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A short history of the Pleasant Valley Vigilant Association
edited By Joe emanSKi
By cHarlie Hunt The 1884 handbook states: “The Pleasant Valley Vigilant Association was organized Feb. 3, 1872, at the Pleasant Valley School House.” The first set of minutes located at this point Senior Jude Berman is a key weapon for Hopewell Valley football, excelling at kick returner and defender. in time is dated Feb. 6, 1874. The purpose of the Pleasant At right: playing against Montgomery, Aug. 29, 2025. (Photos by Mike Schwartz/mssphoto.com.) Valley Vigilant Association was stated in the Feb. 1, 1884 constitution and by-laws as follows: “Its objects shall be the protection of its property, and the detection, pursuit, apprehension, arrest and prosecution of thieves, tramps, marauders and other depredators on persons HoVal’s 2-1 start. He had a pick- two. and property, and recovery of By ricH FiSHer six on opening night against stolen goods.” To say it plainly, he’s a Through the season’s first Montgomery, returned two weapon. But a modest one. The Pleasant Valley Vigilant Association is the only vigilant three games, Jude Berman did kickoffs for touchdowns and “I can thank my coaches and association left in New Jersey. not lead Hopewell Valley Central caught three TD passes from teammates,” Berman said. “I get Most of them ceased to exist High’s football team in receiv- Grayson Vlasac. put into positions just to make The senior receiver/corner- plays and my teammates help, decades ago. The “detection, ing, rushing or tackles. But he was definitely in the back did lead the ‘Dogs in two so that’s the only reason.” pursuit, apprehension and prosecution of thieves, etc.” was running for the team’s Most categories — kickoff return There’s a little more to it than Welcome Capital Health. Player. yardage, with 344 yards in eight that. taken over by stateto and local Valuable See BERMAN, Page 26 See VIGILANT, Page 24 Berman did it all through returns, and interceptions with When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
Humble Berman helps get the how far would job done for Bulldogs’ football you go if they were sick?
The one contested municipal election in Hopewell Valley is in Hopewell Township, where Democrats Courtney PetersManning and David Chait are running for re-election against Republican challengers Steve Niederer and Ed “Jack” Jackowski. Peters-Manning and Chait are currently serving as mayor and deputy mayor, respectively. The Hopewell Express sent surveys to all four candidates. Their bios and responses to our questions are below. They have been lightly edited for clarity. David Chait, 40, has lived in Hopewell Township for six years. He is founder and CEO of Travefy, a software company with three offices across the U.S., including one in Hopewell Township. He and wife Amanda have two daughters, Julia (10) and Sally (7), who are fi fth and second graders at Bear Tavern Elementary School. He was first See TOWNSHIP, Page 18
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