February 2016
www.branchburgnews.com
Last Year’s Mayor Sums Up 2015 Editor’s note: The incoming speech by 2016 Mayor Bob Petrelli appears in a special township section on page 9.
At the Township Reorganization meeting on Jan. 5, John Sanford, Branchburg Mayor for 2015, looked back at the year just passed. Affordable Housing – This year the committee has made progress in formulating a sensible affordable housing plan, that meets, not exceeds community needs. In early December we had a special meeting and over 200 residents attended. It was one of the largest meetings I believe we’ve ever had here. The affordable housing issue is the most significant challenge facing Branchburg, and I’d like to mention that Branchburg was I believe the only municipality in the state to conduct such a meeting.
Reorganization night photos at the Municipal Building, Jan. 5: Above, new Mayor Bob Petrelli with Sharon Brienza, Municipal Clerk. Center top: Senator Kip Bateman with Township Committee member Anna Columbus and her son. Center bottom: former Township Committee member Patti Rees, Township Committee member John Sanford and Sharon Brienza. Top right: Deputy Mayor Tom Young with daughter. Bottom right: Volunteers for various boards and commissions are sworn in by Sharon Brienza.
A Golf Story for February: Play 26 Championship Courses Right Here in Branchburg The Neshanic Valley Golf Course Learning Center now has a High Definition Golf™ simulator that combines high resolution digital images, satellite data, and geophysical data into 3D models of golf courses. The models look real and are completely accurate everywhere on the course with every tree, bunker and hazard reproduced exactly. Additionally, the simulator provides comprehensive and precise shot analysis including ball speed, club speed, launch angle, club face angle, ball spin and spin axis at high accuracy. Among the courses available at the Learning Center are: Pebble Beach®, St, Andrews®, Pinehurst®, Kiawah Island®, Spyglass®, Doral®, Harbourtown®, Troon North®, Bethpage Black®, and Banff Springs®. The simulator is available for indoor play year-round Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Golfers are asked to wear casual attire and no spikes.
Heavy Truck Traffic – The township at its last meeting this past year adopted an ordinance putting a weight limit on Old York Rd., Whiton Rd. and Holland Brook Rd. In the next few weeks we should be getting final approval from the Department of Transportation (DOT). Branchburg has also had the cooperation of Readington Twp. Continued on page 8
Play any of 26 championship golf courses indoors at the Neshanic Valley Golf Course Learning Center, 2301 South Branch Road. – photo from hdgolf.com
Fee is $50 per hour weekdays and $60 per hour weekends. Fees are computed based on the number of hours booked divided by the number of players. For information and reserva-
tions, call the Learning Center at 908-369-8232. For information on all Park Commission programs and activities, visit www.somersetcountyparks.org.
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