October 2025
THE BRIDGEWATER BULLETIN
AttheSeptember30SpecialPlanningBoardmeeting,wetookamajorstepforward byadoptingBridgewater’supdated2025MasterPlanThisdocument,yearsinthe making,representscountlesshoursofprofessionalanalysis,publicinput,and thoughtfuldiscussion.
Itisnotjustareflectionofwhereour Township stands today it is a forward-looking blueprint that will help guide how Bridgewater grows andadaptsintheyearsahead,always with the goal of protecting the characterofourneighborhoodswhile planningresponsiblyforthefuture
SomuchhashappenedinSeptember,andIamproudtosaythatBridgewaterisalive with spirit and tenacity As we move into October, we look forward to more opportunities to come together as a community. On October 18, volunteers will gather for a cleanup at Thomae Park, a chance for residents to lend a hand in preservingoneofBridgewater’sgreatneighborhoodspaces.
And later this month, our annual Township Halloween event returns a communityfavoritethatbringstogetherthetalentsofourRecreationDepartment andthededicationoftheBridgewaterPoliceDepartmenttocreateasafe,fun,and festiveeveningforfamilies.
Fallleafbagsareavailableforpick-upatboththeDepartmentofPublicWorksat 411ChimneyRockRoadorattheMunicipalBuilding It’salwaysanexcitingtime whenthecolorsbegintochangeandtheairfeelsalittlecrisperinthemornings
Ihopetoseemanyofyouattheseevents,andIthankyou forcontinuingtoplayaroleinshapingandstrengthening ourBridgewatercommunity.
Township Calendar
Saturday,October18,2025 9:00AM-11:00AM
Bridgewater Comes Together: Community Spirit in Action
BridgewaterTownshiphasbeenalivewitheventsthatshowcasetheheart,generosity,andresilienceofourcommunity. ThisOctober,theBridgewater-RaritanHighSchool cheerleadersralliedbehindBreastCancerAwareness Month,proudlydecoratingthecourtyardwithpink ribbons:spreadingamessageofhopeandsolidarity.
At the same time, residents joined together for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, where Mayor Moench, Councilman Allen Kurdyla and CouncilmanHowardKirshwalkedalongsidefamilies andadvocates,helpingtoraiseawarenessandsupport researchforacure
Thespiritofcommunityalsoshonethroughatthegrandopeningof AuroraEyeCare,atestamenttothethrivingbusinesscorridorinthe heartofBridgewater.
MayorMatthewMoenchjoinedtheBridgewaterPoliceDepartment atEmmy’sLemonadeStand,alocaleffortraisingfundsforAlex’s LemonadeStandFoundationforChildhoodCancer.
From raising funds for childhood cancer research to walking in solidarity for Alzheimer’s awareness, these gatherings highlight the compassion and energy that defineBridgewater.
Eacheventnotonlyraisedcriticalsupportforimportantcauses, butalsostrengthenedthebondsbetweenneighbors,localleaders, andorganizationswholoveourcommunity.
Spotlight: Mike Mannion – Bridgewater’s Community Recovery Champion
AttheheartofBridgewater’seffortstosupportthosestrugglingwithsubstanceuseisMikeMannion,ourCommunityRecovery Champion(CRC)throughCommunityinConnection.Hisjourneyisoneofperseverance,compassion,andservice turning personaltrialsintoamissiontohelpotherswalkthepathofrecovery.
ALifeRoadWorn ButaNewPathChosen
Mike’sstoryisnotaneasyone.Hebeganusingdrugsatayoungage,andby16,hewas alreadynavigatingarrests,expulsionfromschool,andthepainfulcyclesofaddictionand relapse Despite moving away from Bridgewater for years to New Brunswick, North Brunswick,andelsewhere healwayscarriedwithhimtheweightofhisexperiences.
Byage30,afterhisfifthtimeinrehab,Mikecametoaturningpoint:herealizedcontinuing this pattern was unsustainable He returned to Bridgewater and connected with Ken MusgroveatCIC(CommunityinConnection).RecognizingMike’slivedexperience,CIC hiredhimspecificallytoserveastheCRC aroleuniquelysuitedtosomeonewhohas knownfirsthandthedepthsanddifficultiesofaddictionrecovery
WhyMikeMatterstoBridgewater
Whatisa“CommunityRecoveryChampion”?
AsCRC,Mikeisbothalivingexampleandanactiveadvocatefor recovery.Hisroleisbuiltonthephilosophythatrecoveryisnot only possible it is probable when someone with lived experiencewalksbesideyou Heunderstandsthe“desiretodoit, even though you know it will wreck your life” and that empathyundergirdsallhiswork.
Mike’spresenceasCRCfillsacriticalrole:thebridgebetween institutionalsupport(government,nonprofits,lawenforcement)and peopleincrisisorrecovery.Hebringshumanityandcredibilityto conversationsaboutaddiction,rehabilitation,andsecondchances Becausehe’sbeenthere,hisvoiceisonemanylistento.
BridgewaterisfortunatetohavesomeonelikeMikeleadingtherecovery spaceinourcommunitysomeonewhodoesn’tjustadvocatefromafar, butwhowalksthepathalongsideothers
E-Bike Safety and the Law in NJ
Electricbicycles(e-bikes)havequicklybecomeafamiliarsightinBridgewaterandacrossNewJersey They’reafun,efficient,and environmentallyfriendlywaytogetaround butaswithanyformoftransportation,safetyandresponsibilityarekey.
How New Jersey Classifies E-Bikes
Statelawplacese-bikesintothreecategories:
Class1:Pedal-assistonly,withamaximum speedof20mph.
Class2:Canoperatewithpedalassistor throttle,upto20mph
Class3:Fastermodelsthatcanreachupto28 mph.Theserequireadriver’slicense, registration,andaminimumageof15.
Class1and2e-bikesaretreatedjustlikeregular bicyclesunderthelaw nolicense,registration, or insurance is required However, all riders underage17mustwearahelmet
It’simportanttonote:e-bikesarenotpermittedonsidewalks Theymustbeusedintheroadwayordesignatedbikelanes Andany devicethatdoesn’tfallundertheClass1–3 suchasunauthorizeddirtbikesormotorizedscooters isprohibitedonpublicroads
Safety Matters
E-bikestravelfasterthantraditionalbicycles,whichmeansriders anddriversalikeneedtostayalert.Someofthemostcommon risksinclude:
Speed:Lessreactiontimeforridersandmotorists
Visibility: Drivers may misjudge an e-bike’s speed at intersections.
Protective Gear: Helmets greatly reduce the chance of seriousinjury,yettoomanyridersgowithout
What Police Are Seeing
Bridgewater Police officers have observed some recurring problems:
Ridersusingsidewalks,endangeringpedestrians Underageriderswithouthelmets.
Ignoringstopsignsandtrafficsignals.
Multipleridersonasinglee-bike. Excessivespeedorunauthorizedvehicles
Educationandwarningswillremainthefirststep,buttheBridgewaterPoliceDepartmentwillbegintoissuesummonseswhen violationsarerepeatedorcreatedangeroussituations.
Remember:
Keepingourroadssafeisasharedresponsibility:
For Riders: Wear a helmet, obey traffic laws, use lights at night, and ride predictably.
ForMotorists:Givee-bikesplentyofspace,stayalert,andyieldwhenrequired When riders and drivers work together, e-bikes can remain a safe, enjoyable, and sustainablepartofourcommunity’stransportationmix
DIDSOMEONESAYFREECLINIC???
WeareofferingafreeRugbyCliniconOctober11 forboysingrades 9–12,whichisbeingrunbysomeofthecoachesfromour2025NJ StateChampionshipwinningteam.Youcanfindmoredetailsaswell asregistrationontheCurrentProgramspageofourwebsite, https://brdleagueappscom/camps th Allplayersmustberegisteredinadvance.
SERVINGUPSOMEADULTVOLLEYBALL
TherearealimitednumberofspotsavailableinourThursdaynight AdultVolleyballprogramTheprogrambeginsonOctober9 and pre-registrationismandatory.Interestedplayerscanfindmore informationathttps://brdleagueappscom/camps
Department Updates Taxes
Police
CongratulationstoLieutenantPatrickKnappandSergeant JohnathanHanontheirwell-deservedpromotions!
OctoberisFirePreventionMonth!
DevelopanEscapePlan:Planandpracticeanescaperoute withyourfamily.
HaveFireExtinguishers:Keepfireextinguishersoneach levelofyourhome,especiallyinthekitchenandgarage,and ensureeveryoneknowshowtousethem
EducateOthers:Usethismonthasanopportunitytodiscuss firesafetywithfamily,coworkers,andthecommunity
Fire Safety Department Updates
CheckEquipment:Haveprofessionalinspectionsforfire extinguishersandfiresafetysystemstoensuretheyare properlymaintainedandreadyforuse.
Bridgewater Municipal Complex 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
908-725-6300 extension 5888
OCR@bridgewaternj.gov
Department Head Directory
TownshipAdministratorMichaelPappas twpadmin@bridgewaternj.gov908.725.6300x5000
DeputyTownshipAdministratorScottStephens sstephens@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5001
TownshipClerkGraceNjuguna gnjuguna@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5025
TaxAssessorAnthonyDiRado taxassessor@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5125
TaxCollectorBlancaLyons taxcollector@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5143
DirectorofMunicipalServicesThomasGenova tgenova@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5515
ConstructionOfficialJohnTillotson bwtcode@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5565
mayor@bridgewaternj.gov
PublicWorksandSewerUtilitySuperintendent RichardShimp publicworks@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x6000
DirectorofHealth&HumanServices
ChristineMadrid cmadrid@bridgewaternj.gov908.725.6300x5045
RecreationSuperintendentRachelBarrett recreation@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5300
SeniorServicesCoordinatorJenniferOsterberg seniors@bridgewaternjgov9087258020
CourtAdministratorJenniPeterson jpeterson@bridgewaternjgov9087256300x5404
PoliceChiefJohnMitzak jmitzak@bridgewaterpdcom9087256300x4034
VotingBeginsinOctober!
EARLYVOTING:
is scheduled for Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, November2 from10:00a.m.to8:00p.m.MondaythroughSaturdayand 10:00a.m.to6:00p.m.onSunday
November4thisElectionDay.
RegistrationDeadlinesfortheGeneralElection: RegistertoVote:October14,2025
ApplybyMailforaMail-InBallot:October28,2025
ApplyinPersonforaMail-InBallot:November3,2025,by 3:00PM
hnorgalis@bridgewaternj.gov
fpedroso@bridgewaternj.gov
tring@bridgewaternj.gov
mkirsh@bridgewaternj.gov
akurdyla@bridgewaternj.gov
