We take a glimpse at one year after Superstorm Sandy, looking at what people remember of the horrific storm, and what we have learned. Pages 16 – 17
The Hometown Newspaper of Bridgewater and Raritan
Volume 5, Issue 10
www.thebreezenj.com
The BRHS marching band celebrated its seniors in an annual senior night celebration during the halftime of a recent football game. Page 32
November 2013
Bridgewater, Raritan Riverfest Brings Fun, Lots of Ducks Men Commemorate Perfect Season Thousands came out to celebrate the ducks at the annual Riverfest.
Members of the Somerville football team reminisce.
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By Bruce Doorly bdoorly@verizon.net Sixty years ago the “local” high school football team had its first un-defeated/un-tied season. But this “local” high school was not the Bridgewater-Raritan High School that we have today — it was actually the original Somerville High School. In 1953, teenagers from Bridgewater and Raritan — along with teenagers from Hillsborough, Branchburg and Somerville — all attended Somerville High School. High school football was one of the main entertainment mediums of the 1950s. More than a thousand people attended every game. The Thanksgiving Day football game between Somerville and then rival Bound Brook was the biggest local event of the year, drawing more than 6,000 spectators. The 1953 Somerville Football Team, whose nickname was the Pioneers, was a team on a mission from the beginning of the season. The year before, the team plowed over every opponent in its first eight games. An un-defeated season seemed certain, but on Thanksgiving Day in 1952, dreams of that perfect season were shattered as the team was beaten by Bound Brook, 20-0. When most of the team returned in 1953, the players vowed to achieve what they had just missed the year before.
The team was led by head coach Ernie Gardner, backfield coach Albert “Boomy” Malekoff and lineman coach Ed Pacillio. They had some star players, but a balance of talent is what made the team special. They seldom routed their opponents, as five of their nine wins were by less than 12 points. The backbone of the team was the defense, which allowed six touchdowns all season. The offense was led by quarterback Sam Crosby, who could run as well as pass. The star player was running back/defensive back Frank Cicero, who scored many touchdowns, including two while playing defense. Six Somerville players were named all-county that year. The equipment they wore back in 1953 was much different than the equipment that players wear today. Helmets were made of leather and did not have a face mask. Their shoulder pads were leather, and the padded football leg pants did not have much padding. They were much less protected than today’s players. In September, this newspaper was able to bring back 10 of the surviving players and one coach from that team to pose for a photo on the original field where they once played. As they arrived and greeted each other, it was obvious from the handshakes, hugs and glowing smiles that this was one special team. The football field they once played on is used today by Somerville High School. It is the same footprint, but it is now a modern artificial turf field that cost more than a million dollars. Back in 1953, the field had real grass — at least in the beginning of the season. As the year went on, it become more like dirt, and, often, mud. But they never complained, as playing in mud was what football players did back then. Some structures at the field are still familiar to the players. They said that the “snack shack,” while updated, is still the same one that they had back in 1953. The locker room building, at least the right wing, is their original locker room. Today’s complex at Somerville High School — with the See Football, Page 12
By Audrey Levine The 2nd Annual Raritan Riverfest, complete with a newly established grand duck competition, was a success this year, with hundreds attending the end of September event. Winning the grand duck competition was Duck Number 67, sponsored by the Flemington Car and Truck Country, Steve Kalafer. In the regular duck race, first place went to Duck Number 0431, Sebastiano LoGrasso; second place went to Duck Number 1619, Frank Taddeo; and third place went to Duck Number 2369, Stevi. Vendors showed off their wares at the festival, including Friendly’s, Stapleton’s, On Fire 4 Fitness, Raritan Music Center and many more. Plus, guests were treated to karate performances, balloon animals and face painting before the ducks began the race down the Raritan River.
For more on the Riverfest, see page 15
Page 2
The BReeze
November 2013
BReeze Bulletin Board
The BReeze 726 Route 202 South Suite 320-190 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 908-255-5926 www.thebreezenj.com thebreezenj@gmail.com facebook.com/TheBReezeNJ @TheBReezeNJ Publisher & Editor: Audrey Levine Contributing Writer: Bruce Doorly Special This Month Sue Baldani Jim Koch Laurie Squire Deadlines for December Issue: Ads: Nov. 10 News: Nov. 15 The BReeze is mailed by the first of every month, free of charge, to all residences in Bridgewater Township and Raritan Borough, a total population of about 50,000 people. The opinions expressed in The BReeze, whether by paid advertisement or editorial content, do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper and its staff. The newspaper staff reserves the right to edit any submission for length and content. Contact the staff or submit an article through email at thebreezenj@ gmail.com.
Bridgewater resident Kyle Mountney recently received his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Somerville. Mountney is a member of Boy Scout Troop 88 in Bridgewater. In addition, he was recognized by the County Board of Freeholders at their semi-monthly meeting for his achievement. Here, he holds his certificate, posing with Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders Director Peter Palmer.
Bridgewater Man Named to Charity Board of Trustees Reg Coulter, of Bridgewater, was named to the Board of Trustees for the Kimberly A. Nelson Foundation. Coulter retired from Ericsson (formerly Telcordia Technologies) after 43 years. Coulter has lived in Bridgewater with his wife, Nancy, for 19 years, and has two children, Kyle, a sophomore in college, and Kelsey, a junior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. “Although I did not have the pleasure of knowing Kim personally, I have heard many stories about her love of the arts and, more importantly, about the positive influence she had on the lives of those around her,” Coulter said in a release about the appointment. “It is an honor to be part of this foundation and their mission to keep Kim’s memory alive through the support of other deserving women and men,” he added in the release. The Kimberly A. Nelson
Foundation was established in 2010 in memory of Kim Nelson, who died in September 2009. Nelson was a student in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Class of 2010. The foundation provides scholarships and grants to support choral arts and musical theater programs at the high school. The high school also holds a fundraiser every year, with students participating in a talent show. To find out more information about the foundation, visit www.kimsway.org.
Five cadets from the Bradley Gardens Rescue Squad were named winners at the New Jersey State First Aid Council annual convention for volunteer EMS organizations. The cadets are all students at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and four of them became Emergency Medical Technicians last summer through participation in Somerset Medical Center’s Youth in EMS program at the Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School. The council works to ensure that rescue squad volunteers have equal training and equipment standards, and keeps them informed on EMS legislation in the state. At the convention, rescue squads throughout the state sent their cadet core members between the ages of 14 and 18 to compete by showing emergency care skills in different scenarios. Seven different teams competed from six different rescue squads. The Bridgewater students met for three hours over six weeks to prepare for the convention, practicing medical and trauma scenarios. Pictured are the 2013 NJ State First Aid Council Cadet Competition winners Mansi Sheth, Stephanie Lin, Sachin Parikh, Skyler Le and Priya Mansukhani.
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The BReeze
Page 3
BReeze Bulletin Board Resident Achieves Dance Graduation Awards
James Lin, of Bridgewater, received the Aspiring Young Artist Award through the 2013 Somerset County Excellence in the Arts Awards. He received the award for excellence in and commitment to music performance. Awards were given to Lin and six other winners at a special dinner Oct. 24 at the Twin Brooks Country Club in Watchung. The awards program honors individuals and organizations who show exemplary leadership and dedication to the fine and performing arts in Somerset County. Other recipients in various arts categories, including outreach and volunteerism, were Betty DeMonic, of East Windsor; John Anthony Kennette, of Somerville; Serena Bocchino, of Basking Ridge; Catherine Heldt-Ebel, of Middlesex; the Arts Access Program at Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack; and the Rays Art Project and volunteer Nancy Edwards, of Hillsborough.
New Roles
Bridgewater residents Sarah and Megan Adam were installed recently as vice president and public relations coordinator, re-
spectively, in the Immaculate Conception School Service Club. Both girls are eighth graders at the Somerville Catholic School, and they were elected to the positions by their classmates. Sarah is a baritone player in the school’s concert band, is a member of the chorus and plays on the girls basketball team. She is also a twoyear participant in the annual IHM Math Competition. Megan plays trombone, and is also a member of both the chorus and the basketball team. She is also a two-year participant in the math competition.
companied by live music from a South Indian classical music vocalist, drummer and flutist, and her guru/teacher Renuka Srinivasan, who operates Tala Shruti School of Dance in Fords. Pulapura’s mother said her daughter practiced 25 hours a week during the last year. After the performance, family, friends and teachers enjoyed a vegetarian Indian dinner and an Italian pasta specialty. Pulapura continues to dance weekly and is looking forward to performances this year in the United States and in India. Pulapura dedicated the program to the Matheny Medical and Educational Center, an institution whose mission is to provide care and an optimal quality of life for children and adults with
Environmental Congress Oct. 19. Also recognized were environmental projects, namely the Warren Township Green Team for creating a checklist to encourage low impact construction and planning, and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County and Camden County Soil Conservation District for their Hopkins Pond water quality improvement project. Group initiatives winning honorable mention included the Maplewood Garden Club, Hilton Neighborhood Association and Maplewood Green Team Parks and Garden Committee; and the 2012 Rutgers Intermediate Landscape Architecture Class with the Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership.
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College News
Grant Bolles, a 2012 graduate of Bridgewater-Raritan High School, was named to the Dean’s List, First Honors, at Fordham University for the 2012–13 Fall and Spring semesters.
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Environmental Commission Earns ANJEC Honor The Bridgewater Township Environmental Commission earned an honorable mention for its work from the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). Bridgewater was honored as an award-winning environmental commission. Also earning honorable mentions for their environmental commissions were Caldwell and Manalapan. Award-winning environmental commissions were from Belvidere, Chatham, Montgomery, Plumsted and Roxbury, and the Hightstown Environmental Commission won the Collaboration Award for a joint project with the Hightstown Housing Authority. ANJEC presented its achievement awards at the 40th Annual
Bridgewater resident Sharanya Pulapura, 16, achieved her classical Indian dance graduation, the Bharatanatyam Arangetram, at the Watchung Hills Performing Arts Center Aug. 25, before an audience of several hundred. Bharatanatyam is the term for the dance that originated in the temples of South India thousands of years ago. Now, this style incorporates precise hand gestures, facial expressions and sophisticated body and foot movement. It combines spirituality with interpretation of mythological tales. Pulapura spent 10 years studying western tap dance and 11 years studying classical Indian dance. She was captivating with beautiful jewelry, expressive makeup and colorful costumes. She danced for three hours, ac-
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Page 4
The BReeze
Raritan Library
And the Winner is ... Win a Free Haircut from Gaetano’s in Raritan
The Raritan Public Library has special events planned for this month. To join in on the fun, stop by the library at 54 East Somerset Street, Raritan, or call 908-725-0413 to register.
Fiber Arts Necklace
The library is hosting a special program to learn how to make fiber arts necklaces with instructor Linda Tarantino at 6 p.m. Nov. 7. Participants will have an opportunity to choose from several different yarns to create unique pieces of wearable art. The class itself is free, but there is a $10 cost for materials. Registration is required.
Wizard of Oz in 3-D
The library is hosting a screening of “The Wizard of Oz” in 3-D at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14. The film, starring Judy Garland and Ray Bolger, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with a new kind of colorful and visual magic. Snacks and 3-D glasses will be provided to those there to watch the film. Students must be ages 12 or older to attend the screening, and the running time of the film is 101 minutes. Registration is required.
Poinsettia on Glass
Participants will have the opportunity to pain poinsettias on glass vases at a special program at 6 p.m. Nov. 18. This festive program will be ready in time for the holidays, and will be instructed by Irene Mortko. Class and materials are free of charge, but sign-up is required. Participants can bring their own glass objects if they prefer.
Congratulations to Madeline Etzold, of Bridgewater, the winner of our ad symbol contest. Madeline won a free massage from La La Land Massage, on First Avenue in Raritan. In the above photo, Madeline (left) is shown receiving her prize from La La Land Massage Therapy owner Carmela Skoczypec. La La Land Massage Therapy is owned and operated by licensed massage therapist, Carmela Skoczypec. She graduated from Cortiva Institute of Massage Therapy in 2011, and, in 2012, Carmela decided to build something from her passion and created La La Land Massage Therapy. She is certified in classic Swedish, deep muscle work and a variety of spa treatments such as an invigorating scrubs and a paraffin wax treatment. By running a small and personal business, Carmela is able to use her knowledge and intuition to give each of her clients the specific care, comfort and attention that they desire. Massages and treatments are by appointment only and Carmela can be reached directly by phone or email. Call or visit her website today and prepare to let your mind drift into La La Land with the massage that is fitted perfect for you.
Number of Students Named Merit Scholars
A total of 36 students at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School have been named commended students in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. A total of 34,000 students throughout the country are being honored. To be commended, students had to place among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million who entered the 2014 competition when they took the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. These year’s commended students are: Joelle P. Abi-Nader, Joseph L. Bruno-Metzger, Joshua D. Chan,
Abigail E. Delgado, Sahaj Desai, Sameer N. Dhavalikar, Ryan T. Durac, Sydney R. Engelstein, Archit Gupta, Shivani Gupta, Chandni B. Gurnani, Emily M. He, Amy T. Ho, Shrenik Jain, Gina Y. Kim, Erica M. Koplitz, Nikhil K. Kunapuli, Robert H. Lavroff, Skyler N. Le, Kevin R. Li, Stephanie K. Lin, Sarah S. Malek, Brendan Bao, Sahil Mehrotra, Ana Melentijevic, Sarika A. Menon, Nicole T. Palumbo, Arjun K. Patel, Riya P. Patel, Priyanka Rathnam, Aasha L. Reddy, Rachel C. Saperstein, Victoria Y. Shi, Jennifer Xu, Emily Zheng and Emily C. Zinnikas.
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Look on each page of this issue to find the monthly symbol hidden in 10 advertisements. List the 10 ads containing the symbol and email to winthebreezeadgame@ yahoo.com or mail to The BReeze, 726 Route 202 South, Suite 320-190, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. The readers with the correct answers will be entered into a drawing. Be sure to get your list to us by Nov. 10 to be eligible to win. Please limit to one entry per person. Please include with your list your full name and phone number where you can be reached. The winner will be notified by phone and will be asked to make arrangements to go to the business to collect the prize. A photo of the winner with the business owner will be inserted in the next issue of the paper.
This month, Gaetano’s Hair Salon in Raritan is offering a free haircut and style to the lucky winner. The symbol you will be looking for appears below, with the letters “BR” in the center:
The symbol above is only an example — it does not count as one of the 10. Find all 10 symbols, tell us where you found them and you could be the winner! Good luck!
Surprising Twist on Klan Activity in County By Jim Koch Special to The BReeze I would like to share some local history that would seem to be out of place for Somerset County. I have been lucky in being involved with the Heritage Trail Association bus tours where we attempt to present the culture and history of Somerset County in interesting and entertaining ways. Some of the bus tours pass through Pluckemin on Routes 202-206. As we pass the Top O’Th’ Hill Tavern, we point out that it was the headquarters of the local Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s and 1930s. Our guests are always surprised. Now for the rest of the story. As unlikely as it seems, Somerset County was a hotbed of Klan activity in the 1920s and 1930s. It was not unusual to find a parade down the Main Street of Somerville. Quite open in their activities, in 1923, 12,000 people gathered in Bound Brook. We are not clear how many were Klan members and how many were protestors. But by chance, I have come
across new information that was surprising to me. About 20 years ago, Rutgers received donations to start oral histories of its graduates. One was Clifford Elling, ‘48, who was associated with his family plumbing business in Somerville. He related childhood memories of nearby Bridgewater in a 1997 interview. The Klan did have meetings at the Top O’Th’ Hill Tavern. However, the actual headquarters was at the “rabbit farm” on nearby Brown Road. I may surmise that rabbit was an alternative food source during those years of hard economic times. Personally I would prefer to think about parimutual rabbit racing for the purpose. I always have been frustrated where the rabbit farm had been. Recently, I was in a home on Brown Road on another mission. The owner wanted to know if I would like to see an old picture of the “farmhouse” before she owned her house. She had no idea why I got excited. I never told her, but sometimes wishes do come true in the strangest ways.
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November 2013
The BReeze
Page 5
Borden Retires After 31 Years in the Bridgewater PD Bridgewater Police Chief Richard Borden retired from the department in October.
By Audrey Levine a bachelor of science degree in With 31 years of service to the criminal justice. township, Bridgewater Township Following his graduation, BorPolice Chief Richard Borden re- den took a welfare investigator tired at the beginning of October. job in Hudson County, and then “It is time to explore other in- worked in export and import at terests, whether career or family,” the World Trade Center. Borden he said. “But I have no intention then worked at the Perth Amboy of stopping working.” Hospital, where he met officers Captain Manny Caravela will from Bridgewater. be serving as interim chief of the “Officers mentioned Bridgedepartment. water as being a progressive Borden said it’s hard to know place,” he said. “It seemed to be when it’s the right time to retire. on the cutting edge.” “After seven years [as chief], I In 1982, Borden said, he bebrought the department to a nice gan working for the Bridgewater position,” he said. “It is the right Township Police Department. He time age-wise and interest-wise.” worked in the patrol department But police work was not Bor- for five years before getting the den’s first pas“I moved from wanting sion. Borden was a to teach and coach, to law student at Jersey enforcement. I transitioned from City State Cola teacher mentality to seeing law lege, studying to be a teacher. enforcement as an option. “ In his second — Richard Borden year, the college introduced a criminal justice pro- opportunity to be a substance gram. abuse officer. “It was new for colleges,” he “I was a liaison with the said. “Between my second and schools for drug prevention and third year, something clicked that substance abuse,” he said of the I wanted to try that.” newly created position. “Police “I moved from wanting to teach never went into schools, it was and coach, to law enforcement,” ground-breaking.” he added. “I transitioned from a This was pre-DARE, Borden teacher mentality to seeing law said, and he was in that position enforcement as an option.” for a year. He had the opportunity Borden finished college with to deal with parents and school
administrators directly. “It was an opportunity to get out more in the community,” he said. “It got my career jumpstarted and was a way to shine.” Borden then spent six months at the prosecutors office, working on the Narcotics Task Force, before moving to the Bridgewater Township Detective Bureau for seven years. In 1994, he became a sergeant in the patrol division, then a detective sergeant in 1996. “I was getting an education in all aspects of police work,” he said. Borden became a lieutenant in 2001, captain in 2004 and chief in 2006 after a lengthy four-month process. “That was the first time we had done that kind of assessment,” he said. “It was an intense process and it is still in place.” “And at that time, I had held every rank there was, and had been in almost all the bureaus,” he added. Borden said that in all his years with the department, he has been extremely proud to impact the community in whatever way he could, from investigating crimes to talking to kids. “I am meeting a wide range of people,” he said. “This has given me the opportunity to be in the know for 31 years.” “You start to feel like you are contributing to a greater cause,”
Former Bridgewater Township Police Chief Richard Borden he added. But through his time as chief, Plus, Borden said, he has had Borden said, one of his proudthe chance to work closely with est accomplishments has been to his fellow officers. make the department an accred“There are not too many jobs ited police department. where you can have interactions “That was a goal since I bewith all the people working,” he came chief in 2006,” he said. said. “You can be at the exact Borden said they began the same level even though you are in lengthy process in 2008, but put a different rank.” it on the back burner while they It is a position, Borden said, moved into the new municipal where, although he is making complex in 2010. They picked high-level decisions, he could be up the process when they moved, thrust into the same situations as and earned the accreditation Feb. the other officers in the event of 14. an emergency — and he has al“I wanted that department acways appreciated the opportunity. See Chief, Page 11
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The BReeze
Students Strive to Build Vocational School
By Audrey Levine They are considered an example for all others around the country and nothing will stop the Bridgewater-Raritan High School students from continuing their plans to turn containers into medical and other facilities to help the people of Uganda. For the past few years, students in home improvement classes at the high school have been creating medical centers out of shipping containers through Homes of Living Hope. They have already made two, with the second sent out at the beginning of October. “The one we did last year is going to Aloi,” said Leonard Herman, supervisor for business and industrial technology at the high school, who has put the program together. “We are trying for our third now.” This upcoming container may be a little more of an undertaking, Herman said. They are hoping to get two containers donated to build a training school, something members of Homes of Living Hope think would be very beneficial. “If we could get two containers and turn them to help the children learn a trade, that would be a big step in transforming the community,” said Francis Nyang, a Ugandan whose Non-Government Organization has been instrumental in bringing relief to war-ravaged Uganda.
Nyang spoke to students participating in the Homes of Living Hope project, known as “See the Difference One Container Can Make,” in late September. “With the container tools, we will teach our people, instead of getting handouts,” he said. Nyang praised the students for the medical facilities they have already created, saying there are between 200 and 500 people lined up at the facility each day to get service. “It has changed the life of the people,” he said. But, Nyang said, with a vocational type school, they could enroll about 530 children of all ages. The Homes of Living Hope project is about converting recycled shipping containers into livable and functional structures, including medical centers, shelters and educational facilities. Herman brought the program to the school, and has been entwining it with the curriculum, with students learning about building, plumbing and more, while also helping those in need. For the past two years, BRHS students have been creating medical centers as part of their project, and, if they are unable to get two containers, they will build another medical facility. “We had been planning for one container, so it’s all about money,” Herman said, noting that they are waiting for donations of
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Student Corner Every month, we will ask students around the district to answer one question about the school year or the time of year or something interesting going on. This month, we spoke to sixth graders at Hillside Intermediate School and asked: What is your goal for this school year?
Frances Nyang the container and the supplies needed. The program done at BRHS is being used as an example in other schools, particularly the way it is made part of the curriculum. “The learning part is really important,” Herman said. “They use Bridgewater as a model.” Nyang said that creating the vocational school would be a big step in transforming the community. “We have a huge population of kids looking after kids, and millions are not educated,” he said. “What do we do with this population? If we could find a way of training with trade, they could go back to work.” Nyang had a rough life himself, being abandoned at birth, and later taken to the military before he was transferred to the president’s office. During uprisings, he was thrown in jail and sentenced to death, although he was fortunately released after three years. Now, Nyang just wants to help. “I know there is a plan for every human, and you have to use your pain to help somebody,” he said. “If I can do that, it gives me joy.”
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November 2013
The Bridgewater Township Recreation Department is offering open gym programs through March for students in grades seven through 12. The open gym will feature basketball and other ball and board games, with pizza and soda served. There is no cost to attend. The program is being funded through the Bridgewater Township Municipal Alliance, and is a Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Initiative. There will be two different sessions available, Fridays at Bradley Gardens Primary School and Sundays at Adamsville Primary. The Friday evening programs will be held from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 1, Nov. 22, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20, and then every Friday from Jan. 3 through March 21, except Jan. 31 and Feb. 14. The Sunday programs are from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., weekly until March 23, except Nov. 10, Dec. 22, Dec. 29, Jan. 19 and Feb. 16. For more information, call the recreation department at 908725-6300, ext. 5300.
“My goal is to make a big difference in the surrounding communities and clean up the backyard classrooms, and ace all of my classes. “ —Diana Scafuto “My goal this year is to be very involved in Roots & Shoots and make a difference in our community, and be a good influence to kids. “ —Gabriela Chiaravalloti
“My goal is to get straight A’s and have a magnificent year. “ —Gabriela Chiaravalloti
“My goal is to just make everything I can better, and be the best I can be. “ —Sean Tendick
“I want to make the woods and outdoor classroom more clean and maybe more pleasant. Also, I would like to raise a lot of money to send to Africa. “ —Sanemi Nair
“I want to get good grades and try as hard as I can, and help other people as best I can. “ —Ashley Jin
“I want to be able to do anything and everything I can to make school more fun for me and the future. “ —Dagny McCann “My goal is to raise money for poeple who can’t do what we can do. I want to help people, animals, I want to make a difference no matter how small. “ —Ananya Narayanan
November 2013
The BReeze
Board Approves 2014–15 Calendar By Audrey Levine The board of education has approved a calendar for the 2014– 15 school year, which includes three snow days and the opportunity for a longer Memorial Day weekend. The calendar notes that school will begin Sept. 4, 2014, with the last day (and high school graduation) on June 18, 2015. Winter break will be Dec. 24 through Jan. 2, and spring break will be March 30 through April 6. But most discussions among board members about the calendar involved the give-back days if no snow days are used throughout the year. Originally, the calendar stated that if no snow days are used throughout the year, school is closed in the order of May 26, May 27 and April 7, all based on how many days are used. Several board members expressed concerns about when it would be decided that school could be closed on April 7. “Do we have a time when we have to make the decision on the April 7 closing?” board member Arvind Mathur asked, citing the possibility of a late March snowstorm. “People have to plan for child care and more.” Acting superintendent Cheryl Dyer said that, in the past, the
district has held out until April 1 before making decisions on giveback days. But Mathur said that in order to make April 7 an off day, they really need to notify parents by March 15. The board decided that a decision would be made by March 13 concerning give-back days, and, if no snow days at all are used by that date, school will be closed April 7. If any of the snow days have been used by March 13, students will definitely be in school April 7. “And the other days will be held pending further inclement weather,” board member Jeffrey Brookner said. “If we already know we have, say, two snow days used, we always have to have school April 7.” The board also decided to make only the last two days of school half days, June 17 and June 18, with June 16 being a full day. Originally, the board wanted to make all but the last day of school full days until one teacher stood up to explain what teachers normally do on those days. “They are not wasted half days with us,” said Hamilton Primary School teacher Kelly Ryan. “I assemble portfolios and pass them on to the next year teacher, and
there is a lot of data entry I have to input on end of year assessments.” “I have to update cumulative folders with other information, and I have to write report cards and comments,” she added. “That can be time consuming.” Several board members said they didn’t realize how much has to be done, and would prefer to make sure the teachers have at least one extra half day to work with. “I don’t think we are giving many of our teachers enough credit,” said board member Lynne Hurley. “I feel bad because I really had no idea of the great deal of work that teachers had to do.” In addition, the calendar includes what are being labeled as homework caution days, based on new policy changes implemented by the board. Those dates are set the day before school is closed for any reason, including Rosh Hashanah, winter break, Memorial Day and more. “Homework caution was added because of a revised policy that says that homework over the weekend should not exceed homework given in one night,” Dyer said. “Don’t give three nights of homework because there are two days off.”
District Receives 26 Complete Superintendent Applications By Audrey Levine As the search for a new superintendent continues, the board of education is now on to the process of interviewing candidates. Jane Kershner, director of field services with the New Jersey School Boards Association, is leading the search for a new superintendent, and, at the beginning of October, she delivered to the board the resumes that were submitted by candidates for the job. The search began in August with requests for thoughts on what people are looking for in a new superintendent. Residents and staff were invited to submit thoughts online or attend special sessions to discuss with others. Although attendance at all the sessions was not high, many surveys were submitted online by those looking to share their thoughts, including the idea that the new superintendent should value what Bridgewater-Raritan
already has, rather than trying to change anything right away. “The board requested that I meet, and it was important I make myself available to the board, staff and community,” Kershner said. Board of education president Patrick Breslin said 90 pages of submissions were given to the board with answers to the online survey. On Oct. 8, Kershner delivered the pool of candidates to the board of education. According to Breslin, 27 applications were completed, with 26 of those having met or exceeded the criteria that was outlined by the district. Of those, he said, 19 applicants are currently superintendents, assistant superintendents or chief school administrators. From there, Breslin said, two are principals, four are supervisors and two fall into the other category.
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In addition, Breslin said, 20 of the applicants have already earned doctorates, 22 are from New Jersey and five are from out of state. Interviews with qualified candidates began Oct. 28, Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, with additional days scheduled in November if they are necessary. Second round interviews are scheduled for Nov. 11 and Nov. 13. The board is hoping to hire a new superintendent to begin around Jan. 1. Assistant superintendent Cheryl Dyer is currently serving as acting superintendent. Former superintendent Michael Schilder retired in the summer.
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School Calendar Nov. 1: Crim – PTO Meeting, 9 a.m. Nov. 1: Hillside – 6th Grade Rec Night, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Nov. 2: BRHS – SAT Testing Nov. 4: Eisenhower – Picture Re-Take Day Nov. 7 – Nov. 8: No School Nov. 11: Wade Building – Board of Education Work Meeting, 8 p.m. Nov. 13: Hillside – Picture Re-Take Day Nov. 13: Bradley Gardens – Thanksgiving Feast Nov. 13: Adamsville – PTO Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 – Nov. 19: Primary, Intermediate Schools – Conferences Nov. 16: Somerville Elks – BRHS Tricky Tray Nov. 20: Bradley Gardens – PTO Meeting, 7 p.m. Nov. 20: Milltown – PTO Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21: BRHS – FBLA Talent Show, 7 p.m. Nov. 21: Van Holten – PTO Meeting, 9:30 a.m. Nov. 21: John F. Kennedy – Family Game Night, 7 p.m. Nov. 22: BRMS – School Play, 7 p.m. Nov. 25: BRMS – Picture Re-Take Day Nov. 26: Wade Building – Board of Education Regular Meeting, 8 p.m. Nov. 27: Four-Hour Session Day Nov. 28 – Nov. 29: No School, Thanksgiving Day Check the school websites and calendars for updates or lastminute adjustments, www.brrsd.k12.nj.us.
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The BReeze
November 2013
BReeze Be There
November 2
The Bradley Gardens Community Church, on Old York Road in Bridgewater, will be holding its Annual Holiday Bazaar from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can get an early start on holiday shopping with handmade crafts and jewelry, and there will be attic treasures, baked goods and jams and jellies. A pancake and sausage breakfast for $4 is being served, and chili dogs and soup will be served for lunch.
November 2
The Grace Community Church, on Garretson Road, will be holding a clothing giveaway from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church will be giving away gently used clothing free to those in need. For more information, call 908-231-9593, or send an email to GraceChurch08807@gmail.com.
November 9
The Bradley Gardens Volun-
teer Fire Company Auxiliary is holding an All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Dinner at the firehouse on Old York Road in Bridgewater from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meal will include pasta, lasagna rollups, meat sauce, marinara sauce, meatballs, sausage, a salad bar, dessert and more. The prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for children and free for children under 5 years of age. There will also be a 50/50 raffle.
November 12
The Bridgewater Woman’s Club will meet at the Bridgewater Township Library on Vogt Drive. Light refreshments and a social time will be held at 9:30 a.m., followed by a short meeting. In addition, as part of community volunteer efforts, the club will be accepting coupons for turkeys and gift cards for food and trimmings to be given to local families in need. The meeting will also feature Master Gardner
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Ellie Rich, who will present a hands-on terrarium workshop. Rich is a member of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Somerset and Hunterdon. For more information, call program chair Virginia Panicucci at 732-469-2969, or membership chair Helen Horun at 908-5267643.
ceal the Bible’s Original Meaning.” The book looks at the often innacurate or misleading English translations of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. The program, being presented through Jewish Life, will be held at 7 p.m. at the center. The cost is $8 in advance, or $10 at the door.
November 12
The Heritage Trail Association is presenting its North County bus tour, with trips leaving at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from the Van Horne House on East Main Street in Bridgewater. The trips are each two-and-ahalf hours. Parking is available behind Target. The tour costs $10. Go to heritagetrail.org for reservations.
The Holistic Moms Network will be holding a “Wellness & Network Spinal Analysis” at 7 p.m. at the Bridgewater Township Library on Vogt Drive. David Potter, of Network Chiropractic in North Brunswick, will talk about shifting your paradigm in health and healthcare, and will show how to take control of your health and life. He will also talk about the differences between chiropractic and network spinal analysis. For more information, call 908-2031422 or email pmalangi@gmail. com.
November 13
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The Bridgewater Senior Center, on Somerville Road, will host its 4th Annual Holiday Boutique from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a large selection of vendors with items including jewelry, crafts, handbags, Christmas gifts and more. For more information, call the senior center at 908-575-8021.
November 14
The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, on Talamini Road in Bridgewater, will be holding its Holiday Shopping Boutique at the center from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The boutique will feature a variety of vendors with items including jewelry, crafts, Swarovski crystal items, children’s clothing and more. The boutique is open to the public and admission is free. For more information, call Lisa Kopman at 908-725-6994, ext. 206. The boutique benefits the JCC Scholarship Fund, which makes it possible for children and teens to participate in JCC programs they may not otherwise be able to afford.
November 14
The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, in Bridgewater, is holding a session with Dr. Joel M. Hoffman on his book, entitled “And God Said: How Translations Con-
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November 16
The Bridgewater Senior Center, on Somerville Road, is holding a celebration of DIWALI, the Indian Festival of Lights, sponsored by the Association of New Jersey Indian-Americans. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Young dancers will present folk, Indian classical and Bollywood dances, and young singers and musicians will entertain, in addition to showing Indian costumes and jewelry. There is no charge for admission, but $5 to enjoy an Indian buffet. Advance reservation is required for the buffet. For more information or to make reservations, call Rupali Chakravarti at 732-4694910, or Donna Langel at 908575-8021.
November 17
Gaetano’s Beauty Salon, on West Somerset Street in Raritan, is hosting One ELLE of a CUT-A-THON to benefit the Elle Foundation. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Services include haircuts for men, women and children, and hair donation cuts for Children With Hair Loss. No appointment is necessary, and only cash and checks will be accepted. All of the proceeds will go to the Elle Foundation. The foundation was started in memory of Lauren “Elle” Richmond, and works to grant final wishes for children with a recurrence of cancer.
November 17
The Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra will be giving a concert called “The King’s Symphony” at the Nash Theatre at
Raritan Valley Community College at 3 p.m. Music director Michael Avagliano will lead the orchestra in three different numbers that have been featured in British films and television. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors and $10 for students, with open seating in the theatre.
November 23
A Girl Scout Soc Hop will be held at the Bridgewater Township Library on Vogt Drive from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is open to all Daisy, Brownie and first-year Junior Girl Scouts. Everyone should wear their best socks. Prizes include funniest, cutest, scariest and most mixed matched. Stations at the event will include Soc Hop Twister, Soc Hop Kick Line, GS Bingo, Make-a-Sock Craft, snacks, door prizes and more. The cost is $8 per scout. For registration information or questions, email strishs@aol.com, or call 908429-9744.
November 25
The Washington Valley Garden Club, Inc. will hold its third meeting of the 2013–14 season at the Bridgewater Township Library, on Vogt Drive. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Dorothy Smullen, a club member and noted garden club speaker, will present “The botany & history of holiday desserts.” Smullen is a past president of the NJ Mycological Association, and a teacher-naturalist at the NJ Audubon Society. Light refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m., and new members are always welcome. Email wvgardenclub@gmail. com for additional information.
November 26
The Bridgewater Garden Club will hold a meeting at 10:45 a.m. at the Bridgewater Township Library on Vogt Drive to “Celebrate the Season.” The meeting will feature information on easy holiday designs for your table, taught by Wini Applegate, past president of the Garden Club of NJ.
November 30
Weichert, on Route 22 in Branchburg, will be holding complimentary photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be pictures, refreshments and an annual toy drive, collecting clothing items for teens and seniors. Head on out to get your picture taken with Santa.
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Locals to Compete in JCC DWTS 4-H Ensemble Seeks Drama Members The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, on Talamini Road in Bridgewater, is preparing to boogie with “Dancing With the Stars, Season 2.” The event will be held Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., with the proceeds going to benefit the JCC Scholarship Fund, which provides assistance to families with financial limitations to allow them to attend the JCC Blaustein Early Childhood Center and JCC Camp Ruach. The second annual competition will feature eight couples competing to win their very own JCC Mirror Ball Trophy. But the twist is that each couple features a JCC member dancing with a professional from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. In addition to the dances by the eight competing couples, there will also be two spotlight dances. Aside from the dancing, the event will feature a buffet dinner
The couples from the first season of the JCC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2012 before the competition, open bar made in support of individual throughout the evening and open dancers. Anyone interested in dodancing and dessert after the ing so should contact Carol Goldcompetition. stein at 908-725-6994, ext. 215, The all-inclusive admission or CGoldstein@ssbjcc.org. fee for the program is $100 per To register for the program, person. call the JCC at 908-725-6994, According to a release from ext. 201, or visit www.ssbjcc. the JCC, there will also be an ad org/adult/dancing. journal published to accompany Guests must register or place the event, and donations can be ads by Nov. 1.
Temple Sholom Holding Special Winter Fundraiser Temple Sholom, on North Bridge Street in Bridgewater, is holding a special drive for winter items, baby basics and more to celebrate the upcoming holidays. The drive will be held at the synagogue on Nov. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This is the ninth year of the drive, which is sponsored by the Temple Sholom Mitzvah Committee and benefits the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP) of Somerville and the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. Volunteers will collect items in the temple parking lot and the building lobby. Items being collected include a Thanksgiving Day meal, with frozen turkeys, canned pickles, olives, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, string beans, corn, salad dressing, boxes of brown sugar, instant mashed potatoes, bottled soda, packages of cookies, bags of potato chips, napkins, cups, plastic cutlery and more. Also being collected are winter items like blankets, coats, scarves, hats and boots, plus baby
basics, like hats, gloves, scarves and blankets. In addition, they are collecting baby formula, diapers, wipes, baby food and health care items. Receipts will be available upon request. According to a release from the synagogue, the fundraiser is being done in the spirit of Tikkun Olam, the Jewish commandment to Repair the World. Temple Sholom has been working with SHIP and the Food Bank Network of Somerset County for many years. For more information, call Rachel Drascher at 908-963-3840 or Debby Lubliner at 908-7227015.
Hayden Verbanas, a member of the Clover Ensemble The 4-H Clover Ensemble is school. seeking new members for its theIt meets every first and third atre group. Tuesday of the month from 7 p.m. The ensemble involves learn- to 8:30 p.m. at the 4-H Center on ing about acting, play writing, Milltown Road in Bridgewater. improv, set design and costume No experience is necessary to design, all from an experienced be part of the group. drama instructor. The first meeting in November The ensemble is offered by will be Nov. 5. Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural For more information contact Experiment Station for chil- Ellen Parker at hookcookbook@ dren in grades four through high gmail.com.
Aphasia Center Holding Support Group The Adler Aphasia Center of Maywood and West Orange is now holding a free aphasia support group through December at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, on Talamini Road in Bridgewater. The program is designed to assist those who have been diagnosed with aphasia by helping them in coping with the challenges of living with the disorder. The group is facilitated by Gail Rempell, a speech-lan-
guage pathologist with the center, and she will show alternative communication strategies. Families and caregivers are also invited to attend the group sessions. The group will meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month now through December, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Those dates are Nov. 13, Nov. 27 and Dec. 11. Aphasia, according to a release from the group, is a language disorder that is caused
by a stroke or another brain injury. The Adler Aphasia center addresses the long-term needs of people with the disease and their families. The center is a non-profit, post-rehabilitative therapeutic program. It works to enhance communication skills of its members, and provide social and peer support. For more information about the center, visit the website at adleraphasiacenter.org, or call 201-368-8585.
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Page 10
The BReeze
November 2013
BReeze Holiday Preview
Black Friday — A Holiday Ritual Spent at the Local Mall By Laurie Squire Most people dream of a “White Christmas,” but in my household we dream of a Black Friday. Black Friday — it’s the day after Thanksgiving, traditional start of the December holiday shopping season. Retailers have picked up on the fact that people who overindulged just a few hours earlier need to work off those extra pounds, and what better way to exercise than to go shopping at 4 a.m.? The name itself — Black Friday — comes from the time-honored practice of recording business accounts in a ledger, with losses in red ink and profits in black ink. It is one of the, if not the, busiest shopping days of the year. According to the National Retail Federation, last year, total consumer spending on Black Friday was $52.4 billion, with the average consumer spending $423 per person. The day has become something of an annual ritual; for nothing else will I deliberately rise at 2 a.m., put on half a dozen layers of warm clothing (I don’t ski and yet I
don thermals just for the occasion), drive to a carefully mapped-out series of stores (no surprise, not a bit of traffic on Route 22 or Route 202 in Bridgewater, but oh the parking space tango once you reach the Bridgewater Commons Mall!) and stand on line for hours in subfreezing temperatures. And with my fellow deal-seeking hopefuls — some wrapped in blankets, some with their lawn chairs and thermoses of hot coffee — it’s a wonderful bonding experience where you meet and greet people you never saw before nor will see again … at least until next year’s Black Friday. My most memorable one? Not even eye surgery done just a few days earlier could keep me from my appointed rounds with the potential to score a great buy (I even found a fellow standee who’d had the same procedure and we compared notes). That was a particularly friendly year. By 5 a.m. at Best Buy on Commons Way, I offered to run out and get donuts for everyone (but only after my new friend
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Children’s Department. To be someone’s angel, choose a tag from the Salvation Army Angel Trees on the lower level near the Center Court, and purchase a gift for someone less fortunate. Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at guest services in the mall until Dec. 20. If you want to get in on the
shopping quickly and early, get the GGP mobile application, “The Club Shopping Mall Guide” on your iPhone or Android phone to be up-to-date on all the promotions, discounts and more throughout the holiday season. That’s right, it’s the holiday season with Black Friday coming, and we are ready and raring to go!
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Lots of Winter Fun Around the Corner By Sue Baldani Winter is just around the corner. Luckily our communities have plenty to keep us entertained on snowy days and frosty nights. Whether you and your family prefer indoor activities or outdoor events, there are a variety of things to do. For outdoor enthusiasts, a hot spot on cold, snow-filled winter days are the nearby open, rolling fields where hills abound, such as Duke Island Park in Bridgewater. So get your sleds out of storage and try to find just the perfect spot to launch. As you soar along with the snow swirling around, you’re sure to pass many of your friends and neighbors, who are also out for some fresh air fun. You can also head over to the Green Knoll Golf Course, on Garretson Road in Bridgewater, where
they offer Cross Country Skiing daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring the family or a friend, and get some exercise while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Kids in grades 7–12 from the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District can attend open gym on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons at two area schools, where they can play basketball and board games, and feast on pizza and soda. These activities are scheduled through March, and admission is free. Call Bridgewater Recreation at 908-725-6300, ext. 5300, for more information. On Dec. 8, at 2 p.m., plan to be in Raritan for some good old-fashioned holiday fun. The recreation committee is inviting families to gather around Raritan Borough Hall where they can spend time with a special visitor.
Santa is coming to town, and he will be arriving on Main Street in his sleigh, pulled by Rudolph. Of course Mrs. Claus will be there too, along with Frosty the Snowman, and possibly even the Grinch. Some of Santa’s elves will be on hand as well to help out. One by one, kids can line up to have their pictures taken with Santa in front of his winter house, which will be lavishly decorated and ready for Christmas. After the kids get their goody bags, they and their families will be able to enjoy some free hot cocoa, doughnuts and cookies. Later on in the day, everyone can look forward to the tree lighting, which will take place in front of borough hall. There is a lot to do close to home. So put away the video games, turn off the television, and venture out for fun. You’ll be glad you did.
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swore to save my spot). When the doors finally opened, there was that momentary adrenaline-fueled thrill of being inside a store afterhours. I raced to the spot where the advertised flatscreen TVs were located (only five in stock at this location!) and sat on one box to claim my prize. If you’re planning to head to the mall, it is opening at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, although some stores may open earlier. There will, of course, be special Black Friday sales, all posted on the mall’s website, bridgewatercommons.com. And if you want to celebrate a little before the big day, Santa is coming to Bridgewater Commons Mall, beginning Nov. 8, for photos everyday with families, and special photos with pets every Monday from Nov. 18 through Dec. 16, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Most people aren’t just thinking about their own families during the holiday season, the season of giving. If you want to give to others, various charities will be wrapping for a small donation, beginning Nov. 22 outside the Macy’s
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November 2013
The BReeze
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Temple Celebrates New Sandbox Raritan Senior Honored By Audrey Levine With the Preschool Place and Kindergarten at Temple Sholom starting a project to redo its playground, it has taken the first steps with a sandbox built and donated by Home Depot. Members of Team Depot at the Home Depot on Route 202 have been working since the summer to build a new sandbox, sand tables and water tables for the students at the Preschool Place. And they cut the ribbon for the new equipment at a special ceremony Oct. 4. “It’s just fantastic,” said Carol Rubnitz, director of the Preschool Place. “Working with Home Depot has been easy.” Rubnitz said they had to take a look at the playground equipment because of revisions in state licensing. “We loved our sandbox, and
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Team Depot members (L-R) Jeff Pemberton, Kenny Pathak, Lorin Suplee and Justine Faerber we looked for grants,” she said. “We found Home Depot, and worked with them to do a renovation of the sandbox.” Working on the project were store manager Jeff Pemberton, assistant store manager Kenny Pathak and employees Justine Faerber and Lorin Suplee. Faerber said Team Depot was established by Home Depot, and
local projects are handled at the store levels. “We are encouraged to get involved [at the local level],” she said. “This is our 20th project.” Rubnitz said they can now focus on continuing the work on the rest of the playground. “We will hopefully have the improvements done by this time next year,” she said.
By Audrey Levine Christina Palermo, a member of the Raritan Senior Center, was honored at the beginning of October for her work packaging food for the Meals on Wheels program for the last seven years. Palermo received loud applause at the presentation, and she was given a clock engraved especially for her. “I am very happy to be here all these years,” she said. In the seven years that Palermo has been packaging food for the program, five days a week, she has put together about 150,000 meals. “Christina is there nearly every day, packing almost as fast as our staff,” said Angela Dubivsky, nutrition and wellness program administrator for the Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services. “Our centers could not operate without the service of our volunteers.”
Palermo said she is happy to help. “I wake up in the morning, and when I have pain, I say take it out of my body,” she said. “I have work to do.”
Christina Palermo (right) is given a clock in honor of the work she has done with Meals on Wheels. It is presented by Raritan Senior Center Manager Lynda Augustine (left).
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Former Bridgewater Police Chief Moving on to Next Phase of Life Chief from Page 5 amount of time for things. After a creditation,” he said. “After that, prostate cancer scare in 2000, he I had achieved [my major goal].” said, he began to understand the Borden said he has every in- idea of those windows in life. tention of staying in Bridgewater, “You go through that and say, although he hasn’t how long do I “There’s a window in want to stay in exactly decided what he wants to life, and I don’t want a certain stage do next. to exhaust the entire of my life,” he “There’s a winsaid. “Maybe window doing one that shaped my dow in life, and I thing. “ don’t want to exlife.” haust the entire But for Bor— Richard Borden window doing den, the entire one thing,” he said. “I’m leaving experience has been positive, and on a positive note, and leaving he knows it is bittersweet to be the department in very competent leaving. hands.” “It has been an honor and a “But I still have energy to try privilege to have been given the other things,” he added. opportunity to serve as chief of For Borden, this will be a sec- police,” he said. “Our goal was to ond stage of his life, and he under- maintain a safe and secure envistands that he only has a certain ronment while preserving the ex-
ceptional quality of life our community is envied for. I believe we succeeded on all counts.” Borden said he also appreciates the support he has had from his family over the years. “I sincerely appreciate all the sacrifices my family has undergone over my career and I want to recognize them for their efforts,” he said.
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Jennifer Capici and Tracy Cavallaro are lifelong residents of Raritan. Jennifer has a background in Accounting and Finance and has worked for Amarada Hess, Beneficial Tax Masters, Chubb Insurance and currently is employed by the Somerset Library System as a Children’s Library Assistant. She is actively involved with the Preschool Book Bag Program and the Kindergarten Library Card Task Force within the community Outreach programs. Community awareness is part of her passion. Tracy has a background in Intellectual Property and has worked for Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Colgate-Palmolive Company, ScheringPlough Corporation, Wyeth and is currently employed at Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik as a Patent Paralegal. She is currently involved in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Lacrosse Program. Jennifer and Tracy want to bring transparency back to council meetings to expose issues and costs and be the eyes and ears for the residents of Raritan. Under the current administration residents are limited to the information that is available to the public. Most people are unaware of decisions being made on their behalf. “The people have a right to know what the crucial issues are, how the council is voting, what effect the three current lawsuits will have on the overall tax rate for the future.” The lawsuits include approximately $750k in legal costs with the Gannett newspaper with regards to the town violating the OPRA law, the legal disputes with the Raritan Library and subpoenaing town volunteers and dragging them into a nonsense law suit and the discrimination lawsuit with Police Officer Sousa. We need to establish ways to avoid future lawsuits and the escalation of legal costs. The council has a responsibility of informing the town of ALL major issues that will affect the town. When elected we will proudly take on that responsibility and ensure that we uphold a standard of open communication with the residents of the town, business owners, other departments and entities within the borough. Our taxpayer’s deserve to see tax dollars being used for the town, especially for the entry ways and downtown areas, two of the most important parts of our community. “With the economy slowly recovering, we need to avoid waste and continue to maintain a standard of living, regain back our reputation of a united, strong and safe place to live for our current residents and for future generations to come. We want to bring that comfort level back to our community.” As we have made our way through the community we have heard your concerns and your visions are our initiatives as well. We will make an effort to bring back curbside grass pick-up, address the traffic safety concerns, road and sidewalk repairs, the continued drainage issues, revitalization of the downtown and entry points through innovation and cooperative efforts of local corporations, and the current housing issues related to over-populated rental units. The people of this town need to be able to visit the downtown without worrying about safety. We need your support on November 5 in order for us to make positive change and build our town for a better future.
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November 2013
Football Team Posted First Perfect Season in School History Football from Page 1 school building and field — is very impressive. But in 1953, there was one major difference — the high school building itself was not there. The building that served as the high school back then is the building that today is the middle school, a half mile away. Players walked 10 minutes after school to get to practice.
1953 Big Games The second game of the season saw the only time that the Pioneers were losing in the fourth quarter. At the start of the last quarter, with the score tied 0–0, Roselle intercepted a screen pass at mid-field and ran it back for a touchdown. Soon after, the Somerville team caught a break when they recovered a fumble on
a punt return at the Roselle 41yard line. They scored six plays later on a 10-yard run by Bob Lusardi. The all-important extra point was made by kicker Bob Ujobagy to give them the lead. Late in the fourth period, Roselle was desperately trying to move down field when Cicero intercepted a pass and ran it back 25 yards for a touchdown. Game four against North Plainfield, the other premiere team in the conference, was the most important game. The players all recalled that game to be the toughest and most memorable of the season. In the beginning of the game, Cicero intercepted a pass, returning it to the North Plainfield 31. A few plays later, Crosby scored a touchdown on a 9-yard run. Ujobagy successfully kicked the extra point. At
the time, it was just a routine kick that generated a single point — but one that would go down in Somerville football history. North Plainfield scored a touchdown in the second quarter. After the score, they elected to run for the extra point. They ran left, but the Somerville defense was like a brick wall and North Plainfield got nowhere. That play solidified Somerville’s undefeated season, as for the rest of the game, the teams battled intensely but there was no additional scoring and the game ended in a 7–6 victory for Somerville. Somerville did not lose any other games that season. Kicker Ujobagy, who only kicked extra points and was not thought of as the football player type by his classmates or even his teammates, became one of the heroes
of the 1953 Somerville football team. Game six was a come-frombehind victory against Princeton. Somerville was losing at halftime as Princeton ran a fumble back for a touchdown (Crosby blocked the extra point). At halftime, Coach Gardner seemed to rally
the troops as Somerville drove down the field on its first possession and scored when Crosby ran it in from the 18. Ujobagy again made the critical extra point to put Somerville ahead, 7–6. Later, Princeton threatened to score, but Anthony Capici made a key See Somerville on next page
Coaches Malekoff, Gardener and Pacillio in 1953
November 2013
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Page 13
Somerville Team Comes Out Tops in the Division in 1953 Somerville from previous page interception at the 8-yard line to halt the drive. Somerville added another touchdown when Lusardi ran it in from the 18. The seventh game against Highland Park saw the first shut-out posted by Somerville. Their opponent once threatened to score, but Cicero came through with a key interception. The game was scoreless until the fourth quarter when Somerville put together a nine-play 51-yard drive with Cicero running the pigskin over the goal line for a touchdown. Later in the game, Ron Shickora blocked a punt that resulted in a safety. Game eight against Bernards saw the second consecutive shutout by the Pioneers, a 12–0 win.
1953 coach Albert Malekoff and today’s coach, Skip Fuller Both Pioneer touchdowns were giving Day against Bound Brook. on short runs after long drives, Everyone remembered that the with Crosby and Lusardi doing Somerville Pioneers were in the the scoring. same position the year before The final game was on Thanks- — undefeated with one game to go against Bound Brook. The Pioneers vowed not to suffer the same fate as the year before when they were upset in the final game. Coach Gardner’s pre-game talk was brief; he said, “Guys — remember last year.” That was all he needed to say as Somerville dominated from the beginning in front of a crowd of more than 7,000. Early on, Henry Menapace recovered a fumble at the Bound Brook 15 and a couple plays later, Crosby ran it in for the score. Another first quarter drive resulted in a rare “touchdown pass” when 1953 quarterback Sam Crosby (right) and current Somerville quar- Crosby hit Lusardi on a 22-yard terback Joe Lucas pass. The Pioneers coasted to a
Peter Vitelli 26–7 win that completed a 9–0 season — the first perfect season in school history (There were no playoffs in high school football back then). The team was elected to The Somerville Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. “This group of guys really had a lot of fun together, and that is probably why we did so well,” Cicero said of the team. He further commented that the team from the year before had more talent, but that team did not achieve the perfect season that this close-knit group did in 1953. Ironically, players from the 1953 team still play a big part in the Somerville High School football program today. The announcers for the team’s games on local cable are Charley Higgins and Peter Vitelli — who both
Frank Cicero played on the 1953 team. And the video producer is Kenny Cornell — also a member of the ‘53 team. To see photographs and articles, or to get the emails of the players who would be glad to hear from their old friends, visit www.raritan-online.com.
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Page 14
The BReeze
November 2013
Vigil Honors Those Who Died from Domestic Violence It was the 35th annual vigil held in Somerset County. By Audrey Levine The Resource Center of Somerset held its 35th annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Victims, recognizing the 30 men, women and children who have died as a result of domestic violence in Somerset County since 1976. Two of those, Francis Tomasi and Robert Valentine, were Bridgewater residents. This was the first time the ceremony was held in Bridgewater, having normally been held at the county courthouse.
Council president Henderson Rose
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“We decided to take this on the road because of 35 years,” said Anthony Winchatz, director of public relations for the resource center. The ceremony featured several speakers talking about all the center has to offer to those suffering from domestic violence, including Sheila Breeding, with AllState New Jersey Insurance Company, who spoke about the economic dependency program the company sponsors at the center. “We learned that economic dependency is the strongest decision for remaining, leaving or going back to abuse,” she said. “We will continue to invest in grants to help them live free and remain free.” Bridgewater Township Mayor Dan Hayes said Bridgewater was the first municipality in New Jersey to form a domestic abuse response team. “Unfortunately, domestic violence occurs in every community,” he said. “We take time to remember victims of abuse who were unable to be saved, and celebrate those who were able to
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get away.” Also speaking at the ceremony was Wendy, who spent more than half of her life being abused, but managed to get away with the help of the resource center. “I worked two jobs for 10 years to buy myself and my children things we needed,” she said. “He spent thousands on his hobbies.” In June 2011, Wendy said, she decided to get help. “I left the abuse behind, and I was terrified,” she said. “My life has finally begun.” Following the ceremony, guests were given a lit candle and invited to walk around looking at silhouettes, each labeled with the name of a Somerset County resident who died as a result of domestic abuse. And all the names of those residents were read out loud, including the year they died. “We did not read names from 2013,” said Bridgewater Township Council President Christine Henderson Rose. “That brings a sense of hope. Let us carry that sense of hope and promise.”
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Raritan Riverfest Celebration
Karate, Ducks, Much More Highlight Annual Riverfest
Guests enjoy a karate demonstration at the annual Riverfest.
The giant duck welcomes guest to the Riverfest, as it towers over businesses in Raritan.
Guests are encouraged to purchase a duck to enter into the race, and to pick up other goodies.
Councilman Donald Tozzi and councilwoman Stefanie Gara signal the start of the Raritan Riverfest.
The John Basilone Marine Corp. League had its own table at the Riverfest.
Prizes Awarded in Sunflower Contest Yoga Enthusiasts Enjoy Early Morning Exercise Raritan’s Economic Development Committee hosted its first Sunflower Contest during the 2nd Annual Raritan Riverfest Sept. 29. Steve Forktus won the Overall Sunflower Height for ages 21 plus for a flower that measured in at 11 feet tall from root ball to tip of tallest flower. He won a new shovel from The Gold Digger. Kaylin Correa won the Best Bouquet for ages 4.5 to 7 for her presentation. She won a month of free music lessons from the Raritan Music Center.
Gianna, Brad and Zach Catterson won the Widest Sunflower Head for ages 4.5 to 7. Their sunflower head measured 9.5 inches. They won free pizza pies from DeLucia’s. Riley Sibilia won the Widest Sunflower Head for ages 8 to 12. The sunflower head measured 11.5 inches. She won a shopping spree at Raritan Valley Agway. In addition, all winners won gardening gloves compliments of Raritan Valley Agway. Judges for the competition were Jane Fidicarro, of the
Raritan Garden Club, and John Kuster, of Raritan Valley Agway.
The 2nd Annual Raritan Riverfest began with local yoga students welcoming the morning on the historic Nev-
Chloe Rubito, Katrina Bellaran, Jordan Rubito, visitor Delila and yoga teacher Loring Nagle, CYKT, RYT, practice a tree pose.
Girl Scouts check out the different sunflowers featured in the competition.
ius Street Bridge for an early morning class. The class breathed, stretched, strengthened and relaxed in the serene setting. They practiced yoga with the Raritan River flowing around them. Several Bridgewater-Raritan Girl Scouts began their first fall meeting with a yoga class along the banks of the Raritan. “The girls proved that no matter what is going on outside of you, you can always find peace within,” said yoga teacher Loring Nagle, “and of course have a little fun at the Riverfest.”
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Page 16
The BReeze
November 2013
Superstorm Sandy
‘Raritan Was Miraculously Spared the Worst of the Storm’ By Audrey Levine With devastation all around, Raritan Borough was fortunately spared the worst of the problems that befell New Jersey when Superstorm Sandy struck Oct. 29, 2012. “Everything is relative in retrospect, there was very little damage in the town,” said Raritan Mayor Jo-Ann Liptak. “Miraculously none of the trees fell on buildings and dwellings. We were fortunate in that respect.” Liptak said the town saw relatively little flooding, and very small structural damage. For most people, she said, those who lost power only saw it gone for about two or three days. Raritan solely has PSEG for its power. “There were some trees hitting power lines,” she said. “I never lost
power, and we have a generator, so I knew some people were diabetic and needed medicines refrigerated [so I helped out].” For Raritan, Liptak said, Hurricane Irene in 2011 was actually more devastating. “Irene was worse than Sandy, we had more flooding with it, and I think people were without electricity longer in Irene,” she said. Fortunately, Liptak said, the town learned a lot from its experiences in Irene, which carried over to dealing with Superstorm Sandy. First, Liptak said, they instituted tabletop Office of Emergency Management drills, where the leaders of the community determine how to be more prepared in the future. “That little comfort alone is sometimes enough for people,” she said. Liptak said they also started having an OEM trailer, which contains barricades, traffic cones and more so that it’s all in one spot and can be hooked up anywhere. “We also learned that we need to move all public works vehicles out of the garage because it’s in a flood plain,” she said. “We suffered tremendous damage in Irene because we didn’t realize the extent.” In Sandy, Liptak said, it was all about the winds, not the floods. “What we didn’t learn from one
storm, we learned from the other,” she said. “Now we are prepared for anything.” Of course the one thing the community did have to deal with during Sandy was a large fire that was unrelated to the storm, and caused by an electrical short in the attic of a local home. At the height of the storm, Liptak said, the governor issued an edict that once the winds hit a sustained 45 miles per hour, all emergency vehicles were required to return to their home base. “He did that because if you have a big ambulance or fire apparatus, the wind could easily tip it over,” she said. But the fire department, at the height of the storm and before hearing the edict, passed a house that was fully engulfed in flames. “They called in other fire companies, shut down Route 206 and fought the house fire,” Liptak said. “They saved the house and the house next door, which was no more than 10 feet away.” “The wind was blowing at such a rate, it was taking sparks westward, down a popular street where houses were close together,” she added. “The siding on the house next door wasn’t even damaged.” Liptak said they could see the sparks all over town despite the torrential downpour and winds.
“They really outdid themselves, and there isn’t enough praise I could give them,” she said. “They did an incredible job. The house has now been virtually rehabbed, and you would never know there was a fire.” Still, throughout the storm, Liptak said, everyone in the community pulled together to help each other and work together as much as possible. “The police did an outstanding job, and we had two service stations and they were pumping gas for odds and evens,” she said. “There was a side of humanity that I haven’t seen, lot of cooperation, and you knew you had to wait in line.” “People were understanding when they needed to be, patient and courteous,” she added. For future preparations, Liptak said, residents should always be sure to have a supply of water, a gallon a day for each person in the house, as well as canned food that doesn’t need to be warmed up. “Also, prescriptions should be up to date in the event you have to evacuate,” she said. Liptak said she has also vacuum sealed a lot of important papers to keep them dry. “Have flashlights, blankets, change of clothes, everything you would need for daily living activi-
ties,” she said. “And of course first aid equipment, bandaids, antiseptic, contact lens solution, glasses, like a little mini home in a container that you can put in the back of your car to be ready.” Throughout the storm, police officers were bunking in the department to be available, and restaurants and stores with power were good about supplying food for those in need. “We were spared,” Liptak said. “When I think of the number of trees that came down and none of them hit structures, that was phenomenal. We were very fortunate.”
‘We Saw Neighbors Offering to Help Clean, Provide Support for By Audrey Levine He saw destruction and chaos — but he also saw neighbors helping neighbors. Bradley Gardens Rescue Squad Chief Chris Ireland said he watched scenes of disarray from debris, downed trees and more when Superstorm Sandy hit Bridgewater. But, Ireland said, he also saw people’s need to help others. “I saw neighbors helping each other clean up, and offering each other power lines off of generators, spare room in their refrigerators and sometimes even a place to sleep for the night if their neighbors’ homes were damaged,” he said. Ireland said they did not have a lot of calls for medical help during the storm, but squad members helped staff the building to ensure ambulances could go out quickly. “We knew our response would be delayed navigating around closed roadways,” he said. Ireland said the first responders had to worry about the calls coming in, while also thinking about what
was happening at their own homes. “They gave 200 percent back to the community to make sure calls were answered,” he said. Bill Rose, of the Martinsville Fire Company, said some volunteers were home all week because their offices were closed with no power. “We were all at the fire house,” he said. “We occupied both buildings with limited electrical power for up to 10 days.” The Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Company was on stand-by for nine straight days. “Our families had no power, could not go to work, could not even leave their homes, yet every member of this department responded to well over 100 alarms in that period of time,” said Green Knoll Fire Chief James Vitale. “Fire alarms, wires down, smoke conditions, structure fires, people trapped in cars and homes. We went on mutual aid calls to other towns to assist in structure fires.” And after the storm, Vitale said,
they helped pump out basements. They did all this, Vitale said, dealing with an under-staffed department, as well as severe damage to the tower ladder, which caused it to be out of service for four months. “By no means are we complaining,” he said. “We did our job and we did it because we love what we do and it was all for the community.” Throughout the week following the storm, Ireland said, the rescue squad had several calls from residents asking how they could get medicine or power to home oxygen tanks. “They were shocked to find out that the Office of Emergency Management could not help them,” he said. “Bridgewater’s OEM office worked tirelessly throughout Sandy, but when so much widespread destruction happens, they can only do so much.” For the future, Ireland said, he hopes residents understand the importance of getting small generators for critical medical equipment, as well as to refill prescriptions before storms arrive. “I also hope families saw the need to help or even temporarily have their elder/sick loved ones move in with them,” he said. “When everything is shut down, even the rescue squads are conserving oxygen and supplies. There simply isn’t enough to go around no matter how much is stocked in advance.” Rose agreed about the importance of generators. “People found how tenuous electrical power can be in an event like
that,” he said. “We do ask that the installations be done in a proper manner with proper safeguards so that if there is a situation, we don’t get surprised by improper installations.” Unfortunately, Ireland said, he also saw residents on the road even though they were instructed to stay home. Most of the time, he said, they were driving around with cameras and staring at damage. “Although this was tempting, the extra traffic inhibits first responders from getting where they need to go quickly,” he said. “I hope in future storms, everyone heeds the meaning of a state of emergency.” In Martinsville, conditions were at their worst, particularly with all the trees around town. “There are still plenty of visible scars around in the community,” Rose said. “There was very significant property damage. There were many occasions where we had to travel 3 or 4 miles to go 1 mile because there was no direct route anymore.”
Rose said he remembers hearing the wind roaring outside, and he likened it to the sounds of a jet engine. “The area has maintained many of the bucolic vistas in town,” he said. “As a result, there were a lot of trees that came down because of the 90- to 100-mile-per-hour gusts.” “We were out and we got called to a house struck by a tree, and the woman was handicapped and we had to get her out of the house,” he added. “We were out at 10 p.m. that night, and we were cutting trees so they could get the ambulance transported, but most of the ways out of the mountain were closed.” Those scars from the damage of the storm are long-lasting, Rose said, including his own home that had a tree fall on it. And, he said, there are still homes where all the trees haven’t been cleared away. “There are still residents that haven’t gotten cleaned up and are going through reconstruction,” he said. “I heard a tale of a resident com-
November 2013
The BReeze
Page 17
One Year Later
‘Sandy Tested Everyone’ ‘Wind Sounded Like a Freight Train’ By Audrey Levine It was an experience they will remember forever — and for former Bridgewater Township Police Chief Richard Borden, Superstorm Sandy “tested everyone’s core.” “That was the most challenging I’ve had in police work,” he said. “Sandy tested everyone to the max.” One of the biggest tests came from the desperate need for gas for cars and generators. As the days passed after the storm, and gas stations without power ran out of gas, people became desperate to get what they could. “Fights were breaking out in stations on Route 22,” Borden said. “People were parked all over Route 22, and people were using milk containers [to collect gas].” Borden said they found people cutting the lines to try to get gas for their generators before the stations ran out, while others would wait on line for hours then find the pumps empty when they finally got to the front. “People were agitated after waiting hours,” he said. “If we had gone a couple more days like that, people were losing their moral fiber.” It got better when the governor instituted the odd and even requirements for days to get gas, Borden said. “We had to protect the gas deliveries that had a potential to turn into
a traumatic situation,” he said. “It was getting to be dangerous.” At the height of the storm, Borden said, it was just creepy for all those sitting inside the police department. “There was an eerie fear outside,” he said. “There were trees cracking and the hum of wind. There was a fear that night that we had never seen.” When they woke up on Tuesday, Borden said, they knew the storm was over, but the damage had just begun. “It affected basic traffic,” he said. “Trees that didn’t come down Monday came down later. It was two weeks before things started getting back to normal.” Borden said he spoke to the officers about the fact that they would be dealing with citizens living in conditions that were so unexpected with “no light at the end of the tunnel.” “I told officers we would be dealing with citizens who might never give anyone trouble now so frustrated,” he said. “They had to expect the unexpected. There was no set training, and we had to up our awareness levels.” But despite that, Borden said, people came together to help where they could. “We saw the good in humanity,” he said. “People went out of their way to help other people.”
Those With no Power’ plaining that a neighbor hadn’t cleaned up the trees yet,” he added. “But if it doesn’t hit the house, insurance doesn’t pay, and it’s a huge amount of dollars to get rid of them. Nobody has any rainy day fund for cleaning out a forest.” Some families, Rose said, are taking matters into their own hands, cutting down trees in advance of any potential storm to hopefully prevent future damage. In the aftermath of the storm, Rose said, the fire company has taken several measures to prepare for the future, including going through the steps to get a generator for Fire Station Two, despite being turned down for a FEMA grant. In addition, Rose said, following the storm, firefighters from the company spent time working on downed trees at community and county parks. “We had crews go into the parkland and clear the access trails to help us if we have a brush fire,” he said. “We got proactive and used it as a positive training event. We got guys experienced using chain saws. We saw a benefit out of training and clearing paths if we have to get to a remote area, rather than waiting for a fire to happen and then say we have to get over there.” “It is amazing when you get back in the woods to see how much is down,” he added, “and how much will stay there.” Despite the damage, Ireland said, he was impressed with how much people stepped up to help each other when needed. “Sandy just affirmed for me how
great the residents of Bridgewater are when we all pitch in to help each other get through such a stressful event,” he said.
By Audrey Levine In the days leading up to Superstorm Sandy, officials in Bridgewater began holding conference calls and meetings with county and state officials to begin to prepare for the projected big event. But when officials and emergency responders were stuck in the municipal building for days on end without power, they got a sense of how major the storm really was. “We heard trees snapping here the entire night,” said Bridgewater Mayor Dan Hayes. “We could hear what was happening over the radio. It was harrowing, but people were heroic.” Beginning Oct. 29, 2012, and for the next several days, Hayes and essential officials, as well as the emergency responders who had set up an Office of Emergency Management on the ground floor of the municipal building, were there to provide assistance where they could. The building itself lost power at around 7 p.m. Oct. 29, and it stayed out for several days. They brought in essential employees, and decided to start offering essential services to residents during certain hours to take advantage of the sunlight while they were waiting for the power to come back on. And, township administrator James Naples said, the storm didn’t entirely deliver what they were expecting. “There was heightened awareness before, and we had prepared for a flood event,” he said. “We didn’t have that. There was more wind damage and power outages.” Naples said it was incredible the sizes of trees that fell down, and the sounds as the storm hit. “It sounded like a freight train when the wind was at its height, right before the power went out,” he said. “I could see flashes of light from my office window as the transformers were blowing.” Then, Naples said, they had their own employees struggling to get to the municipal building because of the gas shortage, and so they did what they could with the resources they had. “I and the mayor stayed in the building until Wednesday,” he said. “The mayor couldn’t even get to his home because of trees that had come down.” Hayes said they spent the days fielding calls about power outages especially, and he listened in on many conference calls with the power companies to find out information about the status. “The scope of this was beyond our comprehension,” he said. The town, Naples said, is split with 20 percent of residents with JCP&L, and the remaining 80 percent with PSEG. “Trees fell in the middle of buildings and damaged power lines,” he said. An entire street in Sunset Lake was cut off because of trees that had fallen down and taken power lines with them. Residents were unable to drive off their street because of those downed wires and trees, which weren’t removed for days.
“We dropped water off there and tried to see if anyone needed anything,” Hayes said. After several days of these issues, Naples said, people just wanted things to get better. “Frustration started to build,” he said. Naples said Hayes gave daily updates from the power companies and the state of the township, but it was a difficult situation for all residents. “The hardest part for people was not getting answers,” Naples said, particularly with regard to power restoration. “We tried to break things down as best we could.” Once the worst was over, and power had begun to be restored, it was time for the cleanup to really begin.
decision to reinstate the Nixle alert system. They also learned about the importance of offering warming stations for people to charge their devices, enabling them to get the news about what was happening following the storm. “We needed the ability to get news out quickly,” Naples said. “It became key to also have the devices to know which gas stations were open.” Hayes said they learned in particular about how open government needs to be, particularly as he worked to keep residents informed every day. “We learned how resilient our residents are,” he said. “And we learned to have cots in the munici-
The township commissioned contractors to visit streets around town, one time for each street, to pick up debris that residents had left at the end of their driveways. The township also opened its seven park sites for collecting debris. “It felt beyond the scope of what individual residents could do,” Hayes said. Naples said the township used its public staff to move debris out and keep the parks open. In total, Naples said, about 100,000 cubic yards of debris were collected. “I can’t say enough good things about the team,” Hayes said. “We had to use our public service works money, and put off other things for this.” But with such a massive storm, the township learned new strategies for the future, including the
pal building.” Even more of that, Naples said, came when the state began to deal with how to handle elections while so many of the regular polling facilities were still without power. Hayes spent time before election day trying to figure out where there was power, and what buildings could be opened. “We looked at natural synergies of where districts could be combined,” Naples said. “We ended up with sites we had never used.” In total in the storm, about 50 properties in Bridgewater sustained damage at the height of it, but, fortunately, no one was injured. “On one house on Thomae, one tree took out one side of the home, and another tree took out the other side,” Naples said. “And there were stumps 20 feet high, that weighed as much as a car.”
Page 18
The BReeze
November 2013
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The BReeze
Page 19
Michael Bruce Fund Bridgewater & Raritan Home Sales Collecting Donations The Michael Bruce Fund has announced that it is beginning its 2013 fundraising drive to help those who have suffered traumatic spinal cord injuries. “This is our 25th year of the fund,” Gene Kirkwood, managing director of the fund, said in a release. “We have been fortunate over the years to receive corporate donations and other support from local towns and individuals to keep the memory of Michael Bruce alive and help those in need.”
The fund was created in 1988, and it has since donated in excess of $100,000 to various individuals around New Jersey. The fund is a 501 3C charity, and 100 percent of the donations reach victims and families. To learn how to contribute to the fund, call Kirkwood at 908526-2926. If you would like to send in a donation, please make the check payable to the Michael Bruce Fund, Inc., PO Box 585, Martinsville, NJ 08836.
New K9 Dog Named After Late Resident
The Somerset County Sheriff’s K9 Unit has named its newest bloodhound in memory of Alison Wildman, a 30-year-old Bridgewater resident who loved animals. Wildman was one of six Bridgewater residents killed on 9/11. The Alison Marie Wildman Foundation was established in 2002 in her memory, and the organization has had a special relationship with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit since then. Over the years, according to a release from the county, donations from the foundation have been used to purchase body armor and dog food, as well as pay veterinary bills and training aides. The foundation has donated about $20,000 over the past 11
years. On Oct. 15, Arthur Wildman, Alison’s father, was asked to the sheriff’s office where he was introduced to Wildman, the newest member of the K9 Unit, named after his daughter. “We are proud and honored to dedicate our new K9 member’s name in Alison’s memory,” Sheriff Frank Provenzano said in a release about the new K9. “This is a tribute not only to Alison but to her family and to the foundation that was established in her name, which has so generously supported our K9 unit for over a decade.” The K9 Unit’s human scenttracking canine, Boone, is retiring, and will be replaced by Wildman in 2014, handled by Officer Thomas Wallace.
Bridgewater 615 Stratford Place – $170,000 626 Desota Drive – $215,000 69 Marie Avenue – $210,000 391 Waterview Road – $245,000 3404 French Drive – $247,500 9 Harry Road – $263,000 96 Bonney Court – $265,000 183 Oak Street – $272,000 40 Woodlawn Avenue – $250,000 369 Pond Road – $287,000 966 Magnolia Drive – $250,000 18 King Arthurs Court – $317,000 329 Jamestown Road – $340,000 705 Porter Way W – $357,000 39 Wight Street – $365,000 1673 Valley View Road – $382,500 244 Hedgerow Road – $377,000 767 Old Farm Road – $368,000 10 Stella Drive – $395,000 1402 Palley Court – $390,000 545 Hill Lane – $380,000 1608 Washington Valley Road – $400,000 51 Stella Drive – $430,000 26 Braemar Place – $448,400 1312 Crim Road – $440,000 1159 Fairfield Road – $450,000 566 Foothill Road – $450,000 516 Spring Valley Drive – $455,000 1084 Eastbrook Road – $485,000 2252 April Drive – $500,000 1741 Arrowbrook Drive – $611,000 1010 S Shore Drive – $532,000 2026 Washington Valley Road – $550,000
33 Francis Drive – $529,000 28 Linberger Drive – $566,500 243 Candlewick Lane – $587,000 571 Cabot Hill Road – $580,000 6 Amsel Court – $566,000 16 McBride Way – $607,500 35 Kiser Lane – $600,000 10 Erin Court – $595,000 6 Muirfield Lane – $620,000 2249 April Drive – $612,500 636 Newmans Lane – $635,000 1029 Mayflower Court – $632,500 4 Beth Court – $636,500 280 White Oak Ridge Road – $717,000 921 Vosseller Avenue – $701,000 72 Bradley Lane – $729,000 7 Weaver Drive – $775,000 40 Newland Court – $885,000 45 Fuller Court – $982,500 61 Blazier Road – $1,238,000 Raritan 112 Brentwood Road – $175,000 7 Weiss Terrace –$215,000 80 Lagrange Street –$235,000 1023 Tysley Place – $310,000 857 Richard Street – $360,000 796 Lynwood Street – $405,000 1312 Richard Street – $410,000
*This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Garden State Multiple Listing Service LLC (“GSMLS”). GSMLS does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the GSMLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. **The array represents closed sales from Sept. 21 through Oct. 20.
Green Knoll Learns Hazmat
Green Knoll Rescue Squad Chief Michael Halperin, while serving as Medical Branch Director, interacts with the Emergency Department Charge Nurse.
Green Knoll Rescue Squad Chief Michael Halperin and Deputy Chief Timothy Ring recently completed training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama to be ready for mass casualty incidents. The training included participating in an Integrated Capstone Event, which worked on bringing together Emergency Medical Services, hospital leadership, emergency room staff and Haz-Mat teams, with the release of hazardous materials at two different
locations. The training incident found multiple people exposed to the materials, creating decontamination and the need for multiple ambulances for transport. The training, according to a release, allows responders to prevent, respond to and recover from real incidents involving terrorism and hazardous materials. The participants were chosen by the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and the Department of Homeland Security, to participate.
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The Somerset County Sheriff ’s Office introduced “Wildman,” the newest member of the office’s K9 Unit, during a special presentation to the Alison Marie Wildman Foundation. Pictured left to right are Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano; Officer Thomas Wallace with the 8-month-old bloodhound; Arthur Wildman; Capt. Tim Pino; and Officer Albert Bauer.
Page 20
The BReeze
November 2013
Martinsville Fire Company Holds Annual Open House It was held just before the start of Fire Prevention Week. By Audrey Levine The Martinsville Volunteer Fire Company held its annual open house in October, something it has been doing for more than 30 years. “This is for the whole community,” said Martinsville Fire Chief Bryan Bradley. The event occurred just before the start of Fire Prevention Week, when students were treated to information on fire safety and presentations by local firefighters.
The open house featured a dunk tank and the opportunity to climb into the fire safety trailer to learn how to escape from a fire. Martinsville Fire Captain Peter More said they usually get about 1,000 people at the open house. “We also use this as an opportunity to recruit in the community,” he said. “The target is someone who just moved into the township with a stake in the community.”
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November 2013
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Page 21
Local Girl Wins Spooky Sprint 5K Orthodontist Hosting Bridgewater resident Jessica Braun was the winner of the 3rd Annual Spooky Sprint 5K, completing the course through Somerville in 19 minutes and 36 seconds. More than 250 runners participated in the event Oct. 12, held by the Somerville Family YMCA, a branch of the Somerset Valley YMCA. “Saturday was a gorgeous day and everyone who came out for our benefit run had a great time,” said Sarah Nathans, executive director of the Somerville Family YMCA, in a release about the event. “We had participants in all age categories, from small children being pushed in carriages to an 84-year-old man. This is a truly a community-wide event and we are proud to host it.” The race began at the corner of East High and Grove streets, and ended with an awards ceremony along Grove Street. There were a total of 265 registered runners in the race, which is a USA Track and Field certified run. Coming in second place overall was Patrick Chopay, 25, of Hillsborough, and coming in third place was Ryan McCabe, 15, of Berkeley Heights. All the proceeds of the Spooky Sprint went to the Y’s Annual Support campaign, which makes it possible to offer reduced prices for membership, health and welness programs, summer camp and more. Sponsors of the race included Verve, Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman, Bridgewater Nissan, McLachlan Realtors, Fleischer & Fleischer Attorneys and more.
Candy Buyback Program
With Halloween having passed, Sanford Orthodontics is doing what it can to help kids avoid injury to their braces and teeth when eating all that collected candy. The doctor is paying $2 for every pound of Halloween treats surrendered to his office, according to a release. One dollar will go to the child, and the other will be donated to Smile Train charity, which pays for cleft palate surgery for children who otherwise couldn’t afford it. “When we pay orthodontic patients for their Halloween candy, we help them avoid the potential Lindsay Pearce, of Martinsville (left), and Kristen Yili, of Bridgewater, cross the finish line. Photo by Chris Kokoszka
Graziella Ruffa, 19, of Raritan, came in first in her age category, and Nicholas Seifert, 15, of Martinsville, came in third in his age category. Photo by Chris Kokoszka
Elks Take Families on Fishing Trip
The Somerville Elks Lodge #1068 recently took families of children attending the Handicapped Treatment Center, on Union Avenue in Bridgewater, on a fishing trip.
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for harming their braces,” Dr. Robert Sanford said in the release. “It’s a fun way to reward the kids for their efforts on Halloween. In addition, we help out the Smile Train.” According to the release, some candy is permissible for orthodontic patients, including plain chocolate or soft chocolate-covered peanut butter cups. Sanford, the release said, recommends that patients brush and floss after eating sugary treats. The candy will be accepted from Nov. 1 through Nov. 14 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event was held on Sept. 21, and about a dozen families were in attendance. According to Frank Higbie, with the Somerville Elks, the families were transported by bus
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The BReeze
November 2013
Raritan Men Honored for River Clean-up By Audrey Levine Raritan residents Joseph David and Steven Van Deursen were honored at a September Raritan Borough Council meeting for their recent project to clean the Raritan River. David, who became an Eagle Scout in 1990, and Van Deursen, who became an Eagle Scout in 1997, put the project together after they took their families paddling in the river. “We took the kids to get them involved and to start pointing out wildlife,” David said. “We noticed they started pointing out more tires than anything else. We thought we could do something about it.”
They ended up getting more scouts involved, as well as environmental groups and local citizens. “Before we knew it, we had more than 100 volunteers,” Van Deursen said. In a 10-mile stretch, over three events, David said, they collected 587 tires and more trash, including a refrigerator, washing machine, bicycles and an automatic transmission. “What was most exciting was to watch massive boats and kayaks coming up the river, yelling, ‘We’ve got tires!’” said Mayor JoAnn Liptak, who helped with the clean-up.
Preschool Students Learn Fire Safety — October was Fire Prevention Month. St. Bernard Pre-
school and Kindergarten had a visit from the North Branch Volunteer Fire Department to learn about Fire Safety Rules. Bridgewater Township Councilman Howard Norgalis, a firefighter with the department, spoke to the kids about fire safety.
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The Somerset County Regional Partnership — which applies for Raritan, Bridgewater and Somerville — has completed all the qualifications to be granted plan endorsement for another 10 years. According to a release from the county, the State Planning Commission has determined that the Regional Center, with the participating towns, has met all requirements to allow it to continue operating as an interlocal planning entity for the next 10 years. The submission to the State Planning Commission took two years to complete. According to the release, plan endorsement is a review process that ensures there will be coordination of state, county and municipal planning efforts to achieve all the goals and policies of the State Planning Act. With the endorsement, all the levels of
the three governments will assist in providing coordinated capital investment and planning implementation mechanisms in working together. Now that it has that approval from the state, the release said, the Regional Center can move forward with receiving financial and technical incentives to aid in accomplishing its goals. To achieve the endorsement, the release said, the Regional Center — working with Bridgewater, Raritan and Somerville — entered into a Plan Implementation Agreement with the state to help achieve planning objectives over the next 10 years. The Regional Center itself is made up of 14.2 square miles, with Bridgewater Township, Raritan Borough and Somerville Borough, and including Route 206, Route 202, Route 22, Route 28 and I-287. As a regional center, it is
tasked with achieving objectives for economic growth, encouraging development and redevelopment, making funding available for economic and community programs, assisting with redevelopment in downtown business districts, developing opportunities along mass transit corners, fostering more effective mass transportation linkages, improving pedestrian accessibility and more. Some of the initiatives the center has already worked on or completed have included two pedestrian overpasses; the Orlando Drive/Raritan Greenway Implementation Plan; a rain barrel rebate program; Grove Street overpass sidewalks; the Route 22 Sustainable Corridor Plan; Route 28 corridor improvements; and a traffic calming study. For additional information about the Regional Center, visit regionalcenterpartnership.org.
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Page 23
BRHS Class of 1963 Celebrates 50 Years Since Graduation The Bridgewater-Raritan High School Class of 1963 held its 50th reunion in the beginning of October, celebrating five decades since the students graduated. In celebrating the reunion, the former graduates took a tour of the high school, with acting superintendent Cheryl Dyer and a few current students, in addition to other activities and the big celebration on Saturday evening. Many of the former graduates noticed several changes to the school, including the change of the school colors from gold and white to black and red, and from the Golden Falcons to the Panthers. Karen Verrelli (‘63), one of the organizers of the reunion, said there really was nothing left of the school as they once knew it. But, she said, graduating from BRHS is not something to be ignored. “BRHS is a fine school, and one to be proud of,” she said.
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On Oct. 11, St. Ann Parish School in Raritan inducted 15 students into the AAA School Safety Patrol program. They were officially listed as part of the program as Safety Patrol Captain James Toolan called roll during a special ceremony. The students are joining millions of boys and girls who have been part of the program since it was started in the 1920s.
Ken Chrusz, AAA Safety Services Manager, was part of the ceremony, and reminded students that being on the safety patrol is a position of honor and leadership. In addition, he said, many presidents and astronauts have served in the program in the past. The program was open to students in grades five through seven, who went through an election process to be chosen.
For more information on leadership and service opportunities at St. Ann School, call the school office at 908-725-7787, or register your child to visit the school on “Buddy Day” on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8. During Buddy Day, current first through seventh-graders will be invited to shadow a St. Ann student for the full day to get experience as a Catholic school student.
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Page 24
The BReeze
November 2013
Martinsville Community Center Holds Annual Fall Festival By Audrey Levine The Martinsville Community Center held its annual Fall Festival in October, celebrating the center itself and the many people and businesses who support it. In addition to games for the children and lots of vendors, guests had the opportunity to take a tour of the Martinsville Community Center, on Washington Valley Road, and learn about upcoming events. Vendors and supporters at the festival included The Martinsville Florist, Gianotti Farm, Wegmans, Martinsville United
Methodist Church, Bridgewater Tree Service, Aesthetic Dental Group, The Jewelry Store at Martinsville, Camp Bow Wow of Bridgewater, Doctors Express, Foot & Ankle Care Associates, TEST Sports Clubs, Prudential New Jersey Properties and The Martinsville Studio. The event also featured harp playing by Patty Turse, a karate demonstration, Irish dancers and more. This year at the center, the downstairs meeting room and kitchen updates were completed, and the building is currently be-
Kids check out the food options at the festival.
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ing used by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for weekly meetings. The center is also allowing groups to rent it out for birthday parties, baby showers and other events. In addition, the Washington Valley Business Alliance, a subcommittee of the community center, has grown from 16 members to 68 this year. Finally, the Washington Valley Library, on the same property as the center, has established a
monthly reading program for children.
A bean bag toss was one of the featured games at the festival.
Bridgewater Township Officer John Bezak talks with guests about the role of the school resource officer.
Kids play games led by local Girl Scouts.
Booker Wins Special Senate Election Somerset County chooses Republican Steve Lonegan. By Audrey Levine Newark Mayor Cory Booker won a Senate seat in a special election held Oct. 16 to pick a replacement for late Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Lautenberg died in June, and a special election was scheduled to fill his seat in advance of the November elections. Democrat Booker was pitted against Republican Steve Lonegan, a former Bogota mayor. In Somerset County, Lonegan actually took home the most votes, though by a very small margin. Lonegan received 29,142 votes throughout the county, 50.24 percent, as compared to Booker’s 28,365 votes, 48.90 percent. Voter turnout was low in the county, with only 58,086 ballots cast out of the 213,556 registered voters in the entire county. That is a total of 27.20 percent.
In Bridgewater, 4,961 votes were cast for Lonegan, and 3,468 votes were cast for Booker. A total of 7,974 votes were cast out of the 29,748 registered voters in town. That is a turnout in the township of about 27 percent. In Raritan, a total of 506 votes were cast for Lonegan, and 343 for Booker. Only 858 of the 4,252 registered voters in the borough cast a vote in the special election. That is a turnout for Raritan of about 20 percent. With the election over, Booker will complete the 15 months remaining in Lautenberg’s term. Gov. Chris Christie had previously appointed attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa to serve in the Senate until the election could take place. With the special election over, we move on to the regular elections, scheduled for Nov. 5.
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Christie will be seeking reelection against Democrat Barbara Buono. Locally, in Bridgewater, Republican incumbents Filipe Pedroso, Allen Kurdyla and Howard Norgalis are seeking reelection. They are being challenged by Democrats George Jones, William Metz and Mary Pranzatelli. In Raritan, Republican incumbents Paul Giraldi and Andrew Sibilia are seeking reelection, and are being challenged by Democrats Jennifer Capici and Tracy Cavallaro. For the State Senate, Republican incumbent Michael Doherty is running for re-election against Democratic challenger Ben Auletta. In the New Jersey Assembly, Republican incumbents Erik Peterson and John DiMaio are running against Democrats John Valentine and Ralph Drake.
4-H Holding Berry Program The Ted Blum 4-H Center, on Milltown Road, will be hosting a program to explore the benefits of New Jersey berries. The program, led by Family and Community Health Sciences, will be held Nov. 6 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The program will include a demonstration and tasting of a variety of beverages, baked goods and fruity accompaniments to meals. Participants will also receive a booklet of berry recipes. Registration is $10 per person, and includes the recipe booklet. For more information or to register, call 908-526-6295.
November 2013
The BReeze
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Raritan Library Celebrates Fall The Raritan Public Library celebrated its annual Fall Festival on Oct. 5. Children and adults had the opportunity to participate in a funfilled day of activities, including pumpkin painting, building your own scarecrow, making candied apples and creating fall and Halloween cards. Live music, craft tables and refreshments added to the special harvest event. (L-R) James Irwin, Olivia Salem and Mariana Salem make candied Lobster tails apples. earsSsfogiatelli Juan Miguel Rodriguez-Pena, KatherineElephant Rodriguez-Pena and Eclairs Alejandro Pena show off their scarecrow. Open 7 Days! d Chocolate horn Old Worl M-Th: 7-7, Fri: 7-8 p o Bake Sh Sat & Sun: 8-8 Pasticalli & Espresso Bar Cream puffs Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with traditional Razberry bars pies, Strufoli, gingerbread houses and more! Napoleons French horns Cheese Danish Baba St, Joseph Fruit Danish 64 W. Somerset St., Raritan & 31 Reaville Ave., Flemington 908.253.0177 Tiramusu Genovese Crossiants
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Robert Benitez and Chelsea Benitez pose with scarecrows.
(L-R) Michelle Quispe, Katherine Rodriguez-Pena (mother), Alejandro Pena and Juan Miguel Rodriguez-Pena paint pumpkins.
Garden Club Holding Annual Holiday Season Tree Sale The Bridgewater Garden Club is hosting its annual Boxwood Tree Sale for the holiday season. Every year, Bridgewater Garden Club members fashion about 80 trees decorated in red, gold and silver balls, in addition to hemlock pinecones and red ribbon. This is done in early December. From there, the trees will be on sale at the Bridgewa-
ter Township Library, on Vogt Drive, from Dec. 5 through Dec. 7. The trees cost $30, but there are a limited number because of the time-consuming nature of creating them. From Nov. 26 through Dec. 4, there will be a pre-sale order list available at the library’s information desk. Sale dates will be Dec. 5 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 7 from
9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or until the supply of trees runs out. Proceeds from the sale are being directed toward the garden club’s charitable donations, including workshops and seasonal decorating at the Cancer Support Community in Pluckemin, as well as the achievement award given to a graduating senior from the Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School’s horticulture program.
Grant Given for Chimney Rock Road Safety Improvements Among a number of grants given to Somerset County for road improvements is one that will fix areas on Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater. According to a release from the county, there will be a series of upgrades made to reduce wetwater crashes along the winding stretch of Chimney Rock Road,
from Thompson Avenue to Gilbride Road. The improvements to be made will include skid-resistant surface treatment, high-visibility pavement markings and centerline rumble strips. The project will cost $311,000, and is being funded through the state’s Local Safety
Program. The grant money for this project (and two others in Bedminster and North Plainfield) are being funded through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. In total, the county will receive $4,275,000 for the three projects.
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The BReeze
November 2013
Obituaries Bridgewater — Brian Fabiano, Sr., 54, died Oct. 12. Fabiano was senior vice president of network services for Cablevision Lightpath, Inc., for the past 12 years, and was senior manager operations director at AT&T before that. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Branchburg Funeral Home. Fabiano is survived by his wife, Denise Manley Fabiano; his children, Brian Fabiano, Jr. and his wife Katie, of Monroe, Gina Fabiano, of California, Lisa Fabiano and Nicholas Fabiano; his grandson, Dominc Fabiano; his mother, Marilynn Ford Fabiano, of Bridgewater; his brothers, Scott Fabiano and his wife, Susan, of Branchburg, and Jeffrey Fabiano and his wife Ella, of Bound Brook; his sisters, Mary Lisa Fabiano, of Bound Brook, and JoAnne Fabiano, of Bridgewater; nieces and nephews; and his three labs, Maggie, Molly and Ginger. Bridgewater — Lester Joseph Szymoniak, 70, died on Oct. 13. He was a truck driver for General Plumbing Supply in Edison for 30 years. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Somerville Funeral Home. Szymoniak is survived by his wife, Olga Bahamundi Szymoniak; his children, Vincent J. Szymoniak, Yvonne Garcia, Denise Wilson and her fiancé David Ham, Lester M. Szymoniak, Jeffrey M. Szymoniak and Raymond Orta; brother, Raymond Szymoniak; sister, Theresa; and 10 grandchildren. Bridgewater — Laudelina Perez Solsona, died in October. Solsona
came to the United States in 1961, after leaving her native Cuba. She was a social worker for the City of New York for more than 23 years. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Solsona is survived by her children, Pablo Oscar, Elena and Lina; sons-in-law, Arnold and Joseph; daughter-in-law, Cristina; and grandchildren, Oscar, Sara, Christine, Alex and Leah. Bridgewater — Ottavia Recchia, 98, died on Sept. 29. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bongiovi Funeral Home. Recchia is survived by her daughter, Elisa Importico; brother, Fausto Recchia; two sisters, Luisa Flis and Anna Murray; and sister-in-law, Ann Recchia. Bridgewater — Robert “Bob” C. Mazur, 60, died on Sept. 29. Mazur was a manager of logistics at the Airborne Labs International in Somerset. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bongiovi Funeral Home. Mazur is survived by his wife, LauraAnn Giordano Mazur; his children, Christopher Robert Mazur and his fiancée Beth Anne, of Virginia, and Danielle Mazur and her boyfriend Michael Capezio, of Flemington; brother, Hank Mazur Jr.; sister, Debbie Caracuzzo, of Florida; granddaughter, Jocelyn; in-laws, Joseph P. Giordano; brothers-in-law, Andrew Giordano and Mark Giordano; sisterin-law, Jennifer Giordano; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and dogs, Misty and Bandito.
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Raritan — Mary Sawidzial, 91, died on Oct. 4. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bongiovi Funeral Home. Sawidzial is survived by her children, Joseph Sawidzial, of South Carolina, and Deborah Sawidzial, of Raritan; brother, Ferrucio Perantoni, of Bridgewater; and two grandchildren, Dominic and Nadia. Raritan — Alfred E. Lattrell “Skip”, 71, died on Sept. 25. He was a machinist for Crestline in Raritan. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bongiovi Funeral Home. Lattrell is survived by his wife, Margaret M. Gray Lattrell; his children, Tim Lattrell, of Georgia, Michael Lattrell, of West Virginia, and Michele Rawles, of Hillsborough; three sisters, Janice Cooley, of North Carolina, Loretta Rose, of North Carolina, and Jill Wood, of New York; five grandchildren, Kevin, Heather, Colton, Coty and Erin; two great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law, Maureen, Julie, Ann and Joanne Lattrell; and many nieces, nephews, greatnieces and great-nephews. Raritan — Carmela Gentile, 88, died on Sept. 28. Gentile was a housekeeper at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bongiovi Funeral Home. Gentile is survived by her children, Filippo “Phil” Gentile, of Raritan, and Michelle Goss, of California; five grandchildren, Jennifer Jaynes, Stephen Goss, Jason Goss, Philip Gentile and Nine Gentile; six great-grandchildren, Ricky, Alyssa, Brody, Delaney, Savannah and Stephen Lorenzo; and three sisters-in-law, Felicella, Gina and Letizzia. Branchburg — Anthony J. Papavero, Sr., 70, died on Sept. 25. Papavero, a licensed funeral director for 51 years, was co-owner of the Branchburg Funeral Home with his sons, Anthony Jr. and Jason. They co-founded it 20 years ago, and, prior to that, Papavero was the co-owner and operator of Bongiovi Funeral Home in Raritan for 30 years with his former wife, Anna Louise Bongiovi. Fu-
neral arrangements were handled by the Branchburg Funeral Home. Papavero is survived by his wife, Carmen Alvarez Scovino Papavero; his sons, Anthony J. Papavero, Jr., of Raritan, and Jason C. Papavero and his wife Sandy, of Neshanic Station; his step-sons, Andres Gonzalez and Juan Pablo Gonzalez, both of Branchburg; his grandchildren, Karli, Alexis, Sydney, Serena, Elli, Nicholas and Luke; his sisters, Minna Imperato, of New York, and Autilla Lassandro, of New York; his sister-inlaw, MaryAnn Papavero, of New York; his mother-in-law, Maria Isela Scovino, of Colombia; nieces, nephews and cousins; and friends. Somerville — Patty Webster died on Sept. 13. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Somerville Funeral Home. Hillsborough — Elizabeth Ann Visco, 48, died on Oct. 9. Visco worked as a bookkeeper for Ridge Pools in Branchburg for the past five years, and, before that, was the office manager for the Gladstone Design Engineering Firm. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Branchburg Funeral Home. Visco is survived by her husband, Michael Visco; her son, Ronnie Miller, of Flemington; her daughter, Samantha Visco, of Hillsborough; her mother, Diane Kenyon, of Ohio; her brother, Mark Kazlauskas, of Ohio; her fatherin-law, Joseph Visco, of Somerville; her sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Visco, of Georgia, and Lorraine Brong and her husband Douglas, of Branchburg; her brother-in-law, Scott Visco, of Mantoloking; nieces and nephews; and friends. Whitehouse Station — Gary J. Giacomini, 62, died on Oct. 15 after a long illness. Giacomini served in the US Airforce from 1974 to 1976, and then worked as the finance manager for Flemington Car and Truck Country. He was also the former owner of Nino’s Pizza in Flemington. Giacomini
Whitehouse Station — Brett J. Hughes, 39, died on Oct. 6. Hughes was a maintenance mechanic for various golf courses in the area for eight years, and worked for Storr Tractor in Branchburg before that. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Branchburg Funeral Home. Hughes is survived by his parents, Daniel and Carmel DePrimo Hughes; his brothers, Daniel Hughes, Jr., of Whitehouse Station, Chris Hughes and his companion Renee, of Whitehouse Station, Mark Hughes, of Whitehouse Station, Stephen Hughes and his wife Lauren, of River Edge, and Kirk Hughes, of South Dakota; his sister, Tara Molchan and her husband Tom, of Pennsylvania; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Bound Brook — Theresa DePaolo, 85, died on Sept. 24. DePaolo worked part time as an accountant in her father’s business, “Berkeley Bakery and Delicatessen” in Berkeley Heights. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. DePaolo is survived by her sons, Gregory J. DePaolo, of Oak Ridge, and Louis V. DePaolo Jr., of Maryland; sister, Carmella Barton; grandchildren, Kimberley, Kelly, Lisa and Danielle; and great-grandchildren, Kayla and Caleb. Bound Brook — Clara Vadimsky, 98, died on Oct. 6. Vadimsky was a machine operator for Bristol Meyers Pharmaceutical in North Brunswick for more than 30 years.
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Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Giacomini is survived by his wife, Lynn Giacomini; son, Michael Giacomini and his wife, Kim; daughter, Brigette Sheldon and her husband Charles; brothers, Kenneth Giacomini and his wife Amy, and Thomas Giacomini and his wife Carolyn; sister and brother-in-law, Gayle and Sam Campanella; two grandchildren, Maggie and Gary; six nephews, Michael, Sam, Sal and Matthew Campanella, and Brian and Tim Giacomini; and many cousins and friends.
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November 2013
The BReeze
Page 27
Obituaries Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Vadimsky is survived by her siblings, George Vadimsky, of Bound Brook, Kathleen Tomasko, of Manville, and Helen Savran, of Bridgewater. Bound Brook — Charles J. Mielnicki, 84, died on Oct. 20. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948 on the Battleship USS Wisconsin, then served in the Bound Brook Police Department for 30 years. Funeral Mielnicki arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Mielnicki is survived by his wife, Sophie Mielnicki; sons, Anthony and his wife Ginny, of Howell, and Michael, of Bound Brook; grandchildren, Alexandra, Taylor and Anthony; sisters, Helen Chudy, of Allentown, Dorothy Peltack, of Somerville, and Irene Romano, of South Bound Brook; as well as many nieces and nephews. South Bound Brook — Thomas L. Black, 68, died on Oct. 3. Black worked for the NJ Department of Transportation “Right of Way Division” as a supervisor, retiring in 2008. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Black is survived by his wife, Adele Black, of Clinton; son, Thomas H. Black and his wife Susan, of New York; daughters, Linda A. Tronolone and her husband Robert, of Clinton, and Laura L. Lumbatis and her husband Ryan, of Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Janine, Brittany, Kelly, Samantha, Jaclyn, James and Lillian; siblings, Robert Black, of New York, Peter Black, of New York, Eloise Watson, of New York, Susan Duval, of New York, Joan Willadsen, of New York, Louis Black, of New York, Jean Guidera, of New York, and Matthew Black, of Florida; godson, Chris Trautman; and nieces, nephews and godchildren. Neshanic Station — Thomas A. Reynolds, 73, died on Oct. 22 He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era. Reynolds worked for Lucent Technologies for 32 years, retiring in 1999. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Branchburg Funeral Home. Reynolds is survived by his former wife of 32 years, Carol Lynn Callahan Snyder, of Florida; his former wife of seven years, Linda Canulette, of Clinton; his four daughters, Piper Abbot and her husband
Douglas, of Pennsylvania, Jennifer Reynolds and her husband Mike Schwenderman, of Phillipsburg, Elizabeth Reynolds, of North Carolina and Emily Weninger and her husband Ryan, of Texas; his sons, Andrew Reynolds and his wife Debbie, of Milford, Dan Reynolds and his wife Beth, of North Carolina, Benjamin Reynolds, of New York, Michael Reynolds and his wife Regan, of Florida, and David Reynolds and his wife Jamie, of Kingwood; his grandchildren, Josh, Ryna and Jake Abbott, Terri, Shane and Brent Reynolds, Danny, Amanda, Christopher, Jack and Abigail Reynolds, Callahan Reynolds, Evan, Colin and Hayden Reynolds, Cole and Matthew Warner, David and Nicholas Reynolds, and Reese and Chase Weninger; his four great-grandchildren; his brothers, Robert Reynolds, of Florida, and James Reynolds and his wife Kathy, of California; and his sister, Carol Rudolph, of Florida. Bernardsville — Margaret B. Krasnansky, 89, died on Oct. 10. She worked for the VA Hospital in Lyons for 35 years. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Krasnansky is survived by a sister-inlaw, Lillian Krasnansky; nephews, Robert, Mark, David, Brian and Keith; and niece, Jean Thompson. Manville — Lawrence B. Sena, 66, died on Oct. 4. Sena worked as an electrician for IBEW Local 102-262 since 1974, retiring in 2006. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Sena is survived by his wife, Linda; children, Lindsay Sena, of Manville, and fiancé Anthony Valvano, of Hillsborough, and Lawrence Sena, of Manville; brothers, Ralph Sena and his wife Barbara, of Delaware, Anthony Sena and his wife Trudy, of Florida, and James Sena and his fiancée Nancy Krug, of Bridgewater. Somerset — Louis Phillips Jr., 69, died on Sept. 18. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bongiovi Funeral Home. Phillips is survived by his children, Robert James and Patricia Irene Phillips; his brother, Barry Phillips; and his cat, Fat Boy Phillips. Readington — Marie DePoe, 63, died on Sept. 27. DePoe owned J.H. Trucking in Hillsborough. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. DePoe is survived by her mother, Anna Pizzo, of Bound Brook; daughters, Dawn Marie Santos and her husband Rey, of Middlesex, Stephanie Diez and her fiancé Paul J. PePass, of Bound
Brook; brother, Joseph Pizzo, of Bound Brook; and grandson, Rey Joseph Santos. Edison — Ila Patel, 55, died on Sept. 20. Funeral arrangements were handled by the India Funeral Service. Edison — Ramanbala H. Shah, 74, died on Sept. 21. Funeral arrangements were handled by the India Funeral Service. Morganville — Raj Handoo, 76, died on Sept. 22. Funeral arrangements were handled by the India Funeral Service. Flagtown — Kenneth Stys, Sr., 71, died on Sept. 24. He was an electrician with Local 262 & 102 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for more than 30 years. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bridgewater Funeral Home. Stys is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Stys; his daughter, Tracy Elizabeth Stys-Eaton, of Raritan; his sons, Kenneth Stys, Jr. and Timothy Stys, both of Hillsborough, and their wives Tracy Ann Stys and Patricia Stys; his brother, Donald Stys, of California; his grandchildren, Jim Stys, Natalie Stys, Kevin Stys, Randy Stys and Miranda Eaton; brother and sister in-laws; nieces; nephews; friends; and coworkers. Stockton — Raymond Swiatecki, 91, died on Sept. 20. He was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corp. during World War II. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Branchburg Funeral Home. Swiatecki is survived by his son, Robert Swiatecki and his wife Rose, of Stockton; four grandchildren; and three sisters. Manahawkin — Marie E. Pharis, 78, died on Sept. 23. She was a librarian assistant at Stony Brook Elementary School in North Plainfield for 26 years, retiring in 2002. She was also a member of the New Jersey Education Association. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Branchburg Funeral Home. Pharis is survived by her daughters, Donna Pennica, of Bridgewater, Susan LaFemina and her husband Ciro, of Readington, Valerie Bocchino and her husband Albert, of Bethlehem Township, Carol Bieda and her husband John, of Bridgewater; her son, Steven Pharis, and his wife, Jodi, of Florida; her grandchildren, Jackie Pennica, Gregory and Kevin LaFemina, Kelly and Michael Bocchino, Scott and Mark Bieda, and Liane and Steven Pharis; her great-grandson, Bryson Chandler;
her sister, Georgene Strait and her husband Ross, of Florida; nieces and nephews; and her border collie, Penny. Avenel — Adarsh Passi, 72, died on Oct. 13. Funeral arrangements were handled by the India Funeral Service. Flanders — Manguben Desai, 87, died on Oct. 19. Funeral arrangements were handled by the India Funeral Service. Tinton Falls — Thomas J. Musante, 96, died on Oct. 4. He owned Village Hardware in Irvington for more than 10 years, and started Necessa Products Company in Newark. He also invented and patented several home use products. Musante was also a decorated veteran of the First Division of the U.S. Army, achieving the
rank of Master Sgt., and winning the Bronze Star for meritorious service during World War II, including participation in the Africa campaign, the Sicily invasion, the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach at Normandy and other campaigns to defeat the German Army in France, Belgium and Germany. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Bongiovi Funeral Home. Musante is survived by his daughters, Rosemary Douglas, of Pennsylvania, and Jacqueline Hewlett, of Bridgewater; sisters, Marie Boucher, of Florida, Beatrice Cochran, of Connecticut, and Inez Saucier, of Connecticut; brother, Raymond Musante, of Connecticut; sister-in-law, Gladys Musante, of Connecticut; grandchildren, Carmie Uglow, David Uglow and Nicole Hewlett; and great-grandchildren, Vincent Uglow and Michael Hewlett.
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Page 28
The BReeze
Classified Ads Contracting: F.D. Mason Contractor. Over 30 years of experience. Brick, block, stone, concrete. No job too large or small. Fully insured and licensed. Free estimates. 908-385-5701. Repair Screens Bridgewater/ Somerset Area: Pickup & Delivery, or bring your screens to me. Call Fred for prices: 908580-0341 or 908-247-1994. House Cleaning: Ania’s House Cleaning, since 1991. Regular service and custom maid. Flexible schedule. Good references. Satisfaction guaranteed. 908-240-0646. Handyman: Call the handyman many of your neighbors, local businesses and realtors count on for their repairs. Senior Discounts! Sig’s Handiworks – 16 years serving this area. Call 908-231-0492. NJ Lic. 13VH05489400. Lucky You Consignment Shop: New fabulous finds of ladies/girls clothes, accessories and home decor. Designers include Michael Kors, Ann Taylor, Coach, Chicos, Vera Bradley and more. 19 Main St., High Bridge; 908-617-5033; www. luckyyou.comcastbiz.net. Music: French Horn Instruction: Juilliard-trained French hornist with many years’ experience performing and teaching. Bridgewater. 917.886.4934. tedpet5@yahoo.com. Music Lessons: First Lesson $10. Learn Guitar, Bass Guitar, Harmonica and/or Keyboard.
Lessons in my Branchburg home. Degreed with years of teaching and performance experience. Call 908-231-0492. Piano Instruction: All ages and styles. Degreed; B.A., M.M., 25 yrs experience. Call 908-704-8620. Real Estate: Home or Estate Property? Call me for a complimentary market analysis. I buy homes for cash! George Pantozzi, Broker/Associate, Prudential NJ Properties, 908392-2677 or 908-874-3400 x324, georgepantozzi@hotmail.com. Mattresses: Pay less to sleep better. Mattresses – Local. Liquidation prices on national manufacturers’ mattress sets. Queen pillow top sets from $150. Call 908-962-0061. Major & Minor Auto Repairs: Electronic & Computer Diagnostics. Reasonable prices & prompt service. Credit cards accepted. Appt. not always necessary. Call Al at 908-5268590, Economy Automotive Services, 18-C Raritan Ave., Raritan. Science Tutor: Tutor in Chemistry/Physics/Algebra One or Standard Science tests for college. anitar.haley@att.net. Craft Bazaar: Huge Holiday Garage/Craft Sale in Hillsborough! Nov 23 & 24, 8-4PM. Details available online www. holidaygaragesale.com. Don’t miss this for great Christmas gifts & stocking stuffers! 908698-4804.
Small reminder from The BReeze: Don’t forget to vote, Nov. 5!
November 2013
Ballroom Dance Offered Locally The Bridgewater Senior Center is offering free ballroom dancing lessons at the facility on Somerville Road, led by Bice DiFelice. Lessons are held on Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lessons are specifically geared toward adults, ages 55 and older.
Lessons will include Waltz, Cha Cha, Fox Trot, Swing, Rumba, Meringue, Tango, Salsa, Hustle and more. Individuals and couples are welcome. For reservations, call 732-356-0214. DiFelice has more than 20
years of experience in dance, and has competed in shows in Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Florida, Copacabana and more. Bice has also performed showcases with Frank Collins at the Touch Dancing Studio in Warren.
Dentist Offers Tips on Health Care Act Editor’s Note: The following was submitted to The BReeze by a local business to discuss the Affordable Care Act. All information contained was gathered specifically by the writer of the piece. I spent some time researching and making calls this month to find out how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) might effect dental care. So far, dental care for adults will not be part of the plan, or mandated. So the best advice is
to carry on with keeping your present dental insurance plan. There will, however, be a mandate for plans within the exchanges to have Essential Health Benefits for children — this involves a separate dental plan for children (possibly up to age 19, depending on your state). At this time, it is unclear which insurance companies will participate in the exchanges, but this will be announced shortly. If you already carry dental
insurance for your children on your present policy, we would advise you to keep these unchanged. If you do not have dental insurance for your children, it will be available through the exchange, but again, the plans are not defined at this time. Future updates to follow! Yours in good dental health, Dr. John DeStefano and Dr. Teresa Raziano Raziano & DeStefano, D.M.D Raritan, New Jersey
County Holding Winter Clothing Drive The Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women is holding its fourth annual “Project Warm Your Heart” to collect winter items for children in need. Donations for the drive will be collected through Dec. 6. The commission is collecting items that include new or gently used coats, mittens, gloves, scarves and hats for children. The items collected will benefit children of families served
Vendors
Crafters are wanted for an upcoming vendor fair being held by the Church of St. Joseph in Raritan. The Church of St. Joseph’s Annual Holly-Day Boutique will be held Dec. 7 in Raritan. For more information about the fair, email hollydayelves@ gmail.com, or call the church office at 908-725-0163.
SANTA’S ARRIVAL, TREE LIGHTING, HOLIDAY CAROLERS, CARRIAGE RIDES, & MORE!
by the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. This is a follow-up to the recent collection of school supplies that was held over the summer by the commission. Donations can be dropped off at the Somerset County Freeholders Office on the third floor of the county administration building on Grove Street in Somerville. The building will be open during the week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for Nov. 5, Nov. 11, Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. Those dropping off items can park for free in the adjacent Bernie Field Parking Deck off East High Street.
“Once again, we had a huge response to the school supples collection,” said freeholder Mark Caliguire, the liaison to the commission, in a release about the collection. “Project Warm Your Heart is another opportunity for residents, organizations and businesses to show their generosity to Somerset County children in need.” The co-chairs of the donation project are commission members Elizabeth Savage, Jane O’Donnell and Felecia Nace. For more information on the program, contact them at jod9302@aol.com.
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November 2013
The BReeze
Page 29
BRHS Marching Band Continues to Wow the Crowd
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water-Raritan High School Panther Marching Band earned two more first place victories at the recent US Bands Yamaha Cup at Giants Stadium and US Bands Pequannock High School competitions. In the former competition, held Oct. 5, the band earned first place, as well as all captions awards in the Group 6 Open Division. Those included Best Music, Best Visual, Best Effect, Best Guard and Best Percussion. The band earned an overall score of 80.538, the highest score of any of the bands in the division.
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Monday Band Takes Second Place in States — The BRHS Panther
Marching Band competed with 55 other schools in the US Bands NJ State Championship on Oct. 19 at Rutgers Stadium. Following rain delays, the band was finally called onto the field after midnight to perform for the championship. The band scored an 86.588, qualifying for second place in the Group 6 Open, which is the highest level of competition. This was the band’s best score for the season, with a 6-point improvement over its first place finish in the Yamaha Cup at Giants Stadium. The band has worked hard all season to enhance the difficulty level of the performance and steadily improve competitive rankings. The band traveled to Towson, Maryland Oct. 26 to compete with 28 other schools in the Bands of America Regional Championship.
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Page 30
The BReeze
Cross Country Team Going Strong
By Audrey Levine The Bridgewater-Raritan High School cross country teams recently competed in the SCIAA Championships in Basking Ridge. The teams, both boys and girls, have been competing against other local teams throughout the county. Check out photos of the teams in action!
November 2013
Varsity Sports Schedule Football
11/1 — Home Game against Westfield, 6 p.m. (Homecoming) 11/8 — Home Game against Linden, 7 p.m.
Boys/Girls Cross Country
11/9 — Away Match, Warinanco Park, Westfield, 10 a.m. (State Sectionals)
Girls Cheerleading
11/13 — Away Match, Ridge High School, 6 p.m. (Skyland Championship) 11/20 — Away Match, Montgomery High School, 6 p.m. (SCIAA Championships) All matches are scheduled to change, particularly as championships begin for all sports. Check brrsd.k12.nj.us for updates.
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Wednesday, November 20 7 – 8pm Paradise Biryani Pointe For more information contact: Banquet Hall Loring, CYKT, RYT 182 Orlando Drive Little.Young.Tall.Yogis@gmail.com Raritan, NJ 08869 908-334-7286
Pop Warner Holds Annual Pink Out — On Oct. 6, during
Bridgewater-Raritan Pop Warner’s home game, the team held its annual Pink Out event in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. All of the football players wore pink shoe laces and pink accessories. The cheerleaders also got involved, and wore pink laces and pink bows in their hair. All fans were encouraged to also wear pink on this day. Free hand towels were handed out (special thanks to the Cullen family) to help support the organization and Breast Cancer Awareness. This year, the Jr. Pee Wee cheerleaders worked for weeks to create pink Rainbow Loom bracelets to sell during the game. A large portion of the proceeds from the sales of these bracelets and shoelaces were donated to breast cancer research. The girls’ hard work paid off, and they had a very successful day. This is a special day in the Pop Warner family. The teams look forward to this day as a way to show their support for all those affected by breast cancer.
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November 2013
The BReeze
Page 31
Football Team Embraces ‘Pink Out’ in October Game
By Audrey Levine The Bridgewater-Raritan High School football team commemorated Breast Cancer Awareness Month in a mid-October game against Phillipsburg with pink additions to their usual uniforms. The cheerleaders got in on the celebration, wearing “Fight for the Cure” shirts over their own uniforms. Though the football team lost, 16-7, the night was about raising funds, and the cheerleaders collected money to be donated for breast cancer research.
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Page 32
The BReeze
November 2013
Marching Band Seniors Honored During Football Game Students were honored during the annual senior night. By Audrey Levine The senior members of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School marching band were honored during an October football game when they held their annual Senior Night. After their performance of their show based around songs
from “Les Miserables,” seniors were honored individually with their families. Each had a chance to be recognized in the middle of the field during halftime. The band has been on a roll this year, winning first place trophies and other awards at their recent competitions.
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For more photos from the marching band’s senior night, see page 29.