Bridgewater Bulletin September 2025 by OCR Bridgewater

September 2025 THE BRIDGEWATER BULLETIN

Stay informed, stay engaged.

FromMayorMoench:

AsweturnthepagetoSeptember,Iwanttotakeamomenttowishallofour students,families,teachers,andstaffasuccessfulstarttothenewschoolyearThisis alwaysanexcitingseasonofnewbeginnings,andIknowBridgewater’sschoolswill onceagainreflectthehardworkandspiritofourcommunity.

This month’s Bulletin shines a spotlightonsomeoftheextraordinary things happening across Bridgewater At our August Council meeting, we recognized Detective Tyran Barnett, Detective Michael Macchia, and Mr. Michael Fratesi for their courageous water rescue during July’s severe flooding an inspiring example of serviceandselflessness

WealsocelebratedNationalSeniorCitizenDaywitha“ThroughtheDecades”event attheSeniorCenter,honoringthewisdomandcontributionsofourolderresidents, whileofferingaspecialthank-youtoRonandJanetAlmquistformorethan20years ofTaiChiinstructionandvolunteerservice.

And at the Somerset County 4-H Fair, Bridgewater was proud to be represented both through our historical alliance and by the young men and women of 4-H, whoseenergyanddedicationkeepthistraditionstrong.

Finally, I encourage you to look ahead to events like our annual September 11 Remembrance Ceremony, Family Fun Day with the JCC, our Fall Bulky Trash Days,andthePawsandSoles5KinOctober,whichsupportstheSomersetRegional Animal Shelter. Opportunities like this remind us how important the past, the present,andthefuturearetothevitalityofourdailylifehereinBridgewater. th

Thank you for being such an engaged and vibrant community.Iwishyouallasafeandhappystarttothe school year, and I look forward to seeing you at our upcomingeventsthisfall

Township Calendar

Mayor Honors Three Heroes for Water Rescue

AttheAugust21stTownshipCouncilmeeting,MayorMatthewMoenchpresentedtheMayor’sAwardforExceptionalPublicService tothreeindividualswhoseactionsexemplifiedbravery,selflessness,anddedicationtoourcommunity.

Thehonorees DetectiveTyranBarnettandDetectiveMichaelMacchiaoftheBridgewaterPoliceDepartment,alongwithMr.Michael FratesiofNorthEastConstruction wererecognizedfortheirextraordinaryresponseduringtheseverefloodingonthenightofJuly14th

Thatevening,asheavyrainquicklyoverwhelmedroadwaysacrossBridgewater,avehiclebecametrappedinrisingfloodwaterswiththree individualsinside.Despitethehazardousconditions,DetectivesBarnettandMacchia,togetherwithMr.Fratesi,acteddecisively.Risking theirownsafety,theyenteredthefloodzoneandworkedtogethertocarryoutadangerouswaterrescue.Theireffortsultimatelysaved lives,preventingwhatcouldhavebeenatragicoutcome

In presenting the awards, Mayor Moench commended the honoreesfortheircourageandquickthinking.“Thesemen placedthemselvesinharm’swaytoprotectothersTheirbravery reflectsthehighestidealsofpublicservice,andweareproudto recognizethemfortheirheroicactions,”theMayorsaid

The ceremony was attended by family members of each honoree, who joined in celebrating their loved ones ’ welldeservedrecognition.Photosoftheceremony,aswellasavideo theTownshipproducedhighlightingthemens’heroicactions, areavailableontheTownshipsocialmediachannels.

BridgewaterextendsitsgratitudetoDetectiveBarnett,Detective Macchia, and Mr Fratesi for embodying the very best of courage,professionalism,andcommunityspirit.

FriendsofSomersetRegionalAnimalShelter(FOSRAS),alocalnonprofit,isproudtohostthePawsandSoles:Saving LiveswithStrides5KRun/WalkandKiddieDashonSaturday,October5thatDukeIslandPark.

Proceeds from the event will directly support animals at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter (SRAS) who require extraordinaryandcostlymedicalcare.Thankstocommunitysupport,lastyear’sraceraised$24,000 fundsthathelped placenearly1,000animalsintolovingforever-homes ThesedonationsalsomadeitpossibleforSRAStorehome11dogs abandonedinBranchburgandtowelcomedogsdisplacedbythedestructionoftheHopeforPawsshelterearlierthisyear.

The USATF-sanctioned 5K Run/Walk begins at 9:15 a.m., followingaflatandscenictrailthroughDukeIslandPark Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome on the course. For younger participants,thisyear’seventbringsbackthepopularKiddieDashes oneforages4andunderandanotherforages5–7.Eachchild willreceivearacet-shirtandafinisher’sprize

Thedaywillbefilledwithfunforthewholefamily,includingfoodtrucks,vendors,facepainting,andmore Presenting sponsorsROBELNorthAmericaandRedBankVeterinaryHospital–Hillsborougharehelpingmaketheeventpossible.

Pre-registrationclosesOctober4th,buton-siteregistrationwillalsobeavailable. ➡ Registertoday:runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Bridgewater/FOSRAS �� Forsponsorshipandvendoropportunities,contactheartandsole5knj@gmail.com

Last Friday, the Bridgewater Senior Center came alive with music, dancing, and memories as members gathered to celebrate NationalSeniorCitizenDay.Theannualevent,themed“ThroughtheDecades:We’veSeenItAll!”,honoredthelives,legacies, andwisdomofourolderresidents.

The celebration featured lively performances, singing, storytelling, and a chance for members to reminisce about the past while dressed in their favorite decade attire Attendees played a spirited trivia game, shared photosfromtheiryoungeryears,andrecordedwordsof wisdom to be included in Bridgewater’s 100-year time capsule,whichwillbesealedonJuly4 ,2026.th

SpecialrecognitionwasgiventoRonandJanetAlmquist,amarriedcouplewhohavevolunteeredformorethan20yearsteaching TaiChiattheSeniorCenter.Astheynowstepbacktofocusontheirhealth,theTownshipofferedheartfeltthanksfortheir invaluablecontributionstotheadultcommunityandwishedthemahappy“retirement”fromtheirvolunteerservice

The event was made possible by the dedication of Senior Citizen Program Coordinator Jennifer Osterberg, Senior Center staff member Judy Cosentino, and a hardworking team of volunteers who decorated, prepared food, and ensured the day’s success Councilman MichaelKirshalsojoinedthecelebration, offering remarks and his continued supportforBridgewater’sseniors.

NationalSeniorCitizenDay,establishedbypresidentialproclamationin1988byPresidentRonaldReagan,servesasareminder tohonorthecontributionsofolderadultstosociety.Bridgewater’scelebrationcapturedthatspiritperfectly,unitinggenerations ingratitude,joy,andcommunitypride.

As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026,theBridgewaterHistoricalAlliancebroughthistoryto lifeatthisyear’sSomersetCounty4-HFair

The Alliance’s booth, sponsored by Bridgewater Township, featured several member organizations: the Friends of Bridgewater History (FoBH), Washington Campground Association (WCGA), Heritage Trail Association, and the Camp Middlebrook Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Township officials and volunteers including Mayor Matthew Moench, Michael Pappas,JaneGandolfe,andChristineRose greetedvisitors andsharedinformationaboutupcominginitiatives.

Hundredsoffairgoersstoppedbytolearnmoreaboutlocal history and the exciting events planned for America’s Semiquincentennial.BesuretomarkyourcalendarsforJuly 4 ,2026,whentheWCGAwillhostitsannualpublicreading of the Declaration of Independence at the Middlebrook Campground,followedbytheclosingofBridgewater’sLegacy 2026timecapsuleattheMunicipalComplex th

Additionalprogramsandactivitieswilltakeplaceleadingup tothecelebration.Tostayuptodate,visitthewebsitesofthe participatingorganizations.

MayorMatthewMoenchwashonoredtocuttheribbonatthe 2025 4-H Fair at North Branch Park, marking the official openingofthisbelovedannualtradition.Thefairhaslongbeen anintegralpartofBridgewater’scommunityidentity,andits continued success stands as a testament to the enthusiasm, dedication,andhardworkofthemany4-Hmemberswho makeitpossible.

Duringhisvisit,MayorMoenchtouredtheexhibitswiththe NJ4-HAgricultureAmbassadors,whowarmlywelcomedhim andofferedagraciousreception Heenjoyedseeingthewide varietyofexhibits,animals,andactivitiesthatdrewfamiliesand visitorsfromacrossthecounty.

Bridgewaterthanksallofthemen,women,andyoungpeople who contributed their time and effort to ensure another successfulyearfortheSomersetCounty4-HFair.

SummerhasflownbyanditisalmosttimeforallofourFallprogramsto begin!YoucanfindinformationandregistrationforTennis,Basketball, Volleyball,andmoreonthe“CurrentPrograms”pageofourwebsite, brdleagueappscom/camps

FREENON-CONTACTRUGBYCLINIC

BridgewaterRecreationisofferingachanceforboysingrades9–12totry rugbyforfree!Therewillbeafreenon-contactrugbyclinicforboysingrades 9-12runbysomeofthecoachesfromour2025NewJerseyStateChampion teamcoachesonSeptember13th.Thisnon-contactclinicwillfocusonthe fundamentalsofthegame.Rugbyisagamewhereallplayersonthefieldhave theopportunitytorun,kick,pass,andscore.Interested?Pleasegoto brd.leagueapps.com/campsformoredetailsandregistration.