Issuu

THE BRIDGEWATER BULLETIN

Stay informed, stay engaged.

FromMayorMoench:

AswecelebrateIndependenceDayandcontinueournation's250thanniversary,I've beenremindedthathistoryismorethandatesinatextbookornamescarvedinto monumentsItisthestoryofordinarypeoplewhoinvestedtheirtime,talents,and hopesintotheplacetheycalledhome

Throughout the past several weeks, the TownshiphasbeensharingourBridgewater250 series on social media, highlighting moments, places, and people from our community's remarkable past From the Middlebrook Encampment and the Hopkinson Flag to our farms, neighborhoods, businesses, and civic traditions, these stories remind us that Bridgewater's history has always been part of America'sstory.

OneofthegreatestprivilegesofservingasyourMayorisseeingthatspiritcontinue today Whether it is a volunteer planting trees, a first responder answering a call, a family attending a community event, or a local business opening its doors, each generationaddsanotherchaptertoBridgewater'sstory.Thehistorywecelebratedid not simply happen it was built by neighbors who cared enough to leave our communityalittlebetterthantheyfoundit.

AswelooktowardAmerica'snext250years,Ihopewewillcontinuetopreservewhat makes Bridgewater special while embracing the opportunities ahead Our greatest legacywillnotbemeasuredonlybytheroadswepaveorthebuildingsweconstruct, butbythestrengthofthecommunityweleaveforthosewhocomeafterus.

On behalf of the Township Council and all of us here at Town Hall, I wish you and your family a safe, joyful, and meaningfulIndependenceDay Thankyouforhelpingwrite thenextchapterinthestoryofBridgewaterTownship

Township Calendar

Never Miss a Meeting

BridgewaterTownshiplivestreams Council,PlanningBoard,andBoardof Adjustment(ZoningBoard)meetings onourYouTubechannel.

Simplyclick"Notifyme"onany upcominglivestreamandYouTubewill remindyouwhenthemeetingbegins. Stayinformed. Stayconnected.

Bridgewater Celebrates Flag Day with Hopkinson Flag

Bridgewater Township commemorated Flag Day and America's 250th anniversary withaspecialceremonycelebratingtheraisingofthehistoricHopkinsonFlagoutside theMunicipalBuilding

Theceremony,spearheadedbyCouncilmanMichaelKirsh,recognizedthesignificance of one of America's earliest flag designs, attributed to New Jersey native Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the committeethathelpedshapetheGreatSealoftheUnitedStates

Joined by Council President Joan Geiger, Council Vice President Andrew Bucko, CouncilmanTimRing,Townshipofficials,andresidents,attendeesreflectedonthe enduring ideals represented by the American flag and the generations of Americans whohavecarriedthoseprinciplesforward

TheceremonyservedasoneofBridgewater'ssignatureeventshonoringthenation's 250thbirthday,celebratingboththeTownship'srichRevolutionaryWarheritageand thevaluesthatcontinuetounitethecommunitytoday

Bridgewater Raises Commemorative America 250 Flag

BridgewaterTownshipmarkedanimportantmilestoneinthenation's250thanniversary celebrationwiththeceremonialraisingofanewcommemorativeAmerica250flagduringa specialportionoftheJune25TownshipCouncilmeeting

TheprojectbeganwithanideafromCouncilmanMichaelKirsh,whoenvisionedcreatinga uniqueTownshipflagtocommemorateAmerica'sSemiquincentennialwhilereflecting Bridgewater'sownplaceinthenation'sstoryBuildingonthatconcept,theflagwasdesigned bytheTownship'sDirectorofPublicInformationtoincorporatepatrioticimageryalongside Bridgewater'sidentity,creatingasymbolthathonorsboththecommunityandthecountry's enduringideals

TheflagwasraisedoutsidetheMunicipalBuildingfollowingbriefremarksreflectingonthe meaningoftheanniversaryandwhattheflagrepresents

Speakingduringtheceremony,DirectorofPublicInformationSuzanneMaedernotedthat thenation'sfoundingideals"don’tliveinbigwhitebuildingsinWashingtonDC-theylive hereInourhearts,inourtown,inourcommunity,inourneighborliness,inourfriendliness, inourabilitytoworkthroughdisagreementsandendthemwithhandshakes”

TheceremonyemphasizedthatAmerica'sstoryhasalwaysbeenwrittennotonlybythe actionsofnationalleaders,butalsobygenerationsoflocalcommunitiesandordinary citizenswhohavesoughttoliveouttheprinciplesofliberty,responsibility,community, service,andself-government.

AsBridgewaterjoinscommunitiesacrossthecountryincelebratingAmerica's250th birthday,thecommemorativeflagwillserveasareminderthatthenation'sfoundingideals continuetofindexpressionrighthereathome,whereeachgenerationisentrustedwith preservingandstrengtheningthemforthosewhofollow.

Historic Hopkinson Flag Raised at Middlebrook Encampment

OnthemorningofJuly4,membersoftheWashingtonCampGround AssociationcontinuedacherishedIndependenceDaytraditionwiththe ceremonialraisingofthehistoricHopkinsonFlagattheMiddlebrook Encampment,whereGeneralGeorgeWashingtonandtheContinental ArmyweretwiceencampedduringtheRevolutionaryWar Theannual ceremonyhasbeenheldformorethan130yearsandincludesthechanging oftheHopkinsonFlag,patrioticmusic,andthereadingoftheDeclarationof Independence.

RepresentingBridgewaterTownshipatthisyear'scelebrationwereCouncil President Joan Geiger, Council Vice President Andrew Bucko, and CouncilmanMichaelKirshTheirattendanceunderscoredtheTownship's continuedcommitmenttopreservingandcelebratingBridgewater'sunique placeinournation'sfoundingstory

TheHopkinsonFlag,attributedtoNewJerseypatriotFrancisHopkinson,is recognizedasoneofAmerica'searliestofficialflagdesigns Raisedatthe historicMiddlebrookEncampment,itservesasapowerfulreminderof Bridgewater'senduringconnectiontothebirthoftheUnitedStatesandthe idealsoflibertythatcontinuetoinspiregenerationstoday.

Property Tax Bill Update

BridgewaterTownshipiscurrentlyawaitingcertificationofthe2026taxratefromSomersetCounty Taxbillscannotbepreparedor maileduntilthecertifiedrateisreceived,whichtypicallyoccursinmidtolateJuly.

Once the tax rate has been certified, the Township will promptlyprepareandmailpropertytaxbillstoallproperty owners Atthattime,theTaxCollectorwillalsoestablishthe paymentgraceperiod,whichisexpectedtobeextendedto provideresidentswithadequatetimetomaketheirpayment

The Township appreciates residents' patience and will provideanupdateassoonastaxbillshavebeenmailed

https://www.bridgewaternj.gov/departments/tax

Congratulations Bobcats!

CongratulationstoourBridgewaterUnitedSoccerClub(BUSC)2012Girls Bobcatsonanoutstandingseason,cappedoffwithachampionshipvictoryat thisyear'sSunburstTournament!Theteamalsoearnedfirstplaceintheir leagueflight,atestamenttotheirhardwork,determination,andteamwork throughouttheseason Theirsuccessreflectsthededicationoftheplayers, coaches,andfamilieswhohavesupportedthemeverystepoftheway.

WealsowanttorecognizetheBUSC2013GirlsChallengersonanincredibleseasonoftheirown,finishingfirstintheirleagueflight CongratulationstobothteamsforrepresentingBridgewaterwithskill,sportsmanship,andprideWeareproudofyouraccomplishmentsandwish youcontinuedsuccessintheseasonsahead!

Bridgewater 250: Then. Now. Next.

AsournationcontinuesthecelebrationofAmerica's250thbirthday,BridgewaterTownshiphasbeen honoredtotakepartbyreflectingonourownuniqueplaceintheAmericanstory.

Overthepastseveralweeks,our"Bridgewater250:ThenNowNext"socialmediaseriesexploredthe people,places,andmomentsthathaveshapedourcommunity fromthehillsoftheMiddlebrook Encampment,whereGeneralGeorgeWashington'sarmyfoundstrengthandsecurityduringthe RevolutionaryWar,tothehistoricVanVeghtenHouse,theOldYorkRoad,theRaritanRiver,our agriculturalroots,andthegenerationsofvolunteersandcivicleaderswhohavehelpedbuildtheTownship weknowtoday.

Eachstoryservedasareminderthathistoryismorethandatesinatextbookornamesonamonument Historyistheaccumulationofcountlessindividualactsofservice,perseverance,innovation,and neighborliness.Itiswrittennotonlybyfamousfigures,butbyordinarypeoplewhochoosetoinvestintheir communitiesandleavethembetterthantheyfoundthem.

Bridgewater'shistoryisinseparablefromAmerica'shistory.LongbeforeourTownshipwasincorporatedi 1798,thislandwitnessedpivotalmomentsinthefightforindependence.Soldiersmarchedtheseroad Farmerscultivatedthesefields.Familiesbuilthomes,churches,schools,andbusinessesthatlaidth foundationforgenerationstocome.

Aswecommemoratedournation'ssemiquincentennial,theseriesencouragedusnotonlytolookbackwit gratitude,butalsotolookaheadwithpurpose.Everygenerationinheritsacommunityshapedbythosewh camebefore,andeverygenerationhastheopportunity andtheresponsibility toshapewhatcomesnext Today,Bridgewatercontinuesthattradition Throughourneighborhoods,parks,businesses,schools housesofworship,volunteerorganizations,firstresponders,andcivicinstitutions,residentscontinu strengthenthefabricofourcommunityeverydayThestoryofBridgewaterisstillbeingwritten,and ofusplaysapartinitsnextchapter

AswecelebrateAmerica'sfirst250years,weareremindedthatthevaluesthatbuiltournation ser perseverance,stewardship,andacommitmenttothecommongood remainjustasimportanttoda honoringourpast,caringforourpresent,andinvestinginourfuture,weensurethatBridgewater's willcontinuetoinspiregenerationstocome

Thankyoutoeveryonewhofollowed,shared,andcontributedtothe"Bridgewater250:ThenNowN seriesWehopeitservedasbothacelebrationofoursharedheritageandareminderthatthehistoryof Bridgewaterisnotonlysomethingwepreserve itissomethingwecontinuetocreatetogether

RegistrationisnowopenforFallInTownSoccer forplayersingradesK–8.Ifyouareinterested pleasebesuretoregisterbeforethedeadlineof 9:00a.m.onAugust3 at https://bwtintownsoccer.leagueapps.com/.

Residentscanexpectregistrationtoopenforour otherFall&Winterprogramsduringthefirst weekofAugust,keepaneyeonyouremails!

Pleasebeadvisedthatallofficialcommunicationsfrom BridgewaterTownshiparesentfromemailaddresses endingin@bridgewaternj.gov.Ifyoureceiveamessage claimingtobefromtheTownshipthatoriginatesfroma differentdomain,itshouldbetreatedwithcautionand maybeascam Weencourageresidentstoverifythe sender’saddressbeforeresponding,avoidclickingon suspiciouslinks,andreportquestionableemailstothe Townshipifneeded.Yourvigilancehelpsprotectboth yourpersonalinformationandourcommunity.