some ice cream.

Four Young Eagles Take Flight

May 13, 2013

Scouts Peeter R. Laupa, Shailen Shah, Nicholas Mertz, and Robert A. Sipos of Montgomery's Troop 46 were honored for achieving Boy Scouting's highest rank, Eagle Scout, at a special Court of Honor ceremony at the Blawenburg Church on Saturday, May 11. On hand to witness and congratulate the new Eagles were family, friends, Scouts and leaders from Troop 46, and local dignitaries, who watched as these young men were reminded of their achievements and charged to carry on their lives in accord with the lessons learned during the scouting careers.

"In order to earn this rank, Scouts must demonstrate leadership in the troop, show repeated success by attaining successive ranks of increasing responsibility, and demonstrating mastery in a variety of areas, signified by earning at least twenty-one merit badges," said Scoutmaster Rich Epp. "In addition, each has to plan, develop, and carry out a service project to benefit the community. Each of these projects often entails amazing creativity, persistence in the face of obstacles, and orchestrating hundreds of hours of volunteer labor to achieve their goal." The projects carried out by these four Scouts involved over 1,000 hours of labor. A new pergola with planter boxes to encourage vines to cover the structure now adorns the playground area of The Rock Brook School, courtesy of Eagle Nick Mertz. The school also has new picnic tables for outdoor lessons, and several new bluebird houses, the project conceived by Eagle Scout Peeter Laupa. New Eagle Shailen Shah's project involved building a bike path, used by pre-school children, at the Blawenburg Village School. And the Village School in Montgomery now has several improvement to the playground area, including new retaining walls, benches, and bluestone stairway thanks to Eagle Robert Sipos.

"What is perhaps most astounding to me was the incredible differences in the aspirations and approaches these Scouts used in conceiving and carrying out their projects," said John Sudol, the Troop's Eagle Scout advisor. "Each is unique, and each Scouts invoked key personal experiences in choosing and carrying out his project."

For Peeter, a 2012 Montgomery High graduate who is now a student at Rutgers studying biology, one of those experiences was attending and working at the Estonian Children's Camp in New York, where became a counselor during three summers, helped out at the pool teaching diving, and worked on the first aid staff. While at Montgomery High School, Peeter was on the varsity dive team and was the team captain during his senior year. In 2007, Peeter received the Van Fleet Award, an award given to young scouts who best exemplify the spirit of scouting. He reflected on his scouting years, saying, "My many years of scouting have given me the opportunity to travel across North America, develop lifelong friendships, serve my community and have fun. Through these experiences, scouting has made me the young man I am today."

Nick Mertz, currently a senior at Montgomery High School, plans on attending West Chester University in Pennsylvania where he will major in bothSecondary Education and History. Nick plans to become a Historyteacher and is also considering a career in school administration. In high school, Nick participated in the football program all four years, receiving a varsity letter during his junior year and the Iron Cougar Award during his senior year. Nick commented, "Scouting teaches the finest principles and teaches how to be an active member of the community, build a strong family ethic, and hold overall constructive relationships. I hope to remember and use all that I have learned in scouting through the rest of my life, and use it to continuously improve the way that I live, my family lives, and the way that my community acts as well."

Shailen, also a senior at Montgomery High School, plans to attend American University in Washington D.C. where he plans to double major in Political Science and Business and minor in Spanish. From a very early age, politics has fascinated him. His passion has led to involvement and various leadership positions in political programs, including serving as the Lieutenant Governor in the YMCA New Jersey Youth and Government Program and as Vice Chair of the General Assembly in the YMCA Model United Nations Program. In 2011, Shailen received the Outstanding Statesman award for being the best debater among 50 students at the New Jersey Statewide Youth & Government Conference. He has received numerous awards, including the Raoul Wallenberg Award in eighth grade, the College Board Advanced Placement Scholar, and the Montgomery High School Citizenship Recognition Award.

Robbie Sipos, currently a sophomore at Montgomery High School, joined the Robotics team this year and plans to continue his participation through senior year. After high school, Robbie plans to study architecture to pursue an area that has been of interest for many years. One of Robbie?s greatest passions has been to plan, lead and execute a fundraising event called the Haunted Trail, which started with Robbie's vision and ultimately progressed into a well-known event in town. Its purpose is to raise funds for various causes including the Michael Damato Foundation, honoring a scout from Troop 46. This past February, Robbie received a proclamation for distinguished service to the community from the Montgomery Township Committee.

Troop Committee Chairman Keith Mertz summed up the accomplishments of these four new Eagle Scouts by adding, "They exemplify the best in Scouting, are tremendous assets to their families and communities, and have made themselves into fine young men with bright futures as citizens and leaders. That is the ultimate goal of the Scouting experience."

Boy Scout Troop 46, the oldest Scout troop in Montgomery and one of the largest troops in New Jersey, is chartered by the Central New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America and sponsored by the Blawenburg Reformed Church. The Troop meets every Monday evening, when school is in session, at the Village School in Montgomery. Troop 46 provides a wide range of hiking, camping, adventure activities, and leadership development and service projects for boys aged 11 to 18. For more information about the Troop and its programs, please visit the troop's website at www.troop46.org, or contact scoutmaster@troop46.org.

Sphericality Open House May 17 - 18

May 13, 2013

Sphericality, Mongtomery Shopping Center, Route 206, Skillman, NJ

Sphericality is a contemporary fitness studio offering BarreAmped®, a no-impact, highly effective fitness routine that combines elements of modern and classical dance, Pilates, yoga and deep stretching, as well as Zumba and yoga. Free classes Friday from 8 am-1 pm and 4-7:30 pm, and Saturday from 8 am-2 pm.

Join us for a weekend filled with door prizes, special discounts and gifts, and on Saturday at 11:30 am for a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Montgomery Township officials on hand to do the honors.
See the schedule at www.sphericality.com, and sign up in advance to reserve a space.

Healthy Families, Healthy Youth Day, and Elks Walk out on Drugs

May 13, 2013

Healthy Families, Healthy Youth Day, and Elks Walk out on Drugs program
for substance abuse, prevention,.and education will take place on June 2 at Montgomery Park from 11:30 to 3:30 PM. Registration begins at 11:30 AM followed by the Walk at 12:30. The event is Co-sponsored by The Montgomery High School Peer Leadership Team, Princeton Elks/Antlers Youth Service Program and the Montgomery Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance and Youth Services Commission. Funds for this important community event are provided through a grant from the Elks National Foundation- Princeton Elks Lodge #2129 plus other sponsors.

Funds donated for the Walk Out on Drugs will be sent to the Elks Peer Leadership Conference a portion thereof will go directly supporting Montgomery High School Peer Leadership group's annual participation in the conference.

The event and program features information on family health and drug and alcohol abuse prevention. There will be family activities, children games, a DJ and greetings from Elroy the Elk. All followed by free hamburgers and hot dogs, and refreshments.

For more information contact Rob Church at robert_church@comcast.com. Montgomery Park is located at Harlingen Road in Belle Mead, NJ

MHS Bridge Club Polishes Skills at Stonebridge

May 13, 2013

The MHS Bridge Club, under the guidance of its faculty advisor, Mr Craig Buszka, has been visiting the Stonebridge Center to play bridge with the residents there. The club was started two years ago by Alex Chen, now a junior at MHS. There are around 15 active members currently.

As a way to improve their skills and also to give back to the local community, members of the Bridge Club have been going to Stonebridge since the spring semester in 2012. "We have met some really interesting people at Stonebridge who are also expert players," said Alex Chen, the club's president. "We have played with someone who was ranked as a silver grandmaster and we have met a gentleman who told us he learned how to play bridge in the Pacific while serving in WWII. We are learning and having fun at the same time." While the residents taught the students bridge, the students were telling them about the latest technology.

"One gentleman asked us how to tweet," said Mitchell Lee, the vice president, "and we were happy to provide the information." Thus playing bridge has provided a bridge between two distinctly different groups in terms of generation and background.

Mr Buszka, who has accompanied the students to Stonebridge on several occasions, said "I really enjoyed working with these students. They are very enthusiastic about the game. It is gratifying to see that such a classic game as bridge is not only being learned and appreciated at MHS, but is also being put to good use at the same time."

MHS Bridge Club Polishes Skills at Stonebridge

May 13, 2013

Monty Madness - May 18

May 13, 2013

FREE All Day Fun for Families - Come see what F.I.R.S.T Robotics is all about!
Join Team #1403 - Cougar Robotics at our 8th Annual Monty Madness Exhibition & Competition -See Large & Small Robots in Action, bSaturday May 18, 2013, 8 am - 4 pm , Montgomery High School, Route 601, Skillman, NJ 08558

Montgomery Fireworks are set for June 27

May 14, 2013

Fundraising Continues; VIP Parking Available

The 2013 Montgomery Fireworks will go off on Thursday, June 27th (rain date: Thursday, July 11th). Just like last year, it will be a fantastic way to usher in the summer. Activities start at 6:00PM and continue to dusk. This event will once again be completely funded by contributions from corporations, small business leaders, individual citizens, and fees from high quality vendors and non – profit organizations. Our website, www.montgomeryfireworks.org is up and running and accepting donations.

“As always, this is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, honor the nation, and enjoy a night out with our families and friends. Please mark this date on your calendar,” said Mayor Ed Trzaska.

Two years ago was the first year that the event was privately funded. With individual business and citizen contributions, for the past two years the Fireworks Committee was able to stage a true 4th of July extravaganza enjoyed by over 6,000 and 8,000 attendees, respectively. This model worked well thanks to the generosity of the public and all the hard work of the fireworks committee, the Montgomery Police, Montgomery fire companies, EMS and public works personnel who worked at the event.

One new feature of the event that has proven very popular is pre-sold reserved parking spots that provide guaranteed onsite parking. PLEASE remember to get your parking pass online if you wish to park onsite. Last year, they sold out before the night of the event. Go to https://register.communitypass.net and select Montgomery, NJ from the drop down arrow.

For 2013, the Committee has planned a bigger and better event. The crowd will be entertained by the feel-good sounds of the new band “Rock and Soul,” There will be a wide variety of food and beverages to choose from and lots of fun activities for the children.

“Most of all, the spectacular fireworks will be the star of the show! My thanks to the planning committee, which has been hard at work since January to ensure that all the countless details for a flawless event are in place,” said Fireworks Committee Chairman George Jarvis.

Please look for more information at our new website, www.montgomeryfireworks.org
which explains how to donate to the event as an individual or sponsor and how to purchase parking spots.

The Montgomery Township Fireworks Committee members are Frank Drift, Kacey Dyer, Matt Galvin, Meg Helms, Cynthia Weshnak, Karen Zimmerman, Donna Castronovo and Chair George Jarvis. They wish to thank all the event supporters, who continue to make the annual Montgomery Fireworks possible. So mark your calendar for June 27th to have a blast!

2013 Batter Up baseball and softball hitting competition at the Elks

May 14, 2013

The Princeton Elks Lodge annual 2013 Batter Up baseball and softball hitting competition will be held Sunday June 2, from 12 pm to 3:30 pm. The competition is open to boys and girls age 5 to 15 and challenged boys and girls age 5 to 18. The winners at the local level advance to compete in the regional and state competitions.

Competition will be held in two locations: Boys baseball and girls softball competition will held at the McKnight Baseball Complex located at 52 Reading Blvd, Belle Mead, NJ.; the Challenger Division competition will be held at the Montgomery High School Varsity Softball Field.

All contestants must have proof of age and a parent or guardian signed registration and consent form. An on line link to contest rules and forms can be found at www.princetonelkslodge2129.com/Batter Up/html and click “here” on the highlight. Forms are also available at each event site.

At event will conclude with all athletes and there families meeting at the Princeton Lodge for awards and refreshments. The Lodge is located at 354 Route 518, Skillman, NJ. For information for the the boys/girls event contact Greg.Swerdlow@gmailk.com. for the challenge division MParisejr@aol.com

Strawberry Festival June 2

May 16, 2013

Montgomery's 47th Strawberry Festival will be held on June 2 in the Lower Middle School cafetorium from 1 to 5 pm. Hosted by Montgomery Boy Scout Troop 46, the annual festival, which began as a seasonal backyard celebration nearly 50 years ago, has become one of the largest community-wide events in the township. It features strawberries, shortcake, and ice cream, with musical entertainment provided by award-winning local bands.

This year's entertainment features the Blawenburg Band on stage between 1 and 2; the award-winning Montgomery High School Jazz and Stage Bands appearing between 2:15 and 3 and 3:15 and 4; and jazz provided by the local group Two Five One between 4:15 and 5.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door, and can be obtained by contacting any Troop 46 Boy Scout or sending an email to strawberry@troop46.org,

Princeton BMW – Business Profile June 2013

By Lisa Neeld May 16, 2013

Princeton BMW, located at 3630 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton, is owned by a large corporation but operates in the community like a small local business. Every member of the highly-trained staff is committed to providing superior customer service and a unique car-buying experience. They are also the only Certified Autistic-Friendly Dealership in the area.

Princeton BMW/Mini was privately owned and located on Route 1 before being purchased in 2007 by Asbury Automotive Group, a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest auto retailers in the United States. The Quakerbridge location opened in December 2008 as a BMW pre-owned and service facility, with new car sales starting in April 2011.

One of the things General Manager Greg Zulli is most proud of is Princeton BMW’s partnership with Eden Autism Services to become not only New Jersey’s first and only Certified Autistic-Friendly Dealership, but the only one in the tri-state area. It all began when they worked with Eden House to hire a new staff member and then led to training in interacting and working with people on the autism spectrum. Eden House staff specifically tailored a training manual for the Princeton BMW staff. Training sessions were held and completed, with attention divided equally between employee/coworker interactions and customer interactions.

Despite being owned and operated by a large corporation, Princeton BMW considers itself a small locally-run business and operates that way. The dealership supports the local community whenever it can through participation and sponsorships. Though ownership may have changed, explains Zulli, their close relationship with the community hasn’t.

“We work hard to be an integral part of the community,” says Zulli. “Any time there is an opportunity to participate in a local event, we like to do so.”

Zulli goes on to say that a high level of customer service is paramount to everyone at Princeton BMW. He believes that happy employees and a good workplace environment translate into a happy customer who enjoys doing business with them.

“We try hard to create a customer service experience that is different than the perceived negative car-buying experience,” says Zulli. “We have an open, honest and transparent approach to selling vehicles.”

The dealership offers a large selection of new BMW models, trucks and SUVs, as well as quality pre-owned luxury cars. All of the pre-owned cars go through detailed quality inspections before they are made available. All sales and service personnel are BMW-certified and provided with state-of-the-art equipment and tools.

Princeton BMW has an extensive repair and service shop for both new BMW and used cars. For the customers who like to do their own repairs, the parts department carries certified BMW parts for all maintenance and repairs.

Princeton BMW is located at 3630 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. For more information, call 609-570-1520 or visit www.princetonbmw.com.

Local Writing Studio that started with 4 students Holds 4th annual Summer Program for more than 150 students

May 16, 2013

City Kidz Word Creative Writing studio, located in Kendall Park, is holding an open house for the 2013 summer program June 5 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Creative Writing Studio went from opening in Skillman to an enrollment of four children in the summer of 2010, to becoming a thriving year-round writing enrichment center with an enrollment of more than 200 students during the academic year, said Dr.Melissa Edwards, Ed.D, Director of the program.
Edwards said that the studio has had an exciting four years.

She said, “We believe that one reason why we are successful at serving the needs of families is because we are able to work with them in a flexible manner to help children with individual writing goals as well as helping support children’s needs regarding their various school curriculums.”

“When we started City Kidz World Writing Studio, we were extremely enthusiastic to work with with our students to help them write short stories. The summer of 2010 was an extremely rewarding summer with our augural students writing really interesting short stories that we published in the City Kidz World literary magazine fall issue 2010. We distributed the magazine across Central New Jersey and posted the students’ stories on our website. We interviewed the young writers about their writing and we encouraged them to always think of themselves as writers,” said Edwards.

Four years and 200 students later, Edwards said that the summer program now includes short story writing, poetry, reading, graphic story development, vocabulary development, with punctuation and grammar reinforcement and SAT study groups. The studio teaches this classes during the entire academic year as well, Edwards said.

“Another reason why people have become aware of us is because our commitment to family has led us to offer satellite classes in houses all across New Jersey. That is an extremely popular aspect of our program,” said Edwards

.
“We have recruited a highly qualified, enthusiastic team of language arts specialists who bring a passion and enthusiasm to teaching small groups and individual students that is unparalleled,” she said.
“The summer program will be held in our cozy, writing studio that we have decorated to make students feel like they are at home,” Edwards said.

The summer program is from June 24 to August 17. It includes full days and half days, as well as several 1-hour class times available every day of the week.

Families can get more information by going to www.citykidzworld.com/writingcoach.php or e-mailing info@citykidzworld.com. Families may also call 732-514-7373.

Local Writing Studio Started with 4 students Holds 4th Annual Summer Program For More Than 150 students

May 16, 2013

City Kidz Word Creative Writing studio, located in Kendall Park, is holding an open house for the 2013 summer program June 5 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 pm.

The Creative Writing Studio went from opening in Skillman to an enrollment of four children in the summer of 2010, to becoming a thriving year-round writing enrichment center with an enrollment of more than 200 students during the academic year, said Dr.Melissa Edwards, Ed.D, Director of the program. Edwards said that the studio has had an exciting four years.

She said, "We believe that one reason why we are successful at serving the needs of families is because we are able to work with them in a flexible manner to help children with individual writing goals as well as helping support children's needs regarding their various school curriculums."

"When we started City Kidz World Writing Studio, we were extremely enthusiastic to work with with our students to help them write short stories. The summer of 2010 was an extremely rewarding summer with our augural students writing really interesting short stories that we published in the City Kidz World literary magazine fall issue 2010. We distributed the magazine across Central New Jersey and posted the students' stories on our website. We interviewed the young writers about their writing and we encouraged them to always think of themselves as writers," said Edwards.

"Another reason why people have become aware of us is because our commitment to family has led us to offer satellite classes in houses all across New Jersey. That is an extremely popular aspect of our program," said Edwards.

"We have recruited a highly qualified, enthusiastic team of language arts specialists who bring a passion and enthusiasm to teaching small groups and individual students that is unparalleled," she said.
"The summer program will be held in our cozy, writing studio that we have decorated to make students feel like they are at home," Edwards said.

The summer program is from June 24 to August 17. It includes full days and half days, as well as several 1-hour class times available every day of the week.

Families can get more information by going to www.citykidzworld.com/writingcoach.php or e-mailing info@citykidzworld.com. Families may also call 732-514-7373.

Caroline Phinney - Orchard Farm Organics

By Lynn Hartley May 16, 2013

Caroline Phinney likes her soil fertile and her produce organic. The owner of Montgomey Township's first organic farm is a former Waldorf School teacher and co-founder of the Waldorf School of Princeton.

Her farm, Orchard Farm Organics, is 61 acres of fields and pastures on Cherry Hill Rd., with a small brook running through it. In addition to Phinney and her husband, a retired Princeton University professor, farm inhabitants include 4 cows, 25 goats, and 200 chickens.

"Organic is natural and healthy," Phinney said. "It's best for the earth, the future, and our children. It's the best tasting food, not necessarily the best looking. We're trying to build up the earth rather than exploit it."
Orchard is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. For over 25 years, CSAs have been an increasingly popular way for communities to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Typically, a farmer offers a share or shares to the public. Interested consumers purchase a share (or membership or subscription) and in return receive a box or bag of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

This year, Orchard's CSA began the first week of June. The first crops include chard, garlic, lettuces, peas, and spinach. The season runs till October, with a family share costing $500, and an individual share $350.
"It's like inviting people to dinner, you know who's coming," Phinney said. It also means farmers receive payment early in the growing season, which helps cash flow. And, they have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow.

Orchard also has an egg co-op, and members receive eggs from free range chickens throughout the year. In addition, the farm has a Township certified kitchen and makes pasta sauces, pesto, and soups.
"It helps the bottom line, but we're also utilizing everything and what's left over goes into the compost pile," Phinney said.

The compost is a key ingredient for Orchard's own soil mix. Crop rotation and companion planting help keep insect damage to a minimum. Tomatoes and carrots and peas and basil are planted together as part of this philosophy.

"We don't use any pesticides at all," Phinney said.

Orchard has been certified organic since 2000. The seeds used for planting are also organic. Planting beds are built up rather than plowed, because of the shale found 6" below the surface, according to Phinney.
Still an educator at heart, Phinney hosts volunteers from World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), an international exchange of workers and farmers which began in England in 1971.
WWOOF provides volunteers with first-hand experience in organic and bio diverse growing methods, helping the organic movement, and letting volunteers experience life in a rural setting or a different country.
After 25 years as a Waldorf teacher, Phinney is also an early childhood education expert. This expertise has taken her to China to teach three week courses to Waldorf early childhood teachers.

New Montynews Web Poll

May 16, 2013

Our old web questions, "Do you think the economy is better than it was a year ago," was answered by 48 voters. 50% said, "Yes,. 32.2% said, "No Change," and 18.8% said, "No."

Our new web question says: "Green is everywhere. Do you choose "green" only when it saves money? Will you pay more to help the environment?" Or, "Never?"

Go to our advertiser-supported website, www.montynews.com, and look on the bottom right hand side, below the ads, and vote.

ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH CHILDREN?

May 17, 2013

Plan ahead for the 2013-2014 school year.

The Kid Connection After-School Program has positions for
teachers (must be 18yrs. old) and
assistants (must be 16 yrs. old)
3:45pm-6:00pm full time or part time
Call 908-359-2111

EDC Announces 1st Annual Business Directory Booklet - Print Edition

May 17, 2013

he Montgomery Township Economic Development Committee has announced the kick-off of a printed Montgomery business directory. It will be an attractively formatted booklet highlighting participating Montgomery businesses. It will describe the products/services of each and provide a map showing their locations. It will be distributed widely by Montgomery Economic Development Committee's network, and be included in Montgomery Township New Resident Packets. Copies will be available to the public in the lobby of Town Hall and the Otto Kaufman Community Center, and will also be available in all participating stores/businesses. The lay-out and printing cost will be shared among all participants. Interested business provide an electronic copy of their logo and fill out a short form providing info on their products and services.

Interested businesses, contact EDC Chairman Dan O'Kavage at 609-578-2484 or email EDC@twp.montgomery.nj.us.

Volunteers wanted to meet local businesses and spread the word about this new printed Montgomery business directory and map. Training, hand-outs, and guidance will be provided. Flexible hours but availability during the day is preferred. Business people, retirees and students are welcome.

Gain business communications skills! Community service hours can also be provided for scouts.
Target areas include Tamarack Circle, Wall Street, Research Park, Harlingen, Blawenburg, and all store mall locations.

EDC will accept approximately 20 volunteers to meet with less than 10 businesses each over a course of a few weeks starting this spring.

Interested volunteers, please contact EDC Chairman Dan O'Kavage at 609-578-2484 or EDC@twp.montgomery.nj.us . Thank you!

Environmental Volunteer Corps Work Day Rock Mill Preserve

May 17, 2013

June 2, 9:30 AM

Invasive Plant Species Removal & Trail Clearing
Rock Mill Preserve
360 Grandview Road, Skillman

The Montgomery Environmental Volunteer Corps are now working together to create a walking trail that will loop through a new preserve in the Sourlands and connect with additional preserved open space to the north. No experience is necessary to participate in trail work and stewardship activities. Training is provided when we meet at the site. Please wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes. Bring leather work gloves, pruning shears, rakes, saws, and loppers if you have them. Bring plenty of water. Please park on Sourland Hills Road, a side street off Grandview Road due to very limited parking on the site.

Members of the Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Committee, Open Space Committee and Montgomery Friends of Open Space have joined forces to form the Volunteer Corps, a new effort to work collaboratively on projects to improve Montgomery’s environment and public open space. There was an excellent turn-out for their inaugural spring event on March 23rd at Van Horne Park but it is not too late to join in and volunteer at events as your time allows.

Since the land of Rock Mill Preserve was set aside in June 2012, Montgomery Friend of Open Space has been actively working to create a passive use park on the eastern edge of the Sourlands. The 10.23 acres of forest and stream corridor near the Rock Brook was preserved as a passive use park in June 2012. The funds to buy the land were provided through a non-profit grant to Montgomery Friends of Open Space, from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres and matched by open space funds from Montgomery Township. The park improvements taking place at Rock Mill Preserve are possible through a generous grant from Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies Contributions Fund.

Princeton Elks Fundraiser June 29

May 17, 2013

Princeton Elks are sponsoring a fun night of music on June 29 from 7 to 11 PM to raise money for the Princeton Elks Special Children’s Fund. The Einstein's Alley Musician's Collaborative (EAMC) will showcase an assortment of live musical acts ranging from rock, pop, folk, classical, jazz and more.

The Princeton Elks Special Children’s Fund provides assistance for the care and development of special needs Children in the greater-Princeton community and throughout New Jersey. This includes college scholarships, financial support to clinics such as Somerset Children's Center which serves kids in the Princeton, Hopewell, Montgomery, West Windsor, Plainsboro North and South communities, and tuition for enrollment at The Elk’s Camp Moore.

Einstein Alley Musician’s is a collaborative community for passionate hobby musicians, singers, and song writers in the greater Princeton NJ area who play and share their music with others. Most members of this group are eclectic individuals who already have busy lives but also crave the opportunity to meet and potentially collaborate with other local musicians. The goal is to foster all type of musical collaborations/projects. If you wish to participate on stage at the Elks event join the EA Collaborative on line at http://www.meetup.com/Einstien-Alley-Musicians-Collaborative/.

Admission to the concert is $15.00 which include two tickets for pizza or light snacks. Cash bar and refreshments will be available. For reservations or more information regarding this great program contact Stu Malakoff: 609.243.7840 or stuart_malakoff@ml.com.

The Princeton Elks Lodge 2129 is located at 354 Route 518, Skillman, NJ.

$10K J&J Grant To Montgomery Friends of Open Space

May 17, 2013

Montgomery Friends of Open Space has received a generous $10,000 grant from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Contribution Fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey for stewardship of a 10.3 acre parcel along Grandview Road and the Rock Brook. The grant will be used to create a walking trail, a parking area, a kiosk and some interpretive signs, as well as for the completion of a 36' stone bridge on the property, which will be known as the Rock Mill Preserve to highlight a historic village which existed along Hollow Road about 1850. The parcel is one in an ever expanding series of preserved lands along the Rock Brook. In addition to the environmentally sensitive stream corridor and wetlands, the property supports mature basswood, sycamore and sugar maple trees.

The preservation process began in October 2010 and was completed in June 2012. The Friends and the owners alike were determined to achieve the preservation and were supported by neighbors in their efforts. Montgomery Friends utilized its New Jersey Green Acres funds for the acquisition. Funding partners are Montgomery Township and Somerset County (Open Space Grant). The owners also made a partial donation. The project was facilitated by D&R Greenway Land Trust.

Service days at the preserve are taking place on weekend days, and on Sunday June 2, where First Sundays in the Parks will focus on trail creation. The service day on Sunday, June 2 begins at 9:30 a.m. Please email your interest in helping to: mfosnj@gmail.com and check the website at www.montgomeryfriends.org for specific dates and times the group will be working on trails and stewardship.

BOE Restores Two District Positions

By Lea Florentine May 17, 2013

The Montgomery Township Board of Education announced at its May 14 meeting that two previously eliminated positions were being restored. Deborah Sarmir will serve as Director of Curriculum for the Montgomery Township School District. This position had been held for the past two years by former New Jersey Deputy Education Commissioner Willa Spicer on an interim basis. Mary McLoughlin will be Director of Pupil Services for the District. Montgomery High School Supervisor Joanne Tonkin had been handling this responsibility for all grades since 2010. The two positions had been removed with 2010 budget cuts.
Development of the District’s budget was a long, rocky, and unprecedented road in 2010. Anticipating a 15% - or $1.9M - cut in State aid, the Board initially prepared a $78M budget, a 9% increase from the previous year. In February, the District learned that the State might cut its aid by an additional 20%. In March, the State then announced it would cut the District’s aid by two thirds, or $3.9M. The State also planned to take $1.9M in excess funds from the District. At five and six hour long meetings, the Board discussed where to make cuts with the public.

Athletics at Montgomery Upper Middle School and 22 staff positions, including the Director positions noted above, were cut to save $1.5M. The two World Language teachers at the elementary level were eliminated. Parking fees for Montgomery High School students went from $30 to $200. Township employees would begin mowing the schools’ lawns. Montgomery residents faced a school tax increase of nearly $500, or 6%, on average, while taxes for Rocky Hill residents would be raised by roughly $200, or 4%.

The Township’s bus drivers agreed to a freeze in salaries while the Montgomery Township Education Association (MTEA), which represents 80% of the District’s workforce including teachers, expected a 2.35% increase on average. This prompted a resident to ask, “Who wants to lose their job so the rest of you can have a raise?”

When the budget went to a public vote in April, it was defeated by over half of the voters. A subcommittee of several Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill officials and residents formulated a tax levy amendment of $1.9M to half the tax increases. The Montgomery Township Committee was unable to agree on the cuts, even with mediation led by Trudy Doyle, who was Somerset County Executive Superintendent until her position was cut by Governor Chris Christie in January 2012. Montgomery was the only district in New Jersey with a defeated budget that had not passed a tax levy amendment.

Doyle recommended that the tax levy for the Montgomery Township School District be reduced by $2.08Mfor a budget of $63.36M; this represented a 2.29% increase from the previous year. She also directed the Board to submit plans for triple tier bussing – also recommended by the subcommittee for its $600K in savings –and outsourcing of bus drivers. She noted, “If the teacher’s union had agreed to a pay freeze, it would have resulted in tremendous goodwill in the community; you could take that to the bank!”
On June 25, the Board received its final budget number from Schundler’s office. The Board was given 15 days to adopt a budget, and did so on July 6.

Ironically, Earl Kim, then Superintendent of Schools, was chosen to participate in a Professional Judgment Panel with Schundler to review the State’s “adequacy model,” which determines funding for schools. At the time, Spicer said Districts that showed “the highest achievement with the lowest spending” had been asked to be on the panel.

Farmers’ Market Starts June 1

By Lea Florentine May 17, 2013

The Montgomery Farmers’ Market, which features locally grown and organic produce, opens on June 1.The Market, run by the Montgomery Friends of Open Space (Friends), will be held Saturdays from 9am until 1pm at the Village Shopper shopping center until late October. Once again, the Friends will be sending out a weekly e-newsletter with specials, vendor information, and coupons. New for this year, according to Friends President Mary Penney, are live music by Gunpowder Falls and a wider selection of cheeses as well as yogurt and buttermilk from Fulper Farms of Lambertville.

Vendors returning to the Market include Simply Grazin' Organic Farm of Montgomery, Orchard Farm Organics of Montgomery, Griggstown Farm Market, Woods Edge Wool & Alpaca Farm of Stockton, the Coffee Man, Terra Momo Bread Company of Princeton, Fulper Farm of Lambertville, Treelicious Orchards of Port Murray, and JDGourmet Foods of Hightstown, offering olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and organic pasta.

New to the Market are Von Thun's Country Farm of South Brunswick, who have been farming for 100 years, and Chickadee Creek Organic Farm of Pennington, providing an even larger variety of vegetables and fresh local produce. Penney adds, “We also have a new vineyard - Villa Milagro Vineyards from Finesville - that uses organic and sustainable practices and grows their grapes without pesticides.” The Montgomery Business Association will also have a table to educate shoppers on the benefits of shopping local.

Regarding the Market, Penney explains, “the Friends operate the Farmers' Market each year to promote farming in the Garden State. We preserve family farms and promote eating locally grown, fresh produce. All of our vendors and farmers grow, process, and harvest their products within a fifty mile radius of our market so you know you are getting the freshest produce and products.”
In addition, Penney adds, “The Farmers' Market celebrates local farms and promotes health and wellness. This amplifies our main mission to work with local farmers to preserve their land, including the Donald and Alberta Drake Farm on Route 518 and the Dalhousie-Raymond Farm on Cherry Valley Road. Our non-profit funds made it possible for the farms to be preserved in perpetuity. The farms will never be turned into large sprawling developments.”

Businesses or residents who would like to sponsor the Market should visit the Friends’ website (below) for a sponsor form or go to the “Eat Local” table at the Market. Funds from sponsors help cover the cost of supplies, labor, special events, and shed maintenance. Sponsors receive advertising, coupons, and other marketing materials.

Penney invites residents to attend the Market. “Look for the little cedar shed in the Village Shopper II Parking Lot, along with the tents and balloons.”

To register to receive the Friends’ e-newsletter, email mfosnj@gmail.com. For a schedule of special events at the Market visit www.montgomeryfriends.org.

MHS Ranked 20th in NJ by US News

By Lea Florentine May 17, 2013

Congressman Leonard Lance commended Montgomery High School (MHS) as one of eleven high schools in New Jersey’s 7th Legislative District recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the best in the state and the country. MHS was ranked 20th in New Jersey and 293rd in the United States. In a press release, the Montgomery Township School District noted, “To be among the top 1% of high schools nationally and in the top 10% in New Jersey is a testimony to the work and achievement of the District’s students and teachers.” Other top-ranking local high schools included West Windsor-Plainsboro (WWP) South (8th in New Jersey); Ridge in Basking Ridge (14th); and WWP North (16th).

The high schools were ranked based on students’ performance on state exit exams (for New Jersey, the High School Proficiency Assessment, or HSPA, administered to juniors); student to teacher ratios; proficiency in college level and advanced placement (AP) exams and participation in AP classes. Of MHS juniors, 98% were proficient in language arts and 93% were proficient in math based on HSPA scores. MHS has a 16:1 student to teacher ratio; the New Jersey average is 14:1. AP exams were taken by 59% of MHS seniors; 53% passed the exams. On average, these students took 3.7 AP exams. MHS scored 54.7 for college readiness - a weighted measure of AP exam participation.

Commenting on MHS’ ranking, the District stated, “Like every one of the many high schools in New Jersey and in the nation, MHS works to provide its students with the best possible opportunities that will enable them to succeed in college and in their future lives. The vast majority of our students attends and graduates from fine universities.”

The District adds, “We further believe that we have the responsibility to help our students develop habits of mind and dispositions to live satisfying and productive lives after university. The many excellent programs we have in place to achieve this are not yet measured by this or other rankings. We gather and evaluate a multitude of data points every single day to make certain that we are meeting the needs of our nearly 5000 students.”

To see the US News and World Report ranking of New Jersey high schools, go to http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-jersey/rankings.

Trzaska Joins D&R Canal Commission

By Lea Florentine May 17, 2013

Montgomery Mayor Ed Trzaska was approved as a Commissioner of the Delaware and Raritan (D&R) Canal Commission by the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee and the New Jersey State Senate on May 14. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie nominated Trzaska as a candidate for the position in September of last year. Trzaska says, “I am honored to join the D&R Canal Commission and thank the State Senate for approving my nomination. Montgomery is an important community in the canal's watershed, so I am pleased that Governor Christie saw fit to make sure we are directly represented on the Commission.”

The D&R Commission oversees the70-mile D&R Canal Park and its 400-square mile watershed. Trzaska has noted that they are “critical to the health and wellness of Montgomery and our entire region.” The Commission, an independent State agency whose members are volunteers, was started in 1974 by New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne. The Park serves as a recreation destination for many Montgomery residents and the watershed provides 20% of the State’s drinking water supply.

The D&R Commission duties as stated on its website are “to review and approve, reject or modify any action by the State in the Canal Park, or any permit for action in the park; to undertake planning for the development of the Canal Park; and to prepare and administer a land use regulatory program that will protect the Canal Park from the harmful impacts of new development in central New Jersey.”

Trzaska has stated, “This last point is important. The Commission has authority to approve or deny certain development/land use projects that not only directly impact the canal, but also the waterways that flow into the canal and adjacent rivers (Raritan and Millstone).”

The Commission collects building permit fees for approved projects near the Canal Park. These monies have paid for roughly $20M in improvements to the Park without reliance on State or local taxes.

Trzaska has pledged that as a member of the Commission, “I will do my best to protect these natural resources.” The Commission currently consists of Commissioner Bob Martin of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; David H. Knights; John S. Loos; Phyllis L. Marchand; and Alison Mitchell.

For more information on the D&R Canal, its Commission, and projects being reviewed, visit www.dandrcanal.com.

BOE Seeks Candidates by June 4

By Lea Florentine May 17, 2013

Due to legislation signed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in January of 2012, Montgomery will join 500 other communities in the state by voting for school board members in November, not April, this year. The General Election ballot will list candidates for four Montgomery Township Board of Education (BOE) positions. Shalini Bhargava, Andrea Bradley, recently appointed Sandra Donnay, and Dr. Lei Yu will be finishing their terms as of the end of the year. New Jersey school districts that hold school board elections in November also do not have to submit their proposed budget to a vote provided it remains at or below the 2 percent cap on increases imposed by Christie.

Those wishing to appear on the ballot for available BOE positions – including incumbents - must complete a nominating petition, available from the Somerset County Clerk’s Office. It must state the name, residence, and postal address of the candidate. In addition, it must state that the candidate is legally qualified to be a school board member, as outlined below.

The petition also contains a notice that candidates are required to comply with the New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act. All school board candidates who use any contributions or their own funds for their campaign must file a Certificate of Organization and Designation of Campaign Treasurer and Depository form with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

The petition must be signed by ten or more registered Montgomery Township or Rocky Hill Borough voters, one of whom can be the candidate. It must state that the signers are registered voters in the District and that they endorse the candidate for a school board position and ask to have the candidate’s name included on the ballot.

One of the signers must make a sworn statement verifying that the petition is prepared in good faith and that this person believes that the signers are duly qualified voters in the school district. If the candidate is one of the signers, they can also make the same statement.

The candidate must include a signed statement certifying their qualification and consent to be a school board member. They must also state their acceptance of the office if elected, and that they are a qualified voter. The petition must be submitted to the Somerset County Clerk’s Office by June 4, when this year’s Primary Election will be held.

To be eligible for the Board, candidates must be registered voters in, and residents of, Montgomery Township or Rocky Hill Borough. In addition, they must be U.S. citizens; able to read and write; and not convicted of a crime or offense listed in New Jersey Statute 18A:12-1. Lastly, they cannot be Mayor or a member of Montgomery Township Committee or Rocky Hill Borough Council. When a board member is elected or appointed, they must undergo a criminal history background check in the first 30 days of their term.

In New Jersey, only 41 school districts chose to keep their school elections in April this year.
Those interested in BOE candidacy can obtain a Candidate Kit and additional information on the New Jersey School Boards Association website at http://www.njsba.org/about/candidacy/.

What Municipalities Make Trenton Takes

By Cliff Moore May 17, 2013

In early May, more than 300 participating New Jersey municipalities, including Rocky Hill and Montgomery, received letters from the Governor demanding that unspent funds collected for COAH (the Council of Affordable Housing), some $142M in all, be turned over to the State by May 22, to be added to general State revenues.

Rocky Hill stands to lose $3,500. Montgomery, on the other hand, received a letter demanding the Township turn over $163.99.

The difference is largely because Rocky Hill had responded to a July 24, 2012 letter from the Department of Community Affairs demanding all COAH funds not "committed" as of July 17, 2012, to be turned over by August 13, 2013 to State receivership. Rocky Hill did so. The Township, however, was one of some 82 New Jersey municipalities which held onto collected funds but claimed "a firm and binding obligation by the (municipality) to spend trust fund monies in a manner consistent with the municipality’s fair share plan, the Fair Housing Act, and all applicable regulations."

Under the current shaky letter of the law, the State is only able to demand money officially "committed" to an affordable housing project, hence Montgomery's $163.99 bill. That may change.

According to one confusing set of figures on the Department of Community Affairs website, as of July 17, 2012, Montgomery had $974,463 collected but unspent, listed as "Unspent Municipal Affordable Housing Funds." On the same website, but listed as "Table of Funds to be spent and/or committed for expenditure by July 17, 2012," the amount listed was $0.

Montgomery Township Attorney Chris Hadinger says the Township has set aside more than $1M for COAH, including $100,000 for affordability services, such as assistance for utility bills, and $100,000 for administrative expenses, as well as several hundred thousand dollars committed to infrastructure improvements and new projects.

According to the Township website, the Montgomery plan called for constructing or financing 501 units by 2018.

The loss of COAH monies will not, apparently, relieve Montgomery or Rocky Hill from their COAH obligation. Most COAH money had been collected from developer fees, which have been thin on the ground during the Great Recession.

Some communities, such as South Brunswick, had collected millions of dollars for COAH projects and are refusing to give it up, claiming that the funding has already been committed for projects with signed contracts. They argue that the state failed to provide guidelines or deadlines, and left applications for approval pending without action.

The State is arguing over what the word "committed" means. The courts stopped the State first from closing down COAH, then again from taking the affordable housing funds in 2012, as the State scrambles for money to cover its bills. The issue, Montgomery Township Administrator Donato Nieman says, "Is not going to go away."

Notes From the Township Administrator

By Donato Nieman May 17, 2013

June will be a busy month for the Township; the Municipal Budget is awaiting State approval and is scheduled for adoption this month. The three new Police Recruits will be sworn in at the June 6th Township Committee meeting and will begin and orientation period prior to starting their training at the Somerset County Police Academy at the end of the month. After successful completion of their training they will graduate at the end of December and begin riding with a Field Training Officer familiarizing the new officers with the Township and our policies and procedures. They will be the first new officers brought on board since 2006 and we welcome them to the Township staff.

Change is afoot in another department in the Township Laure Scasserra, the Director of Kid Connection, has decided to retire after over 19 years of service to the Township. She grew and nurtured the Kid Connection program. Many of our residents have had their children enrolled at Kid Connection and compliment the Township on the quality education and care received. We have been told many times that families moved to Montgomery just to enroll their child in our program. I wish to acknowledge the hard work, loyalty and dedication demonstrated by Ms. Scasserra to the Township, her staff and the students. I am sure she will enjoy her well-earned retirement. Andrea McKenna, who had been serving as Head Teacher at Kid Connection has been appointed to succeed Laure as Kid Connection Director. She will continue to enhance and grow Kid Connection.

As the weather warms and people spend more time outdoors they become more aware of their surroundings, please observe common courtesies when operating lawn mowers and weed trimmers on weekends don't mow too early nor too late in the day. Grass clippings are not to be placed in drainage easements or conservation easements. When entertaining outdoors please be cognizant of the impact loud noise and music makes on your neighbors late in the evening. Our police officers often times have to respond to noise complaints on weekends. Recognition of the effect of noise on your neighbors will help to reduce these types of complaints.

The summer months will allow the Township to move forward with its road repaving and repair program. One of the projects going out to bid will be in the Meadow run neighborhood. The Township was recently award a $200,000 grant from NJDOT for the reconstruction of East Mountain. That money will help defray the costs associated with that project. Hollow Road will have another section of repaved. This is the second phase of a three year project paving a third of Hollow Road each year through 2014.

As we move into the summer months I wish everyone well and hope to see you at the Fireworks on Thursday June 27th on the High School grounds. The rain date is July 11th. Buy your parking passes early!

Monty Madness at MHS May 18

May 17, 2013

FREE All Day Fun for Families - Come see what F.I.R.S.T Robotics is all about! To promote interest of students in Science, Engineering, Technology and Math, Montgomery High School's Robotics Team 1403 will be hosting a free event on Saturday May 18th at the High School.www.montymadness.com, Montgomery has gone MAD again

Blawenburg Post Office Hours Reduced

By Lynn Hartley May 2, 2013

Blawenburg Post Office window hours will be reduced on May 18 to six hours per weekday, while Saturday hours will remain the same.

The move is part of the U.S. Postal Service Post Office Structure Plan (POST Plan), which is cutting hours at mostly rural post offices across the country. Retail window hours of operation at as many as 13,000 post offices will be reduced to two, four or six hours per weekday. The USPS hopes to save $500 million per year as a result.

“Customer survey responses, input from the community meeting, and the operational needs of the Postal Service were considered in reaching the implementation decision,” said John D’Alessio, Postplan Coordinator.

The new retail hours will be 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, with the window closed from 12:30 am to 1:00 pm for lunch. Saturday hours are the same from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Post Office box customers can access their mail from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays, and 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays. Post Office box mail will be available daily for pick up by 12:00 pm, and at 9:30 am on Saturday.

Previous hours were Monday through Friday 7:15 am to 12 pm, closed for two hours for lunch, and 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Other options the USPS looked at included closure of the post office, or shifting services to a local business.

The USPS has seen less foot traffic in brick and mortar buildings and a decreasing number of transactions in post offices. However, there has been a jump in sales from alternative sources such as the USPS.com website, smartphones, and grocery store sales of stamps, according to officials.

MEMS Open House and Health Fair May 19

May 2, 2013

MEMS is holding an Open House and Health Fair May 19th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at the squad building on Harlingen Rd. Free health screenings and Kid Card IDs will be available free of charge. They will also be having a blood drive at the same location the day before, Saturday, May 18th, and hope residents will support this effort as well.

What Municipalities Make Trenton Takes

By Cliff Moore May 20, 2013

Rocky Hill stands to lose $3,500. Montgomery, on the other hand, received a letter demanding the Township turn over $163.99.

Under the current shaky letter of the law, the State is only able to demand money officially "committed" to an affordable housing project, hence Montgomery's $163.99 bill. That may change.

According to the Township website, the Montgomery plan called for constructing or financing 501 units by 2018.

Report From Rocky Hill - June 2013

By Cliff Moore May 21, 2013

Mayor Zimmerman announced on May 7 that the Borough will be receiving a grant of $175,000 from the DOT for some of the work on the new curbing and solar-powered crossing lights, which has been delayed for some time. This project, which began life as a simple plan to place solar-powered crosswalk signs at intersections, has morphed into Downtown Beautification Project due to a requirement by the DOT that any projects using DOT funding must bring the intersections up to State Code. Also, the State Historical Commission wouldn't approve lights on simple wooden poles; no, they must instead be installed on period-styled aluminum stands. The intersections, which had recently been improved by the County, were not up to code in respect to handicap crossing.

Bringing the curbing and cross walk areas up to code will cost $75,000 each. The project, which went out to bid, only received one bid, from a contractor who, according to Borough Engineer Tanner, clearly didn't understand the specs, and which the Borough rejected at the May 20 meeting. Mr. Tanner was asked to check with Hopewell Borough, which has a similar solar-powered light on their main street, to find out who installed it and what it cost. The estimates for this project are close to $256,000. The Borough will be temporarily installing the old pedestrian crossing signs until the new work is done.

Meanwhile, what the right hand gives, the left hand takes away: the Governor, in a breath-taking grab, has laid claim to all funding from all state municipalities which had been dedicated for Affordable Housing obligations. In Rocky Hill's case, that means the loss of some $3,500 (see our story on Page 7, "What Municipalities Make Trenton takes"). Rocky Hill would have used its COAH funding, which was paid from developer fees, to underwrite the cost of emergency generators for the two group homes, which went powerless during Sandy.

Mayor Zimmerman reported that his phone rang off the hook at the end of April after the County resurfaced Rt. 518 near the Crescent Ave intersection, which diverted traffic unexpectedly onto Princeton Avenue, which simultaneously, was half-closed by pole replacement work by PSEG. The PSEG project, is partly to repair damage to poles from Sandy, but also is part of a larger project, which will tie together four separate transmission areas within the Borough. Mayor Zimmerman says that this will reduce the number of power outages in the Borough during storm events. However, part of the work is on hold pending approval by some landowners of easements to PSEG to install new poles, some of which appear to be remarkably tall. Those tall poles are ugly, but far less likely to suffer storm damage from falling trees.

The Borough is looking into an electric aggregation scheme something like that of Montgomery Townships, which could bring savings of up to $150 per home for residents, who would be able to opt out if they choose.

Borough Engineer Bill. Tanner reports that the Borough will have to seriously consider increases to water and sewer bills to homeowners to offset increased fees for municipal sewer service. The projected revenues are $213,000, but costs will be $263,000. Some of the costs, which represent capital expenses incurred by Montgomery, will come from municipal surplus, but, by law, residents will have to cover all of it sooner or later from user fees. The Borough, which can raise rates by resolution without State approval, hopes to phase in increases over three years of about 8% per year. Consequently, at the May 20 Council meeting, sewer rates were increased from $7/1000 gallons, to $9/1000 gallons for 2013 (with first new rates applied after the June 3 reading), and $11.25/1000 for 2014, and $12.50/1000 in 2015. The good news is that these new rates will continue for 10 years, at which time the municipal debt to Montgomery will be paid, and the old, lower rates will return.

Borough Council passed an ordinance awarding a contract to G&T Landscaping to cut the grass at Borough Hall and in Panicaro Park, and another contract to JML Landscaping for cutting the Green Acres. Hopefully, they'll cut all of it this time.

Mayor Zimmerman reported that dredging along the D&R Canal will begin sometime this summer between Kingston and Amwell Rd, and take about three years. There were some concerns expressed about safety issues, as some of the crew will be working on a water-born dredge. Pumps will be station every mile or so to pull out the fill and dump it into trucks. The Mayor wasn't sure which direction along Rt. 518 they will be driving, but there will be about 30 or 35 trucks per day taking fill from the project, which will operate during the spring, summer and fall months..

Council appointed Todd Harris to be Emergency Management Coordinator, and Mayor Zimmerman to be Deputy OEM Coordinator.

At the May 20 meeting, Council introduced a new Fire Ordinance, to replace the old, which establishes a Fire Prevention Bureau and board, terms of office, as well as inspection fees, fines and schedules for such items as false fire alarms, and appeals of fines.

In April there were 10 new parking and 44 moving violations, and the Court settled 10 parking and 70 moving violations, with total revenues of $9,104. Rocky Hill's share was $2,001.59.

An unexpected arrival of dozens of motorcyclists on May 5 to the corner of Rt. 518 and Skillman Avenue as part of a charity "poker run," resulted in more calls to the mayor. They were noisy, but harmless.
Residents drew 2.2M gallons of water from the well in March, 2.22M gallons in April. All water quality tests were good.

Council tabled the Budget vote until June, as well as the ordinance amending the History District Ordinance. Resident Phil Hayden, whose property would be effected under the plan, pointed out several conflicts between the Historical ordinance and the current Master Plan, but praised the intent of the changes for making them more resident-friendly and accessible.

The Shade Tree Commission sought $3,500 to pay for cutting and removing several dead trees, which was approved by Council.

Council will be dumping Bollinger Agency for insurance, as they have proved unresponsive.
Council approved a new liquor license for the Rocky Hill Inn.

Borough Council normally meets on the first and third Mondays, at 7:30 pm, at Borough Hall on Montgomery Ave. For more information online, www.rockyhill-nj.gov.

Princeton Elks Lodge Flag Day June 14

May 21, 2013

Princeton Elks Lodge is sponsoring a community wide Flag Day June 14, 6:30 PM, celebration which has become one of the largest in the state. Honoring the Stars and Stripes celebration will be held at the Princeton Elks Lodge. This special day honoring the Flag originated in 1885 in the Fredonia, Wisconsin public school. It was not until 1949 that President Harry Truman, who was an Elk, signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.

The ceremony will begin with a welcome address by Princeton Elks Lodge Robert M Church, PSVP, ER, and an introduction of the Lodge officers. Followed by the presentation of the colors by Montgomery Boys and Girl Scouts and Cub scouts and a singing of the Star Spangle Banner by the Montgomery Lower Middle School chorus. The chorus will later present a musical interlude and sing the Grand Old Flag. Montgomery Township Scout groups will participate in readings: The History of the Flag.

The guest speaker will be Brigadier General Michael L. Cunniff, The Adjutant General of New Jersey. General Cunniff commands more than 9,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard. He manages all New Jersey state veterans’ programs, commissions and facilities. Since joining the Air Force in 1982 General Cunniff has served in many operations including Operations Northern Watch, Joint Forge, Allied Force, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The Lodge will honor the Veteran of the year Michael Mahoney for his contribution to the veterans program. Awards will be presented to the winners of the Americanism Essay Contest, grades 5 through 8, for there essays on “What Does the National Anthem Means To Me?”. CarinaManek’s essay was not only a winner at the lodge level but also in the state essay judging. An Princeton Elks Lodge American Freedom award will be will also be presented

The Flag Day celebration will close with Montgomery Township Boy Scout Troops 46 & 850 performing the flag retirement ceremony.

At the conclusion of the formal ceremony the Elks Lodge invite all to stay and be their guest for refreshments.

Troop 61148 Girl Scouts Earning Bronze Award

May 22, 2013

The Bronze Award-the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can achieve-requires 4th and 5th grade girls to learn the necessary leadership and planning skills to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on their community. Working toward this award demonstrates a girl's commitment to helping others, improving her community and the world.

This year, Montgomery Junior Girl Scout troop 61148 has been diligently working toward earning the prestigious Bronze Award, and chose "Cool The Earth" as their service project. Most of the troop's members have been together since first grade and collectively decided on this project to learn more about energy conversation and to become leaders in the fight against global warming. In addition to motivating their families about ways to lower our carbon emissions "footprint," the troop has set out to educate the community and increase awareness about this important issue.

Kicking off their project at Montgomery's Earth Day celebration in April, the troop created a fun, informational video about the effects of global warming. The girls also distributed action coupon books featuring easy no- or low-cost energy saving actions that can be completed at home. These coupons contain simple, energy-saving actions kids and families can take to help fight global warming. Coupons show how many pounds of carbon are reduced by each action taken. The troop also created a "meeting in a box," which contains everything other troops within the Heart of New Jersey Girl Scout Council would need to run a meeting on this important topic.

And now the community has the opportunity to join the adventure and be inspired through the girls' project. Children in grades K-6 are encouraged to sign up through their schools to receive an action coupon book and participate in this exciting program. After taking an action, families fill out the corresponding coupon and return it to a box located in the main office of each school. The troop's goal is to have 150 coupons turned in before their closing party at 3 pm on Sunday, June 9 at Montgomery Park. Incentives for completed action coupons in the form of Cool the Earth trading cards will be distributed at the party. These environmentally friendly incentives can be collected, traded, and displayed in the coupon holder as a reminder of the student's participation in Cool the Earth.

After months of planning and preparation, the troop members will walk away from their Bronze Award project with greater courage, confidence, and character as they strived to make a lasting difference in the world around them. For more information about the Bronze Award project and closing party, please contact Annette LaCanna at alacanna@gmail.com.

Opening Day for the Montgomery Friends Farmers’ Market June 1

May 3, 2013

Saturday June 1 is Opening Day for the Montgomery Friends Farmers’ Market, run by the Montgomery Friends of Open Space and located at the Village Shopper parking lot on Rt. 206 across from ShopRite and Montgomery Cinema. The Market will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through mid-October.

“Opening Day this year will be better than ever,” said market manager and Lorette Pruden. “We have two wonderful new vendors with fruits and vegetables, and more organic produce also. I think we’ll have our best year yet.”

Mary Penney, president of Montgomery Friends of Open Space, agrees. “The Montgomery Friends Farmers’ Market has become a special part of Saturdays in Montgomery, and that’s really gratifying to our organization” she noted. “2013 is going to be great. The farm vendors have excellent products: a good selection of organic and Jersey Fresh produce, pies, organic eggs and naturally raised chickens, grass-fed beef.”

“The Saturday market simplifies summer meals, which is great for busy families!” Penney noted. “We will continue to sell fabulous fresh bread and croissant from Terra Momo Bread Company. The atmosphere is relaxed. Parking is easy. It’s all good.”

Vendors returning to the market this year include Tree-Licious Orchards, Orchard Farm Organics, Griggstown Quail Farm, Simply Grazin’ Organic Farm, Terra Momo Breads, the Coffee Man and Fulper Dairy Farms with fresh cheeses and yogurt.

New farm vendors include Von Thun’s Family Farm and Chicadee Creek organic farm.

Opening Day at the market will feature live modern country music from the group Gunpowder Falls. Market customers are encouraged to visit the Montgomery Friends website – www.montgomeryfriends.org, for a coupon to redeem at the Market.

Montgomery Friends of Open Space is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization whose goals are to preserve remaining open land in Montgomery Township, to act as stewards for the properties already preserved, and to run a farmers' market to support local agriculture. For more information or to become a member, visit www.montgomeryfriends.org.

Secure Shred Day May 18

May 5, 2013

Did you know that over 160,000 pounds of material were collected from approximately 2,650 consumers at 11 shredding events in Somerset County last year? These Operation Secure Shred events are held at convenient locations and open to the residents of Somerset County.

Please bring some form of identification while establishes your residency. All paper paper documents and card stock folders are acceptable. It is not necessary to remove staples or paperclips. Shredding can be done in front of you while you wait and all containers can be returned.

May 18th the Shredding Truck will be in Montgomery at the firehouse at Belle Mead-Griggstown Road, Belle Mead from 9 am to 1 p.m.
All eleven Operation Secure Shred events in 2013 are hosted at municipal sites in cooperation with Somerset County. All events will be held on Saturdays, from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m., rain or shine

Is Comcast Ripping Us Off?

By Cliff Moore May 6, 2013

Like many in the Rocky Hill, Montgomery Township area, we signed on when Patriot Media offered high speed Internet and Cable TV. It was the only game in town. On the other hand, they offered a free modem to those of us choosing Internet service. It seemed like a good idea. And when Patriot Media upgraded its lines and servers at enormous expense, service improved dramatically. It was, we were told, the most advanced, state-of-the-art system in the country.

However, not long afterward, it was sold to Comcast. Google "I hate Comcast," to see typical user opinion.

Comcast's latest trick, which many have noticed, is to charge for those "free" modems. A line item of $7 per month appeared on our bill at the Montgomery News and on the bills for many home users. That works out to $84 a year. We protested, but no joy. "You think "free" means free forever?" we were told. The NJ Department of Public utilities, which seems dedicated to leaving no utility company behind, says they can't do anything about it as Comcast is an interstate utility.

There appears to be a work-around: buy your own modem. We did, a Motorola SURFboard SB6121. This is not an endorsement of Motorola, but it was one of a number of models commonly recommended by others. We found one online for less than the cost of a year's rental of Comcast's "free" modem.

We checked with Comcast tech support and indeed, we could install it ourselves. Nothing could be simpler: plug in the power supply, plug in the cable from Comcast, then plug in the Ethernet cable to your computer or router, then let Comcast know the serial numbers of the unit. They do the rest. The first time we did this, we were told there would be a three-working-day wait until they could get around to inputting the serial number. We protested that we were a business and did they think we were stupid? Why would it take three days to log in two sets of numbers? After a day of phoning, we got it squared away, and returned the old modem to the Amwell Rd. Comcast office in Hillsborough.

In all fairness, when we did the same for a home installation, it was seamless. We installed the unit, the Tech Dept. logged in the serial numbers, and it was up in a matter of minutes. Except for one thing.

This time when we returned the old unit to the Comcast office we found a line stretching out the door and into the parking lot. All irritated customers, some who had driven a considerable distance, returning their "free" modems, except for the two at the head of the line. Comcast, it seems, no longer installs cable boxes for Cable TV. Now new customers have to pick up their own Cable box. That, evidently, takes a long time at the desk for paperwork, credit checks, proof of address, name, rank and, you guessed it, serial number. One of the two people at the head of the line was claiming eight Cable boxes. We waited. And waited, but we got there in the end.

So, is Comcast ripping us off? Only if we let them.

A Documentary, A Love Story, A Movement, STUCK, May 11

May 8, 2013

Princeton Premiere:
7 p.m. - May 11, 2013 at the Montgomery Cinema - 1325 US RT 206 Rocky Hill, NJ
(A Free Ice Cream for All Ticket Holders at Thomas Sweet)
Culminating in a May 17th March on Washington, D.C., STUCK is a documentary touring the Nation. It is a love story of hope and determination focused on improving the international adoption process. Please share this moving story of families, families enriched and fortunate enough to have navigated the maze of international bureaucracy and politics. Help us bring millions of children incarcerated in orphanages around the world into more humane environments. Narrated by Mariska Hargitay of Law and Order, with a soundtrack by Daniel Baron of South Africa.

A Visit to My Favorite Bargain Winery

By George M. Taber May 9, 2013

As readers of this column might already know, my favorite bargain wine is Bogle, a California producer that makes many fine varieties selling in the price range of between $8 and $10. I first met it when I was writing my book about less expensive wines entitled "A Toast to Bargain Wines." The thesis of the work was that such wines have never been better. Thanks to developments in wine technology and fierce competition in the world wine business from new producers in the Southern Hemisphere, there are many just waiting to be tried.

On a recent trip to Napa, I decided to take a detour to Bogle. It's located in the Sacramento Valley. This is part of the region also know as the Central Coast, although it's north of the stalwarts of that area such as Gallo. This is one of the great vegetable gardens of the world. It's fed by some major rivers, and is warmer than the coastal areas such as Sonoma, which means that products grow faster and more abundantly.
I flew into Sacramento, which is about forty-five minutes from the winery amd had a beautiful drive through the Sacramento Delta. There are now plenty of wineries in the area, as some farmers have given up growing the reliable products that do well there such as tomatoes and lettuce in favor of grapes. The countryside reminded me of Holland because the farms are laid out in squares that are surrounded by canals. Those supply the water that is the source of the valley's success. There was little traffic on the road, and plenty of signs for wine tastings, but I kept plugging along. When I got there, the first thing that struck me was that it was vastly different than a winery you might see in Napa or Sonoma. This is not a place for the chi-chi set. This is a workingman's winery. There were lots of functional buildings that were not designed by a big-name architect as you see in more famous regions.

Off away from the parking lot and corporate offices was a modest building that a sign indicated was the tasting room. I walked down to it and noticed an attractive picnic area in back and just in front of the vineyards. Again nothing splashy.

When I walked into the tasting room, I was surprised to see it filled with a happy group of Bogle fans. Everyone was enjoying the winery's six free samples. In many regions, wineries now charge high prices to sample. A new one for me was a red blend called Essential Red, which has roughly similar levels of Zinfandel, Petit Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. It was great. I also tried some of their reserve wines and even the port, which are more expensive but worth it at about $20 a bottle. You probably won't find those on the east coast. In all, it was a pleasant venture into wine tourism.

George M. Taber's latest wine book is A Toast to Bargain Wines: How Innovators, Iconoclasts, and Winemaking Revolutionaries Are Changing the Way the World Drinks.

Community Coffee Morning

May 9, 2013

The Montgomery-Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance and Youth Services Commission Monthly “Community Coffee Morning” meeting is being held on the last Thursday of every month from 10am – 11am at Thomas Sweet in Montgomery Shopping Center. A different speaker will be featured during each meeting.

Our previous speakers have included Detective Hofacker who spoke about “Internet Safety,” Ms.Carmen Ostow, LCSW, who discussed “Stress and Its Effects” just in time for State Standardized Testing, and Dr. Pete Peligrino who addressed “Sleep Patterns in Teens.”

Please come out and join in on the discussion or just listen and learn.

If you have any questions you may contact The Montgomery-Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance and Youth Services Commission at Municipalalliancem.rh@gmail.com. . We welcome your suggestions for future programs.

The Montgomery-Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance and Youth Services Commission is committed to prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse. The Committee brings together representatives from Local Government bodies, Education, the Healthcare community, Law Enforcement , other Social Entities and the Community at Large to plan and coordinate programs and activities that help prevent substance abuse and promote the health and welfare of children and adults.

JERSEY HARMONY CHORUS COMPETES IN BARBERSHOP CHORUS COMPETITION

May 9, 2013

Jersey Harmony Chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and teaching four-part barbershop harmony for women's voices. Last month they were among the ranks of 11 choruses who competed in the Region 15 Chorus Competition held in Philadelphia, PA, on April 13th.

Under the direction of Kat Britt, the chorus boasts members from Mercer, Somerset, Middlesex, Ocean, Hunterdon counties in New Jersey and Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Membership includes women of all ages and represents a wide range of occupations and backgrounds. Their repertoire includes popular ballads, lively uptunes, jazz, patriotic, blues, a wide variety of music that's fun to sing and fun to listen to.

They meet weekly for rehearsal on Monday evenings at Griggstown Reformed Church, 1065 Canal Road, Princeton, at 7:15 p.m. The essential requirements for membership are the ability to carry a tune and the time to attend weekly rehearsals. All women are eligible to audition for membership. Please visit the JHC website: at www.jerseyharmonychorus.org.

For more information about membership, contact Carole Auletta, 732-236-6803.

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