Montgomery Newsletter, Winter 2013
Transcription
Montgomery Newsletter, Winter 2013
Winter 2016 T h e T ow n sh i p of Municipal and county Newsletter Mon tg om e ry PAGE 1 C ou n t y of S om e r s e t Municipal Building, 2261 Van Horne Road (Route 206), Belle Mead, New Jersey 08502 Tel (908) 359-8211, TDD (908) 359-8211 Website: www.twp.montgomery.nj.us Municipal and Community Newsletter Winter 2016 ROAD MAINTENANCE: A PRIORITY IN 2015 AND BEYOND Other roadway work upcoming for 2016: As your elected officials and fellow residents, we have Montgomery has completed repair work on Cherry Valley noted and taken action to address the impacts to our roadways from the last two winters of severe weather. We have made Road throughout its entire length this year, but a project to it our goal to devote additional funding to road repair and reconstruct the section from Cherry Hill Road to the west reconstruction. Much planning is always involved; major end of Jefferson’s curve is in the design and permitting stage. road reconstruction projects require time and patience. A 2016 bid date is anticipated, pending DEP permits and But through the hard work of our Montgomery Township easement acquisitions. Cherry Valley Road from Rt. 206 to Engineering and Public Works departments, progress has the s-curve was reconstructed a few years back. Previous and been made and our investment is yielding results. The current phases are a 50-50 partnership between Montgomery following listed road work represents over nine miles and Princeton. While the Montgomery Department of Public Works of new pavement and over four miles of patching and (DPW) has completed base repairs to Viburnum Drive, the repairs to date. roads of this neighborhood, including Sassafras Court and Within the last year, the following Montgomery Spike Rush Court, are in need of drainage improvements. roads have been repaired, reconstructed, chip sealed, overlaid, or milled and paved along their entire length Design and permitting work is ongoing and a 2016 bid date is anticipated. or a section: Dead Tree Run Road and Pin Oak Road are scheduled Bedens Brook Rd., Burnt Hill Rd., Cherry Hill Rd., Cherry Valley Rd., Dutchtown-Zion Rd., Fairview Rd., for milling and paving next summer. Bridgepoint Road, Green Ave., Harlingen Rd., Hillside Terr., Hollow Rd., from Dead Tree Run Road to Opdikes Mill Road, is another project in its design and permitting phase with Mountain View Rd., Mill St., Opossum Rd., plans for bidding the work in 2016. Reading Blvd., Rolling Hill Rd., and Servis Rd. A MESSAGE Finally, Princeton Avenue, between Mt. Neighborhood road base repairs, overlay FROM THE Lucas Road and the Rocky Hill border is being work, and sidewalk repairs are currently TOWNSHIP recommended by the township engineer this ongoing for the following roads: COMMITTEE month for milling and paving work, along Charleston Drive, Dogwood Lane (now with sidewalk repairs on Blue Spring Road and completed), Duncan Road, Hillcrest Road Salisbury Road. Please note that all future work is (now completed), Norfolk Way, Platz Drive (no sidewalk), Richmond Drive, S. Wiggins Lane, and subject to budget approval and timing is approximate. Road maintenance is an ongoing item on every Township’s Williamsburg Court. checklist and it should be. We hope you agree that we are County Road and Bridge Work There are several county roads in Montgomery. Through wisely investing Montgomery tax dollars when we make the our partnership with Somerset County, repaving of Belle roadways in Montgomery a priority - for the driving safety Mead-Griggstown Road from Rt. 206 to Willow and all of and ease of all our residents and the motoring public. Another priority is to keep roadways clear of snow in Dutchtown-Harlingen Road – both county roads - has been completed. Mercer County is also currently replacing the the winter. To do this we count on the cooperation of our Cherry Valley Road Bridge (or culvert) at the west end of residents in certain ways. Please read the article, “Snow Plowing: What We Do, How Residents Can Help” on pg. Cherry Valley Road. 13. Thank you! Inside This Issue . . . . We wish each and every Montgomery household a warm and enjoyable holiday season! Recreation Newsletter......... Click to go to Link Montgomery Township Committee: Montgomery FunFest.................................Pg. 2 Christine Madrid, Mayor [email protected] Addition to Sourland Preserve..............Pgs. 4-5 Ed Trzaska, Deputy Mayor [email protected] Montgomery Business Directory...............Pg. 6 Patricia Graham, Committeewoman [email protected] New Sign at Van Horne Park.....................Pg. 7 Rich Smith, Committeeman [email protected] Sustainable Jersey Certification.......... Pgs. 9-10 Chris Sugden, Committeeman [email protected] Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 2 The organizers of the first Montgomery FunFest on Sept. 13th were honored by the Montgomery Twp. Committee on Thurs., Oct. 1. Pictured are (l to r): Heidi Shegoski - EDC, Montgomery Twp. Committeeman Chris Sugden, Arun Mani - EDC, Anthony Gatto - EDC, Kevin Baez - EDC, Montgomery Twp. Committeeman Rich Smith – EDC Liaison, Todd Royer – EDC Chairman and Co-chair of FunFest, Jean Robinson - MBA Treasurer and Co-chair of FunFest, Montgomery Mayor Christine Madrid, Lorette Pruden - Chair MBA, and Alicia Schwarcz - EDC and FunFest Manager of Volunteers. Other event organizers thanked in the resolution who were not able to be present are: Joan Kettlekamp, Saul Wendroff, Jane Gore, Cory Wingerter, Peter DiPersia, Frank Luis, and Ken and Steve Nierenberg of Princeton Airport. MBA/EDC FUNFEST IS A HIT IN MONTGOMERY TWP. The new “Montgomery FunFest” was a resounding success Sunday, Sept. 13th at Princeton Airport. More than a hundred business and non-profit groups greeted residents, providing giveaways, kids rides, games, crafts and more. There were vintage cars & airplanes on display, even helicopter rides. Local Montgomery talent entertained from 3 stages and attendees enjoyed great food and beverage choices. Attendance was in the thousands. This event was organized by the Montgomery Business Association with support from the Montgomery Economic Development Commission, a volunteer committee of the municipality whose goal is to promote Montgomery as an excellent business location. The purpose of the event was to support local businesses and strengthen the community spirit of Montgomery Township. The event organizers and hosts were recently honored by the Montgomery Twp. Committee (see photo). For-profit or not-for-profit organizations or volunteers interested in participating in next year’s FunFest can find out more by emailing the EDC at [email protected] or the MBA at [email protected]. Link to more event photos: http://www.twp.montgomery.nj.us/gallery/montgomery-funfest/. Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter Lorette Pruden, Montgomery Business Association President (l) and Township Committeeman Rich Smith (r) assisting Robin Williams (center), the new owner of Wine & Design in cutting the ribbon to open her new store in Village Shopper 3 Sat., 9-26-15. Wine & Design is a new art studio in Montgomery. Wine and Design offers fun painting classes for all ages and experience levels. Their artists will guide you through the process of creating your own masterpiece at a public class or by hosting your own private party. More info may be found at www.wineanddesign.com/princetonnj or email [email protected]. PAGE 3 The ribbon was cut Sat., Nov. 7 at MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes in the Village Shopper III, 1378 Route 206 in Skillman. In addition to Deputy Mayor Ed Trzaska, attendees (pictured L to R) included: Committeman-elect Mark Conforti, Mayor Christine Madrid with daughter, Cassie, co-owner Andrew Candelino, franchise developer Tommy Mascia, and co-owner Jerry Candelino. MOOYAH is owned and operated by a father and son team along with 30 employees. Son Andrew, 23, of Mountainside, NJ worked at the first NJ MOOYAH in Garwood and got to experience firsthand with what a different burger experience this fast casual “better burger” brand from Plano, Texas is offering. Free tax preparation starts February at Community Center The AARP and the Somerset County Retired Senior Volunteer Program Tax Aide program provides free federal and state tax preparation services with special attention for seniors & lower income residents. Volunteer tax counselors are trained and certified by the IRS to assist Somerset County residents and workers in preparing their federal and New Jersey income tax returns. These volunteers are ready to help residents of all ages prepare their tax returns. The volunteer training covers all aspects of personal income tax with special emphasis on matters affecting seniors and lower income residents. Volunteers will also assist seniors prepare their PTR (senior property tax freeze) applications. Last year this free service completed over 2100 returns in Somerset County. Our Montgomery site completed 385 of those returns. Tax returns can be e-filed to assure a safer, more timely refund. This service will be available at the Otto Kaufman Community Center in Skillman beginning February, 2016 through April 15, 2016 by appointment only. More details, including the telephone number for an appointment, will be given January, 2016. Like working with numbers? Volunteer tax aids are also needed. AARP Tax Volunteers interact with clients by filling out tax returns. Even if you don’t have accounting or tax preparation experience, becoming a Tax Volunteer may be right for you. AARP provides training in tax law procedures, preparing tax forms, and using tax preparation software. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tax aide please contact Laurie Beckhorn at the Somerset County office, [email protected],nj,us, (908) 704-6338. Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 4 Freeholders & New Jersey Conservation Foundation Announce Addition to Sourland Mountain Preserve An Oct. 23 closing was held on 29 acres of land in Montgomery Township being deeded to the Somerset County Open Space program by landowner Bryce Thompson. The acquisition was completed through a partnership with New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “We are excited to be working once again with New Jersey Conservation Foundation,” said Somerset County Freeholder Director Mark Caliguire. “The preservation of Mr. Thompson’s property continues the county’s aggressive preservation efforts of environmentally significant lands within the Sourland Mountain region.” New Jersey Conservation Foundation secured an option agreement to purchase a total of 30 acres from Mr. Thompson, which was transferred to the county. The county anticipates closing on the remaining 1-acre parcel by the end of the year. “We’re delighted to partner with Somerset County to preserve land in the Sourland Mountains,” said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “The Sourland Mountain Preserve is a wonderful place to hike and enjoy nature, and we’re happy to see it expanded with these 30 additional acres.” The property will remain largely in its natural, wooded state and the county will consider passive uses most appropriate for the health and public enjoyment of the land. Located along County Route 601, the property is contiguous to other open space lands acquired by Somerset County in recent years and continues the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands within the Sourland Mountain region. Cruser Brook, a 1-mile long stream within the Raritan River drainage basin, traverses the property. Preservation of Cruser Brook and other water courses is critical for the enhancement of surfacewater quality and for preserving the environmental health of water bodies, many of which feed public drinking-water supplies. In addition, there are the scenic and recreational opportunities that the region’s streams and rivers provide. The Sourland Mountain region is an expansive, 20,000-acre continuous green swath of intact forest and farmland spanning parts of three largely developed central New Jersey counties. It extends (continued next page) Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 5 (continued from previous page) from the central part of Hillsborough Township, Somerset County, southwest to the Delaware River in West Amwell, Hunterdon County, and Hopewell Township, Mercer County, supporting many rare plant and animal species, and providing nesting and migratory stopover habitat for over 100 species of migratory birds. Somerset County began preservation in the Sourland Mountains region in Hillsborough and Montgomery Townships in the early 1970s. With the addition of the Thompson property, the Preserve is nearing 6,000 acres, making it the largest park in Somerset County’s 14,200-acre park system. The Far Hills-based New Jersey Conservation Foundation, which preserves open space and farmland throughout the state, is working to protect additional acreage in the Sourland Mountains. To stay up to date with Somerset County events and information, sign up for free email alerts at www.co.somerset.nj.us/subscribe.html or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Volunteer residents, Rutgers students and employees from Johnson & Johnson take part in a volunteer tree planting at Somerset County’s Skillman Park on October 23, resulting in 40 new trees along Rock Brook, which help improve water quality, prevent erosion by stabilizing the streambank and floodplain, and provide habitat for wildlife. The planting was organized by the Township’s Open Space Committee, Montgomery Friends of Open Space and Somerset County Park Commission. Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 6 Montgomery Business Directory- Ad Deadline 12/15 IN THE C I THE TOW N OM D County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day OMERY TG ERSET New This Year – Ads will be in color! The 2016 Montgomery Business Directory will be the third annual publication. It is IP OF MO SH TY OF N mailed to every home in Montgomery and is distributed to local businesses and community N S OU RPORATE O venues such as Shoprite, Rocky Hill Library and the Otto Kaufman Center. Response has NC SEAL been very positive! Families use it as a year round resource. The Otto Kaufman Center says FEBRUARY 21 , 1798 that new families coming into the community love to have it as a resource. The deadline is NE W JERSEY December 15th for distribution February 2016. Sign up today to advertise in the directory! Have an ad ready: email to: [email protected] Please make sure it is in the following format: 5”8”- EPS file, JPEG’s can work but may have clarity issues. Photos can be in JPEG format, again depending on the quality of the resolution. Also include separately: business name, phone number, email contact, address, business description, website, social media accounts, business owner’s name, business category- i.e. restaurant, pet supplies, coffee shop, etc., addition info or comment. Do not have an ad: email the following information to: [email protected] business name, phone number, email contact, address, business description, website, social media accounts, business owner’s name, business category- i.e. restaurant, pet supplies, coffee shop, etc., addition info or comment. If you have logos, then please provide them in EPS file. JPEG may work depending on resolution. Photos can also be in JPEG but depending on quality of resolution they may be omitted from the ad. Make check payable to ‘Montgomery Township Economic Development Commission’ for $250. Send completed information with payment to: Montgomery Township Municipal Offices- EDC 2261 Van Horne Road - Route 206 North Belle Mead, NJ 08502 Questions: e-mail: [email protected] March 19, 2016, 9am - 2pm Bernards Township Public Works Garage 277 South Maple Ave. Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 No registration is necessary, but proof of Somerset County residency is required. The program is free to county residents. Household hazardous waste includes banned or outdated pesticides, antifreeze, transmission fluids, brake fluids, wet-cell car batteries, motor oil (2-gallon maximum), fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs, ammonia-based cleaners, gasoline, kerosene, mercury switches, oil-based paints, pool chemicals, propane tanks and rechargeable and button-cell batteries. For more information on types or quantities of materials accepted, contact the Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management at (908) 231-7031 or email [email protected] or visit the Somerset County website at www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle for programs and information. Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 7 Girl Scout Designs New Interpretive Sign at Van Horne Park Aayushi Doshi, a Girl Scout Senior from troop 60949 of service unit 75 recently completed her Gold Award project benefiting the local community. Aayushi’s project involved enhancing Van Horne Park by installing interpretive signage along the walking path. Van Horne Park is jointly managed by Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill Borough. Aayushi designed two 3 feet x 4 feet aluminum signs and installed them back-toback on the wooden kiosk located at the western entrance of the park near the playground. One sign reflects interesting information on the history of the park and the sign on the other side displays information and pictures of the park’s distinctive flora. The entire project took about 120 hours and she led other Girl Scouts and a couple of her brother’s Boy Scout troop members in cleaning and staining the kiosk and installing the signs. Ms. Lauren Wasilauski, Montgomery Township OpenSpace Coordinator, was Aayushi’s project advisor and particularly assisted her with this project. She is sincerely thankful for the help of Ms. Wasilauski, the Shade Tree Committee and the Van Harlingen Historical Society for helping her with research and resources. This project was a great way to provide on-going historical and environmental information about the park to educate township residents, park visitors and children who participate in recreational activities at the park. When the park was first opened, historical information was printed on paper and posted on the kiosks, but these signs did not last. These new interpretive metal signs are highly durable and sustainable over the long-run. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts may earn. Earning the Gold Award requires many hours of planning and implementing a challenging and innovative project that engages others and has a lasting impact on the community with an emphasis on sustainability. Aayushi is currently a junior at Montgomery High School. She has been an active member of Girl Scouts since first grade and also successfully completed Bronze and Silver Award Projects. Montgomery Reminder on Leaf & Yard Clean-up Stormwater regulations do not permit leaves/branches/brush to be placed in the road or in storm drains. We must ensure the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who travel Township roadways and sidewalks. Montgomery residents are responsible for proper disposal of their leaves/branches. Montgomery Township does not provide a leaf disposal program. Here are some guidelines: • Please remember to keep leaves out of storm drains and out of the street. • Follow Montgomery’s yard waste disposal rules for tree branch drop-off. Check the Container Facility and Bulletins pages of the twp. website at www.montgomery.nj.us or contact Public Works at 908-874-3144. • Use a mulching mower that recycles grass clippings & leaves into the lawn. • Use leaves as a resource for compost. For tips on how to compost, go to the Public Works section of Montgomery’s website. Somerset County also has large compost bins available for $50 each, a considerable discount to retail price. They also provide seminars twice/year on how to compost. Contact the County Office of Recycling at 908-231-7109. If you see a violation of State stormwater regulations such as materials being dumped into stormwater drains, call the Montgomery Township Stormwater Hotline at (908) 281-6525. Much more information is available at http://www.twp.montgomery.nj.us/departments/engineering/stormwater-management/ Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 8 the trophy home in a close call. Everyone won with the delicious lunch that followed and had lots of great stories to tell until next year! The event was organized by both senior centers and sponsored by the Montgomery/Rocky Hill and Hillsborough Rotary Clubs. Many more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHskndMft1. ‘Minute to Win It’ is a Hit with Seniors & Students! It is hard to describe the excitement and spirited fun when Hillsborough and Montgomery Seniors duked it out, gameshow style, for a 6th year of “Minute to Win It” Oct. 23rd. OKCC gym was packed and seniors were joined in competition this time by two student classes – Mrs. Weiner’s 4th graders (Montgomery) vs. Mrs. Wright’s 4th graders (Hillsborough). Also new this year, Mayor Christine Madrid served as a referee, along with Hillsborough Administrator Anthony Ferrera. Beloved gym teacher Johnny Rooney cracked jokes as the master of ceremonies, bantering with Senior Center Director Denise Crowley who still managed to calmly explain the rules. Timed, competitive tasks included being the first team to spin all the tp off rolls; remove all tissues from a box one-by-one; or ‘applestack’ six apples. And although Hillsborough’s side battled valiantly and waved mops and signs saying, “Mop the Floor with Montgomery”, this year Montgomery took 2015 Minute to Win It organizers/supporters included: Back row, L to R:Denise Crowley, Montgomery Sr. Ctr. Dir.; John Shockley, Pres., Hillsborough Rotary; Anthony Franchini, Hillsborough Rotary; Sharon Prosinski, Montgomery/ Rocky Hill Rotary, Janet Tamari, Hillsborough Sr. Ctr. Mgr.; Kris Hadinger, Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary; Saeko Kurayama, Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary; Japanese Exchange Student; Christine Madrid, Mayor of Montgomery Twp.; Anthony Ferrera, Twp. Admin. of Hillsborough; George Jarvis, Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary, Joe Horner, Hillsborough Rotary Front Row, sitting, L to R: Representative participating seniors: Montgomery Senior Phylis Poccia and Hillsborough Senior Tony Fusco. Cars must be removed from streets during snowfall As winter is approaching the Department of Public Works is gearing up for winter storms, installing snow fence and preparing our salting trucks and snowplows for winter duty. Please remember that Township ordinances prohibit the parking of vehicles on streets and roads when they are snow covered. Please help our Public Works Department plow snow as quickly as possible to insure the safety of our motoring public. Remove all cars from streets and roads when snow begins to fall. Thank you! Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 9 Montgomery Achieves Sustainable Jersey recertification Montgomery Township has once again met the rigorous requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey certification. Montgomery is one of 48 towns that have attained certification in 2015 and was honored at the Sustainable Jersey awards Tuesday, November 17th in Atlantic City. Environmental Commission Chair Mary Reece accepted the award on behalf of the Township. This is Montgomery’s second successful renewal since it was first certified in 2009. “Montgomery is pleased to have once again surpassed the high bar of environmental achievement defined by the Sustainable Jersey certification program. Our residents want the healthy, sustainable community that Montgomery offers and we pledge to continue to meet or exceed their expectations,” said Mayor Christine Madrid. “Thank you to our Green Team for all they do to track our town’s progress, help Montgomery meet its goals, and bring forward new ideas!” she added. To become Sustainable Jersey certified, a Township must submit documentation to show it had completed a balance of required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 150 action points. Montgomery Township completed 245 points worth of action items this round. In addition, each certified community must authorize a “green team,” as Montgomery has, and complete at least two out of eleven priority action options. Montgomery chose three priority actions: 1) coordinating with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office to offer a prescription drug disposal at the annual Earth Day Fair and Fall Festival, 2) conducting a diversity survey of the Township’s boards, committees and commissions, and 3) having sustainable land use practices in place which guide development in the Township. “Becoming Sustainable Jersey certified is a significant achievement,” said Randall Solomon, co-director of Sustainable Jersey. “The 189 newly certified or re-certified towns demonstrate leadership and are a testament to how much we can accomplish toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey.” This is the Township’s third certification in the Sustainable Jersey program; Montgomery was certified in the very first year of the Sustainable Jersey program in 2009, and renewed its certification again in 2012. Other action items completed by Montgomery include: having an active Environmental Commission that hosts the annual Earth Day Fair; purchasing green maintenance equipment such as the solar-powered trash compactors installed at several parks and trailheads; installing solar panels at the Otto Kaufman Center; and tree planting programs led by the Shade Tree Commission. The Township’s environmentally-progressive ordinances also garnered points; the Township has ordinances to protect trees during development, regulate wind turbine installations, allow for housing clustering to protect natural resources, and require new developments to consider green design elements. Long-range planning for farmland preservation, methods to increase the amount of tree cover, and considering all users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorists) when planning road projects were also awarded points. Montgomery Township’s participation in Sustainable Left to right: Montgomery Twp. was awarded bronze level Jersey makes it eligible for grants and other resources renewal of their Sustainable Jersey 3 year certification at such as training and seminars. In 2013, the Environmental the League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City Commission received a $10,000 grant from Sustainable in November. Randall Solomon, Co-Director, Sustainable Jersey for a bicycle safety pilot program. With the grant Jersey; Richard Dovey, Chairperson, Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees; Mary Reece (accepting the award funding, the Commission in 2014 purchased four bike for the Twp.), Montgomery Environmental Commission racks for installation at Township facilities and local Chair; Donna Drewes, Co-Director, Sustainable Jersey; shopping centers, and provided more than 275 bike Kieran Tintle, Area Manager, JCP&L (continued next page) Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 10 (continued from previous page) helmets and 375 bike lights to township children and adults who cycle to their jobs. “The members of the Montgomery Township Environmental Commission/Sustainable Montgomery are proud to have been one of the first certified communities in NJ and proud to receive this third bronze award. The activities and events which have contributed to this recognition have helped to create a sustainable future for our township,” said Chair Mary Reece. There are now 430 participating Sustainable Jersey towns in New Jersey. Certified towns excel in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts. About Sustainable Jersey Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Currently, 76 percent, or 430 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program. For more information on Sustainable Jersey, go to their websites at www.SustainableJersey.com and www. SustainableJerseySchools.com. Speaker Gus Dante of Rolling Thunder is pleased to be presented with a hand-made pin honoring all veterans for their service by Girl Scout Siri Raghunayakula of Montgomery Troop 61215 at the 2015 Veterans Day Observance at the Memorial at Montgomery Veterans Park 11/11/15. For more event photos, go to: https://flic.kr/s/aHskofpSn8. To learn more about the Memorial, go to www.montgomeryveteransmemorial.com. Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 11 SHOP LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY: SAVE & SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES The Montgomery Economic Development Commission, Environmental Commission and Sustainable Montgomery encourage Montgomery residents to remember our local shop owners this holiday. Shopping in town is convenient; it saves time and gasoline. It’s economical and environmentally friendly when you avoid longer trips, prevent emissions and purchase locally-made and locally-grown products. In this way you can support the businesses which support our community – whether by sponsoring a baseball team or allowing a community flyer to be posted in their shop window. What’s good for local business is good for all of Montgomery. Look for an on-line directory of Montgomery businesses at: http://www.twp.montgomery.nj.us/about-montgomery/economic-development/business-directory/. This listing is free and available to any Montgomery business. Please email: [email protected] for further information. (See Pg. 6 for the printed & mailed directory.) There’s more available in town than you think! FREE RABIES VACCINATION CLINIC FOR DOGS & CATS Sponsored by Montgomery Township Health Department/Animal Control Protect your pet (and your community)! Saturday, January 23, 2016 Public Works Garage Located on Harlingen Road in Belle Mead DOGS: 9:00 am – 10:30 am CATS: 10:30 am-12:00 noon Dog & Cat licenses will also be available for purchase that day: $20 for a neutered dog, $23 for non-neutered dog, $10 for a neutered cat; $15 for a non-neutered cat cash or check please. For Safety’s sake— Please, no children under age 7. Dogs must be on a short, sturdy leash—No retractable leashes! Use of a soft muzzle is encouraged. Dogs must be under control of an adult at all times. Cats must be in a carrier. For more information, call Montgomery Township Animal Control 908-359-4308. New Police Officer Sworn In Jesse Peterson, 25 of Branchburg was sworn in as Montgomery’s newest police officer during the November 5th Township Committee meeting. Mr. Peterson is a graduate of Somerville High School and Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. He is the son of Pete and Laurie Peterson. Mr. Peterson will be attending the Mercer County Police Academy which begins later this month. Congratulating Officer Peterson are (L to R): Township Committee members Pat Graham, Chris Sugden, Ed Trzaska (Deputy Mayor), and Rich Smith. Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 12 Message From the Shade Tree Committee Time to Protect Your Trees Now is a good time to protect your trees, especially young, vulnerable trees Native trees, and non-native trees that are adapted for our climate, don't need much protection against the cold, but a good 3-4” layer of mulch will make sure that the roots are protected from ice and frost heaving. Just make sure to keep the mulch about four inches away from the trunk. In winter, animals can be a threat to your young trees. Starting at the beginning of September, mature male deer will rub their antlers against small trunks, shredding the tender, thin bark. This is called buck rubbing, and if too much bark is removed the tree will die. Protect against this threat with four-foot high wire fencing. The fencing can be fairly close to the trunk, but make sure it isn't tight, because the trunk needs room to grow. You may have to remove the fencing and replace it with a larger fence as the tree grows. If the tree or shrub has low branches, they might prevent the deer from reaching the trunk, but then you'll have to worry about the deer eating the twigs. A wire fence five feet tall around the drip line of the tree will protect against this threat, and you will want to leave it on all year. Don't forget to remove vines that grow up the fencing, because they'll soon grow up the branches of the tree and strangle it. Rabbits and mice pose another threat to shrubs and young trees in winter. There isn't much for them to eat when there is snow cover, and they get hungry enough to eat tender young bark. You can keep them away by placing a plastic sleeve around each trunk. Be sure and remove it in the spring, because it can keep the bark wet after rainstorms, and heat and moisture together can cause rotting. Alternatively, you can use 1-inch chicken wire, which has holes small enough to discourage the rodents and doesn't cause the bark to rot in warm weather. It should be at least two feet high, because the animals can climb up on the snow and reach higher than you expect. ARBORETUM NEWS: The Shade Tree Committee would like to thank Rich Mercurio for the nice job of mulching in the Montgomery Arboretum that his firm, Green Valley Landscapes, did as a free service to the town. Thanks also to Mark Halper of Cornell Farms for the donation of the woodchip mulch. For more information on mulching see: http://www.twp.montgomery.nj.us/twpcommittee/Mulching.pdf. Or write to: [email protected]. The Shade Tree Committee is charged with the planting, care and preservation of public trees on the Township's streets and in its Arboretum, parks and public areas, like the Otto Kaufman Center. It advises the Township on matters relating to tree policy, including review of development applications. The Committee provides on-going advice to Township residents and officials concerning the planting, care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees. The Committee collaborates with the Parks Department, Montgomery's schools, scouts, local businesses, and other Township committees on a variety of environmental and education projects, including its annual Arbor Day program for third graders. Holiday Sing-Along! Please join us for a festive celebration of the December holidays featuring a sing-along, tree lighting & refreshments. Our festivities will once again feature the music of Pastor Tony GodLefski. He’ll provide music on the piano and accordion, and lead everyone in joyous singing. He’ll be assisted by Steve Heckel, a choir member at the Montgomery United Methodist Church, where Pastor Tony is Senior Minister. Date: Monday, December 7 Time: 7 – 8 pm Location: OKCC Senior Center Pictures with Frosty the Snowman Remember a camera & flashlight! Call the Recreation Department at (609) 466-3023 for further info! Santa’s Calling! Santa will call the children in town to wish them a happy holiday on Tuesday & Wednesday evening, December 15 & 16 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. This activity is for kids, ages 2-8 who believe. Forms for Santa will be available at the Recreation Department & on the Recreation website in early December (www.leaguelineup.com/montgomeryrecreation). Please return them to our office no later than Dec 10th so we can forward them to the North Pole! Santa really needs your help! Last year Santa spoke to over 700 children in our community! Please consider volunteering a few hours to help Santa — call 609-466-3023. Thank you very much! Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 13 Snow plowing: what we do, how residents can help When it comes to clearing township roads when snow storms hit, there’s more that is logistically challenging than you might think. Residents play an important role; your cooperation and patience are both needed and appreciated. Montgomery Township has approximately 260 lane-miles of roadway. Lane-miles are different than road miles; each mile of road has two lanes; the equivalent of two miles of maintenance and materials. A plow is not as wide as a road lane. Therefore one lane-mile can take two to four passes of the plow, making a lane-mile equal to two to four miles of driving/maintenance. Montgomery also has over 250 cul-de-sacs. Each cul-de-sac is equivalent to one mile of road in terms of maintenance and plowing (time and material). For long duration snow storms, our goal is to maintain travel and accessibility for emergency vehicles by “opening up” roads (one pass each direction) and skipping cul-de-sacs until later. This process will be repeated continuously until the storm slows down and then curb-to-curb plowing commences. Curb-to-curb clearing will be completed after the snow storm ends. Curb-to-curb is necessary for mail delivery; to open inlets for water drainage; and clearance for additional snow storms. Each snow storm is unique - temperature, snowfall duration and depth, icing, etc. Plowing begins prior to the end of the snowfall. An average storms takes approximately 12 hours to clean-up (plowing and/or salting) after the last snowflake falls. A snow storm of 12 hours plus 12 hour clean-up process, means 24 (or more) straight hours of work. Your patience is appreciated. Residents play an important role and your cooperation and patience are both needed and appreciated. In order for our crews to do the best clearing job possible, here are some guidelines: Montgomery Township has an ordinance which prohibits “parking on street” during snow emergencies which is strictly enforced. DO NOT put snow into the roadway as you clear your driveway and/or sidewalk. Throw snow off the road and ‘downdrift’ of the plow, which means to the right of your driveway when facing the street. Snow piled ‘updrift’ is more likely to end up back in your driveway. If your clear driveways/sidewalks before plowing is done curb-to-curb, expect to have snow that comes off the plow at the end of the driveway or in the sidewalk. Due to snow coming off the plow, mailboxes can be damaged. It is not the intent of the driver to damage a mailbox. If your mailbox is damaged, email DPW at: [email protected] Do not place trash cans or recycling cans out until the plows have passed. Please watch children and keep them out of the plows’ path and harm’s way. Mailboxes can be damaged If your mailbox is down because of a snow plow and you live on a County Road (see County Road list under “Potholes...”), please email your name, telephone number, address (& nearest cross street) and include any photos of the mailbox to Somerset County Road Department at [email protected] If your mailbox is down because of a snow plow, and you live on a Township Road, please email your name, telephone number, address (& nearest cross street) and any photos of the mailbox, to [email protected]. There is no set schedule as to when the mailbox will be repaired. Public Works is balancing their workload to accommodate priority issues. In the meantime, please make arrangements with your Post Office to have your mail held until the mailbox is repaired. Doing this will ensure that your mail is safe until you retrieve it. If snow is piled up around the mailbox so that the post office cannot deliver mail, you have a couple of options: a. Have you mail held at the post office until the snow has melted and mail delivery can be resumed, b. Consider clearing the snow away from your mailbox. (continued next page) Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 14 (continued from previous page) Storm Drains can get blocked To report that a storm drain is blocked because so much snow has been plowed onto the side of the road, please email your name, telephone number, and the address where the storm drain is located, to [email protected]. Public Works will prioritize these issues. If the storm drain is clogged with a small amount of snow, we appreciate your effort to clear the snow away from the drain as much as possible. Thank you! We all appreciate the cooperation of our residents in following these snow clearing guidlines the next time and every time a snowstorm hits. Remember our crews are out there working hard, doing their best to serve you. Tips for Waste-Free Holidays Give “green” gifts a chance this holiday season and recycle as much as possible. Things we can do to minimize the amount of waste we create. Giving “green” gifts is one way to conserve resources, minimize ‘the mess’ of packaging materials and even save money. Recycling boxes, wrapping paper, gift cards, cardboard and acceptable plastics is another. Some “green” gift ideas, which will keep on giving well past the holiday season: Tickets: theatre, dance, concert, comedy, sports events; Season Passes: sports and entertainment venues; Memberships: gym, organizations; Subscriptions: books, magazines; Lessons: cooking, music, dancing; Gift Certificates: restaurant, car wash, spa, bed-and-breakfast; Services: housecleaning, yard work, car washing; Charities: donate money in a recipient’s name. Contributions to nonprofit organizations often are tax deductible. Ideas on how to reduce waste include: Purchasing products with little or no packaging, sending electronic holiday cards to tech-savvy friends and family members, reusing gift wrap and bags and making the packaging part of the gift, such as wrapping a gift in a tablecloth, dishtowel, an article of clothing or a reusable tote bag. Residents are reminded that they can recycle holiday waste, such as corrugated cardboard, chipboard (gift boxes), nonmetallic wrapping paper, holiday cards and plastics - #1 through #7 - at their usual curbside collection or at Somerset County First Saturday of the Month drop-off events at 40 Polhemus Lane in Bridgewater. In addition, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection offers holiday-shopping ideas, ways to cut down on food waste, and post-holiday “stuff” management ideas at: www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/xmas_06.htm, www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/foodwast_article.htm and www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/holiday_stuff.htm. DISCARDED CHRISTMAS TREE PICK-UP OR DROP-OFF The Montgomery Township Department of Public Works will be starting curbside Christmas tree collection on Monday, January 11, 2016. Please do not wait to put your tree(s) out. Your section of town may be the first area for pick-up service. This collection takes several weeks and is dependent upon the weather, so please be patient. As an alternative, you may drop off your tree at the Department of Public Works site, located at 12 Harlingen Road. This site is available for drop off at any hour, or day, starting December 26, 2015 until January 31, 2016. All trees either to be picked up or dropped off must be free of tinsel and ornaments. Regular tree limbs/brush may be brought to the Public Works yard without charge but ONLY during the regular Saturday drop-off dates from 8 am to 12 noon. There is a container facility day on January 9th, 2016. If you have any questions, contact the Department of Public Works at (908) 874-3144. Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter A MESSAGE FROM THE MARY JACOBS MEMORIAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION PAGE 15 To the residents of Montgomery: We would like to thank you for your continued support of the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library Foundation and our Annual Food & Wine Event. On November 14th, we celebrated the 10th annual Food & Wine Fundraiser to benefit the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library. Thank you to George Jarvis and Cary Dawson, CoPhoto by: Billy Dawson Chairs of the event, Louise Profit, the Foundation Development Coordinator, Jo Szabaga and Nancy Geiger, Auction Co-Chairs, Christine Petrane and Mallory Rohrbach, Wine Arbor Chairs, the Mary Jacobs Library Staff, and all of the volunteers who worked so hard to make the event run smoothly. This celebration included great music provided by the band Intersections, delicious food catered by Chez Alice and a selection of French wines from Steele’s Wine & Liquors. A record number of guests attended the event, bid on items from the Silent Auction, and took part in the wine pull. This was by far our most successful event yet! We also would like to acknowledge our 2015 Corporate Partners and Sponsors, many of whom support us year after year: Cornerstone Partner: 1st Constitution Bank. Library Partners: Bloomberg, Princeton Orthopaedic Associates. Gold Sponsors: AKS Foundation, Baxter Construction, Improved Insurance, Johnny Rooney and Suzanne Trautwein : Fal Rooney Camps, Nassau Tennis, RBC Wealth Management, Total Home Manager. Silver Sponsors: Bank of Princeton, Callaway-Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty, Leo and Minkyo Chenette, Gibraltar Rock, Harlingen Veterinary Clinic, Hilton Realty, HomeCare Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Tyl, DMD and Dr. Fogarty, DDS, Mary DeCicco, DMD, Mason, Griffin & Pierson, PC, Montgomery Orthodontics, Montgomery Medical Associates, Montgomery News, The Olsen Foundation, Pinto & Butler Attorneys at Law, Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center, Redding’s, Richard E. Shapiro LLC, Rocky Hill Inn, Rotary, Saker ShopRites, Inc, Speedpro Imaging, TechnicianX, The Princeton Sun, The Town Topics, Van Cleef Engineering, Witt Law, LLC and Zook Dinon. You can view photos from the event at: http://www.maryjacobslibrary.org. The Mary Jacobs Memorial Library Foundation, together with the Friends of Mary Jacobs Library, are still working hard to raise yet another $100,000 necessary to meet our 2015 operating budget! The Foundation has had large capital expenses for new HVACs, plus rot repair, painting, duct insulation, sidewalk repair and more. This is in addition to the regular annual costs of operating the building. The MJL Foundation owns this building and pays these bills, not your tax money. This is why we rely on your donations. The Foundation cannot do this without increased support from the whole community— Montgomery Township, Rocky Hill, Somerset County Library System, local businesses and our users. If you would like to help us, please contact us at [email protected] or find out more by visiting: www.maryjacobslibrary.org. With our deepest gratitude for your continued support, Trustees of the Foundation: Brenda Fallon, Wendy Rayner, Lane Taylor, Sherley Young, Louise Wilson, Michael DeCicco Municipal and county Newsletter Winter 2016 PAGE 16 Love Us? LICENSE US! Update: Health Department now licensing CATS to Fight Rabies! The Board of Health adopted an amendment to Ordinance BH 11A, Feline Rabies Control, to improve vaccination rates among Montgomery’s cats. Rabies vaccination has been required for cats in Montgomery since 1990. A cat licensing requirement will help the Township meet its Public Safety mission by reducing the risk of transmitting rabies to cats and the people who live with them. Important Facts: • Cats are at greatest risk of getting rabies of any domestic animal, and exposing the people who care for them. • Cat licensing is recognized as a Best Practice by Sustainable New Jersey To safeguard public health Every licensed pet has been vaccinated against rabies. This protects your pets, children and neighbors against this deadly disease! When the license tag is visible, you know that animal has been vaccinated! 2. To help your pet get home If your pet gets lost, your pet can be returned more quickly and sometimes without a trip to the shelter! If it is impounded and taken to the shelter, it is safer there than it would be roaming the streets in harm’s way. A license tag can be easily traced to the animal’s owner with a phone call. A license tag is your pet’s ticket home. 3. To help us to enforce laws on responsible pet ownership If we can track pet ownership, then we know where to focus our services and education efforts. 4. To support the shelter and adoption of unwanted pets Your yearly license fee helps support sheltering for strays and unwanted pets. It also pays for our leash-free dog park, animal control services and community education. 5. It’s the law! Dogs and Cats must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. (908)359-4308 N S OU ORPORATE NC OM D PublicHealth Prevent. Promote. Protect. Also Serving: Hopewell Borough ♦ Pennington Borough ♦Rocky Hill Borough IP OF MO SH TY OF N OMERY TG ERSET MONTGOMERY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Animal Control IN THE C I 1. THE TOW N Why is it important to license your pet? SEAL FEBRUARY 21 , NE 1798 W JERSEY Winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 17 January is Radon Awareness Month and a Good Time to Test Your Home The Montgomery Township Health Department is working with the Greater Somerset Public Health Partnership (GSPHP) to recognize January as Radon Awareness Month. Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas that occurs naturally in soil. It is released from the natural decay of the elements uranium, thorium and radium, and occurs in higher concentrations in certain areas of the state, including Somerset County. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon is associated with 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. “In an effort to reduce the risk of exposure to radon gas, residents are urged to test their homes,” said Stephanie Carey, Health Officer of Montgomery Township. “It’s not uncommon to find that homes on the same block will have different test results. Even if your neighbor’s home is not affected by radon gas, it does not mean that your home is in an acceptable range.” Starting on January 4th to enable residents to test their homes, one radon kit per household will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for $10 at the Montgomery Township Health Department. Residents may pick up radon kits at the Montgomery Township Health Department, 2261 Route 206, Belle Mead while supplies last. Montgomery residents seeking more information on radon testing or mitigation should contact the Montgomery Health Department at (908) 359-8211. DID YOU KNOW… About E-Bulletins? Would you like to join the 5,000 subscribers already receiving occasional free emailed Montgomery municipal news bulletins? To sign up (its easy!), go to right sidebar of the home page of the Township website at www.montgomery.nj.us and type your address in the “Sign-up for Ebulletins” box. You can also call or email Community Information Officer Tamara Garaffa at 908-359-8211 ext. 207 or [email protected] to add your e-mail address. Thank you! About Montgomery Winter Season Guidelines? It’s the time of year for leaf raking and soon enough, snow shoveling. There are a number of ‘seasonal’ services which the Montgomery Twp. Public Works Dept. would like our residents to know more about. A written guidance has been created which answers many of the questions residents often ask this time of year. Go to the Montgomery Twp. website at www.twp.montgomery.nj.us and the Public Works section under Departments to find the guide. Opportunities Available to Serve on a Municipal Board Would you like to serve in your community? Montgomery residents who would like to volunteer to join a municipal board, commission or committee for 2016 are encouraged to do so by filling out a Municipal Volunteer Form. The form can be filled out several ways, for your convenience. Scroll down to “Volunteer Form” on the Forms page of the township website at www.montgomery.nj.us/departments/forms/. Save and fill it out on your computer and attach to an email. You may also print a paper copy or get the form from the Twp. Clerk’s Office. The form may be mailed or brought to the Township Clerk’s Office, 2261 Van Horne Road, Belle Mead, NJ 08502 or emailed to [email protected]. You can learn more about the work of municipal boards and committees on the Boards and Commissions page of the township web site: www.montgomery.nj.us/elected-officials/township-committee/. Please send the form as soon as possible. Selection is being done now and appointments are made in early January. Although it is impossible to appoint every interested resident to a committee, submitted forms are kept on file in the event that seats open up during the course of the year. In addition, there may be special short-term volunteer project opportunities available. For further info, call the Township Clerk’s Office at 908-359-8211. Municipal and county Newsletter Winter 2016 PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE PAGE 18 Kid Connection 265 Burnt Hill Road Skillman, NJ 08558 908-359-2111 [email protected] www.montgomery.nj.us Director: Andrea McKenna You Are Cordially Invited! Please join us… For an open house and registration event for new families to be held on: Open House and Registration Event Saturday, February 6th, 2016 Tours Ongoing: 9:00am-12:00pm Meet and greet some of the teachers, tour the building and classrooms, gather information about the program and have the opportunity to register your child for the upcoming school year. We will have limited availability, so please call ahead to register for this event. Kid Connection: Introduction Kid Connection provides an age-appropriate social and academic environment for 3, 4, and 5 year-old students (born on or before October 1st). Our highly qualified, certified teachers are caring, patient and very experienced in working with young learners. The curriculum provides a sequential building of skills, both social and cognitive, maximizing each child’s potential, to make a smooth transition to the school district’s K-2 Orchard Hill Elementary School. In addition to large and small group instruction, children build with blocks, play in housekeeping, water and sand tables, and writing centers on a daily basis. We are a traditional preschool, where you will see the children’s art work displayed in the classrooms and in the hallways. Music and movement classes are offered as “specials” and are included in the program. Attend our open houses and see why we are perfect for your preschool-aged child. Kid Connection: Time Options Why Kid Connection? Kid Connection offers the following 2, 3 and 5 day programs: • Full Day Preschool (9:15am-3:15pm) • Half Day Preschool (AM 9:15am-11:45am) • Extended Lunch Preschool 11:45-1:00 (M/W/F) • Before school – Pre-K through grade 2 (starting at 7:30am) and After school (ending at 6:00pm) Our young Kid Connection children … 1. Develop a lifelong love of learning 2. Grow socially and academically. 3. Are encouraged to use their imaginations and critical thinking skills. Contact us today to register for our open house event: 908-359-2111 or [email protected] 201 6- 1 7 Will Be Our 35th Year Educating Young Minds! winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 19 New at Blawenburg Village School Tutoring Program for students in Pre-K through grade 4. Monday - Friday 4:00 - 7:00 PM. Individual Sessions and "Homework Helpers" Small Group Sessions (up to 5). Small group sessions for pre-k & kindergarten M - F, 9 - 11 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM. We will communicate with your child's current teacher to facilitate an appropriate individualized program. Each session (both individual and small group) is one hour and taught by certified teachers. For additional information contact Karen Hill, Director 609-466-6600, [email protected]. SOFT LACROSSE ~ All Skill Levels Welcome! WHERE: OHES - West Gym WHEN: TUESDAYS: January 12th – March 1st Boys & Girls K-2nd Grades @ 4:00 - 5:00 pm; Boys & Girls 3rd/4th Grades @ 5:00 - 6:00 pm INSTRUCTOR: MHS Assistant Varsity Boys Lacrosse Coach Anthony Terranova COST: $95/8 sessions + $75 Equipment Fee (Includes indoor helmet, gloves, lacrosse stick and ball + 1 year membership to US Lacrosse). Sessions focus on basic lacrosse skills with 20-minutes of skill development followed by 34 minute games to solidify learning. For more information contact Coach Terranova at [email protected] or visit www.softlacrosse.org. Waldorf School of Princeton Welcomes You This Winter Educating the Head, Heart, and Hands of Children PreK–Grade 8 Open House & Alumni Panel Saturday, January 9, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–Noon Early Childhood Sample Morning Saturday, January 9, 2016, 9:00-10:30 a.m. For children ages 2–5 with a caregiver, Free; advance registration required. Grade School Visiting Morning (for Adults) Wednesday, January 26, 2016, 8:30-10 a.m. New Jersey’s only Waldorf School, nestled on 20+ acres of meadows and woods, right in your backyard! For more information, or to schedule a personal tour, please e-mail Diane Barlow, enrollment director, at [email protected], or call 609.466.1970, x115. Visit us at 1062 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, NJ 08540; www.princetonwaldorf.org. Sinterklaas Bazaar Saturday, December 5, 2015 – 9 AM to 2 PM Stop by Blawenburg Church for our annual holiday celebration! Shop for gifts including hand-crafted garments and ornaments, and gently used home goods. You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase the unique gift of animals that will be given to families in need through the work of Heifer International. And while you’re shopping, treat yourself to homemade soup and baked goods, and take some home for later! For more information contact us at 609.466.1932 or [email protected]. And visit us online at www.blawenburgchurch.org. Blawenburg Reformed Church 424 Route 518, PO Box 266, Blawenburg, NJ 08504, 609.466.1832 Municipal and county Newsletter winter 2016 PAGE 20 Princeton HealthCare System’s Community Education & Outreach Programs offer a variety of programming dedicated to promoting healthy living at every stage. Events are held at Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center, 1225 State Road, Princeton (unless otherwise noted). Register online at www.princetonhcs.org/calendar or call 1.888.897.8979. Healthy Eating Over the Holidays Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main St., PenningtonFind out what you can do to better manage your eating habits and curb your appetite during the holiday season. Dec. 8, 2015, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Self Defense for Women Hamilton Area YMCA, 1315 Whitehorse-Mercerville Rd., Ste. 100, Hamilton R.A.D. Women is a national self-defense course for women that combines realistic classroom learning with physical defense tactics and riskreduction strategies. Jan. 4 – Jan. 12, 2016, 6 – 9 p.m. Total Control: A Pelvic Wellness Program for Women Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center, 1225 State Rd., PrincetonEmpower yourself to improve your bladder health and quality of life through a seven-week Total Control® program that includes a low-impact workout. Jan. 12 – Feb. 25, 2016, 1 – 2:15 p.m. s e s s a l C d l i h C / Parent New for 2015-2016! ...hands-on exploration for tiny tots Designed for parents to experience the joy of learning alongside their little ones, ages 2 and under. Mondays 9:30 to 10:30 AM Thursdays 1 to 2 PM Each class session includes music, stories, and art exploration. The first 10-week series begins October 5. For more info or to register, call 609.466.6600 or email [email protected] Blawenburg Village School Dedicated to nurturing the social, developmental, emotional, and spiritual needs of children www.blawenburgvillageschool.com winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter KEEP CALM AND CAROL ON English Music for Christmastide including Gustav Holst's “Christmas Day” Sunday afternoon at 3pm December 13, 2015 Hillsborough Reformed Church One Amwell Road • Hillsborough NJ All tickets $10. The tradition continues! Holiday Cookie Extravaganza Tasty chorus-made treats just $10 / tin PAGE 21 Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association Two Holiday Season Craft Class Offerings December 12 - Candle Making 1:00-3:00PM, 8yo – Adult, Fee per person: $10Members/$15Non-MembersCreate hand-dipped candles, sand candles, and molded candles. Learn how to shape candles and add embellishments! Meet at the Watershed Center, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Call to register, 609-737-7592.January 9 - Recycle, Reuse & Re-gift10:30AM – 12:00PM, 12yo – Adult, $5 per person. Give your holiday cards a second life! Learn to make origami boxes, gift tags and spherical ornaments. Bring all of your cards, scissors and a ruler. Meet at the Watershed Center, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Call to register, 609-737-7592. Montgomery Baseball Spring and Fall Programs! Open to residents of Montgomery, Rocky Hill and Princeton! Grades Pre-K though HS (age 4 through 18) Why play Montgomery Baseball? Over 400 kids (and growing!) play with their friends in our recreational program which is offered to every child ages 4-18 (pre-K through HS seniors!) at every skill level Our teams are balanced with every team making the playoffs We offer 3 recreational seasons: spring rec, summer sandlot, fall ball We have a competitive spring/summer travel program for ages 8-15 with teams winning local, district, state and regional titles We focus on DEVELOPMENT A professional clinic is free as part of our spring recreational program Every one of our coaches receives 90 minutes of professional instruction on current practices in baseball instruction Through our partners we have access to discounted professional training services and clinics We offer professionally instructed summer baseball camps at our world class complex We build a COMMUNITY Every year more than 500 of your neighbors enjoy a family night out at one of our local minor league baseball games We always have something up our sleeves, like Movie Night at the Complex, pancake breakfast at Applebee’s, etc.; who knows what’s next! Each year the MHS baseball team plays ~ 2 home games at our world class complex and MHS Coach Mueller runs a hitting clinic for our players with his players Learn more and register at www.MontgomeryBaseball.com winter 2016 Municipal and county Newsletter PAGE 22 Starlite Chorale A Singing Ensemble under the Direction of Dr. Tony Godlefski; Dr. Laura Bell, Accompanist A Family Christmas Celebration of Music and Joy The Singing Puppets - and much more! 4:30 PM, Sunday, December 6, 2015 Montgomery United Methodist Church 117 Sunset Road, Belle Mead, NJ 08502 Phone (908) 874-3273 Adults & Seniors: $10.00; Children and Students: Free Rock Brook School’s Parents Night Out Attention parents of children with special needs! Each month, Rock Brook School holds a Parents Night Out, which allows parents to enjoy an evening out while their children have fun in a structured, safe environment. All activities are supervised by Rock Brook’s highly trained special needs staff. Parents Night Out is open to the public and siblings are welcome. *Held on a Saturday, from 5:30 – 9:30 pm at the Rock Brook School, Parents Night Outs for the 2015-2016 school year are scheduled for: December 5 February 6 April 9 January 9 March 5 May 7 For more information visit www.rock-brook.org or call (908) 431-9500. *Dates subject to change. Please call for confirmation. Founded in 1974, Rock Brook School is a NJ State approved school designed for students with multiple disabilities and communication impairments. RBS provides a full academic program along with individual speech and language therapy. Its full academic individualized programs follow NJ Core Content Standards. Rock Brook School, 109 Orchard Road, Skillman, NJ, 08550 Montgomery Township Departments Main Phone Number 908-359-8211 Administration Donato Nieman, Administrator Construction/Code Roy Mondi, Construction Official Engineering Dept. Gail Smith, Township Engineer Stormwater Pollution 908-281-6525 Finance Dept. Walter Sheppard, CFO Mayor’s Office Christine Madrid, Mayor Mayor Hours: By Appointment 908-359-8211 ext. 215 Planning/Zoning Lori Savron, Planning Director Tax Assessor Ryan Riccio, Tax Assessor Tax Collection Walter Sheppard, Tax Collector Township Clerk Donna Kukla, Clerk Other Phone Numbers Animal Control Chris Krygier 908-359-4308 Animal Control Officer Court/Violations 908-369-3532 Montgomery Kid Connection Andrea McKenna, Director 908-359-2111 Police Non-Emergency Cpt. Robert Palmer, Director 908-359-3222 Public Works Dept. Arthur Villano, Superintendent 908-874-3144 Pothole Hotline 908-874-8947 Recreation Dept. Karen Zimmerman, Director 609-466-3023 Sports Field Rec. Hotline 800-731-8412