Branchburg News - November 2022

General Election Nov. 8

Branchburg Township will elect two Township Committee members and four Board of Education mem bers in the Nov. 8 General Election.

On the ballot for Township Com mittee are Republican incumbents Thomas L. Young and David S. Ow ens and Libertarians Tara Murphy and Jason MacDuffie. No Demo crats filed to run.

The five Board of Education can didates running for four seats (3 for three-year terms and 1 for a one-year unexpired term) are incumbent Ola jompo Moloye-Olabisi and Charles Tuma, who has previously served on the board, running for the unexpired term, and Puja Desai, David M. Du gan and Bindu Shah running for the three-year terms. (See related article on page 10.)

Other contests are for U.S. House of Representatives with Republican Thomas H. Kean Jr. opposing in

Roche

cumbent Democrat Tom Malinows ki. For Sheriff, Democrat incumbent Darrin Russo is opposed by Republi can John Sheridan. For County Clerk are incumbent Democrat Steve Peter versus Republican Suzanne Maeder. Board of County Commissioners candidates are Republican Amber Murad and incumbent Democrat Melonie Marano.

A public question on the bal lot asks “Should the Township of Branchburg expend public funds to acquire land within the Route 22/28 corridor for the purpose of prevent ing large commercial warehouse/ distribution type facility develop ment in favor of development more beneficial to the community and its residents?”

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. For voter in formation, contact 908-231-7013 or countyclerk@co.somerset.nj.us.

Former Resident Remembers Branchburg in the 1950s - Part 1

today. Route 202 was one lane in each direction, and instead of the traffic light at the corner of Old York Road and Route 202 there was only a stop sign. The speed limit posted on the sign across from the school stated ‘Cars 50, Trucks 40.’ ”

Look for Part 2 of Mike’s Memoir next month.

feet and grow its workforce by several hundred well-paying

Mike Slaktowicz Jr. may live in Bridgewater now, but his heart belongs to Branchburg where he grew up in the 1950s. This is Part 1 of a memoir he has written to share with Branchburg residents.

“Growing up in Branchburg in the 50s brings back nothing but wonderful memories. My mom, Kay, and her sister, Mazie, moved here from Maryland in 1934. Mazie and her husband Charles Stanley opened Stanley’s Motel and sold Flying A gasoline on the corner of Route 202 and River Road. My mom attended gram mar school in the old adminis tration building on Cedar Grove Road (torn down years ago.)

In 1949 Old York School was built and I attended my first day of school in September 1953. It was a beautiful school with a large audi torium and a spacious playground. It housed students from kinder garten through 8th grade. The teachers were fabulous and the principal, Mr. Saylor, was a very caring person.

When there was an event con

sidered important for the students, each student carried his or her chair into the auditorium. One such event was to hear President Eisenhower’s State of the Union address. Another time we gath ered to hear about the trip to Germany taken by Eugene Holland and his family.

The area surrounding Old York School looked very different from

Branchburg Mayor James Schworn, Somerset County Commissioner Sara Sooy, NJ Governor Phil Murphy and Somerset County Commissioner Deputy Director Melonie Marano attended the groundbreaking for the Roche Molecu lar Systems manufacturing facility expansion in Branchburg last month. The Roche facility, a Route 202 staple for more than 30 years, is the company’s flag ship facility in New Jersey and largest diagnostics operations center in the U.S. The expansion will increase its PCR testing facility by approximately 185,000

Stanley’s Cabins & Motel in the heart of Branchburg Township

Mike Slaktowicz Jr. holds a photo of Stanley’s Cabins & Motel owned by his Aunt Mazie and her husband Charles Stanley, built in 1934 on the corner of River Road (now North Branch River Road) and Route 202.

Events

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The Branchburg News is mailed monthly, free-of-charge to every mailing address in Branchburg Township. Free copies are also available for distribution in places of business, schools, and municipal offices.

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Free Concert Nov. 4 The Friends of the Library are sponsoring a free concert featur ing Marianne Laufer, classical pianist, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bridgewater Library, 1 Vogt Dr., Bridgewater. She will per form works by Beethoven, Robert Schumann and Isaac Albeniz. All are welcome.

Yoga Open House Nov. 5 Yoga Central, a small, welcom ing studio located at 953 Rt. 202 N., is opening its doors for a free afternoon of wellness and health ful practices from noon to 4 p.m. This free event will feature Foot Reflexology, Reiki Healing, Sound Healing, Qi Healing, Chair Yoga, and Yoga on the Mat. No registration necessary.

Native American Heritage Event Nov. 5

The Downtown Somerville Alli ance will host a Native American Heritage celebration on Division

Street from noon to 3 p.m. The event is free to the public and will feature Young Blood Drum, Na tive American Cultural Dances, and authentic regalia.

Tack Sale Nov. 6 Mane Stream, a nonprofit organi zation which offers adaptive rid ing lessons and therapy services to people with physical, develop mental, emotional and medical challenges, is hosting a huge Tack Sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 83 Old Turnpike Road in Oldwick. All proceeds from the sale will benefit Mane Stream’s horses and therapy programs.

Pop-Up Book Sale Nov. 11-13

The Friends of the Library are sponsoring a sale of donated pa perbacks, children’s books, holi day books, and media Nov. 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Nov. 13 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at Bridgewater Library, 1 Vogt Dr., Bridgewater.

Coffee with the Mayor Nov. 12

Meet informally with Mayor James Schworn 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the courtroom at the Municipal Building.

Quilting Guild Nov. 18

Hunterdon County Quilting Guild will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Read ington Reformed Church, 124 Readington Rd. Sue Hurley will discuss ”Ruler Quilting.” New members welcome. Visit https:// hcquiltingguild.wixsite.com// hcquiltingguild for a schedule of meetings and events or email hunterdoncountyquiltingguild@ gmail.com.

Historic Open House Nov. 20

The historic Andrew Ten Eyck House on Old York Road will be open for tours from 1 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month, if the flag is flying. Stop by to experience one of Branchburg’s treasures.

Leaf Pick Up

Branchburg Township’s Leaf Pick Up will run through Dec. 9. The schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather. There will be a minimum of two (2) pickups in your area. Rake leaves to the curb area. Do not rake them into the road, drainage ditch or within 10’ of a catch basin. Leaves can be taken to the Dumpster Fa cility by residents on normal days of operation. As an alternative solution to disposing of your yard waste, consider composting or mulching.

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Township Tree Program

By Deputy Mayor Dave Owens

As you probably know, many of our local deciduous trees, mainly of the Ash species, have been decimated over the past few years by invasive bugs and other infections. Many of these trees are part of the beautiful views that line our roads.

Recognizing the issue, and in a de sire to maintain the streetscapes we all enjoy, the Branchburg Township Committee has begun to develop a streetscape tree replacement program.

Using funds collected from com mercial developers, the township has

placed money in a “tree fund” which can be used only for tree replacement/ replenishment. Through this program, these funds will be used to purchase native deciduous trees which will be planted along the roadway on private residential properties. We would be looking to plant mature trees that are above 6 feet tall.

The plan would be for residents to register with the township and choose which type and how many (2 maximum) trees a resident would like planted on their property. The Town ship would go out to bid this winter

for the amount and type of trees re quired (based upon resident input).

The goal would be for planting to occur in the spring of 2023. The win ning bidder would be paid to acquire and plant the tree(s) on the resident’s property. Because the Township is only acting to pay for the purchase

and installation of the trees, not the actual planting and maintenance, resi dents would have to agree to waive any liability against the township for the planted trees and to accept owner ship and maintenance of the tree once it is planted. Available trees would be: Willow Oak, Sugar Maple, Littleleaf

Linden, London Planetree, Princeton Elm and Hackberry. Unfortunately, the township cannot pay for dead tree removal on private property. The expense to remove dead trees which exist on your property will have to be

Happy Holidays!

Firefighters Visit Whiton

By Dawn Eelman, 2nd Grade Whiton Elementary School

Have you ever walked through the cab of a big fire truck? Have you ever shot water out of a real fire engine’s hose? Well, the K and 1st grade stu dents at Whiton Elementary School got to tour a real truck and got up close and personal to a fully equipped firefighter on Oct. 11. On Oct. 12, the second grad ers got to shoot water from the fire truck hose. (So did the teachers and Vice Principal Chris Derflinger!) Neshanic volunteer firefighters came to Whiton and reminded us of important fire safety procedures, about safety during a fire, and advised us how to prevent fires. Two of the firefighters were Branchburg students when they were little. What a great community we live in! Firefight ers at the event were CJ Davis, Deputy Chief; Emilio “Jr” Suarez, event orga nizer; Chris DeRonde; Ted Spulick; Jacek “Jack” Cichosz; Muhammad “Mo” Ahmad; and Maikol “Michael” Urena. At the end, we said thank you and they generously gave us fire safety pencils with fun eraser tops.

Thank you firefighters everywhere for helping to keep us safe and protect our families.

Cereal Box Knock Down- Stony Brook School students collected more than 470 boxes of cereal for the food bank during a fundraising event coordi nated by teacher Abbie Sutherlin in October. Cereal boxes were lined up in the hallways at the school, domino style, and a drawing was held to choose one winner to push the first box. Fourth grader Noor Sanad was the winner. During the box knock-down, students lined the hallways to watch the domino effect. The event was held on Oct. 14. - Photo courtesy of Matthew Zimmerman, Computer Teacher, Stony Brook

Whiton School teachers Kim Cole and Dawn Eelman take a turn shooting water from a fire truck hose during a visit from Neshanic Volunteer Fire Company firefighters in October.

Tree Program… continued from

for by the property owner.

this is a purely voluntary program and there is no cost to you (developer funded!) But you will have to accept ownership and re sponsibility for the maintenance of the tree. Within the next month, the Township will release more infor mation on how interested residents can register for the Streetscape Tree Replacement Program. We will is sue a web link where residents will be able to register online for the pro gram. Please visit our website (www.

branchburg.nj.us) and sign up for the “Email Alerts.” Choose “Township News and Events - General” under the Subscription Topics. This is one of our primary sources to disseminate information to residents.

We are excited to bring this pro gram to you and we hope you will find it as beneficial as we think it will be. We know of no other program in the State like this and, based upon the initial response, we may be able to continue this program in coming years.

Meghan Rose Bradley 15th Annual Gala Celebrated

By Ileen Bradley

Meghan Rose Bradley Foundation

On Sept. 30, the Meghan Rose Bradley Foundation host ed its 15th Annual Gala at the Somerville Elks Banquet Hall with an upscale Oktoberfest theme.

Highlights of the evening in cluded music and dancing, si lent auction, a warm welcome from Bob Bradley and our consummate Mistress of Cer

emonies, Dr. Julie Ann Juliano. While having fun, we raised funds for pediatric brain cancer research.

Researchers provided up dates on clinical trials and a second year of funding at $40,000 was awarded to the re search team.

Thank you to all donors and our sponsors, including Furino and Sons, Exigent Technolo gies, Contemporary Psychol

ogy Institute, Edward Jones, Magyar Bank, Raritan Valley Pharmacy, and Clark Travel. Thanks also to all the volun teers, the committee, Bernard Rosario and Kim Montuoro, from the Branchburg Rotary and Rotaract, and this incred ible Branchburg community.

If you are interested in vol unteering one time or joining one of the committees, contact mrbfoundation@gmail.com.

Troop 185 to Host Flag Retirement Ceremony Nov. 11

Scouts BSA Troop 185 will be hosting a flag retirement cer emony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at the White Oak Park fire ring starting at 7 p.m. American flags have been collected throughout the year at the Municipal Building and will be retired in a respect able manner. Youth and veterans

the community are welcome to participate in the ceremony until all flags are retired. Residents can drop flags off at the bin located in the Municipal Building or bring them to the ceremony. For more event information, email scout master@branchburg185.mytroop. us. —Submitted by Tom Decker, Scoutmaster Troop 185

TOWNSHIP OF BRANCHBURG

Municipal Building News | in print and online at www.branchburg.nj.us

‘Our Work is Your Play’ *** RECREATION NEWS***

FALL PROGRAMS are well under way & Session II is about to begin. Register online through Community Pass for your favorite program! https://register.communitypass.net/Branchburg Check out Branchburg TWP website under Recreation for all programs & events.

FALL EVENTS

TRAIL TROMP RESCHEDULED

SATURDAY, November 5, 10am 12pm @ The John Sanford Preserve at River Lea Farm, 2084 South Branch Road.

DECEMBER EVENTS

Join the Recreation Department for Tuesday, December 6 for our annual trip to NYC to see the amazing Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Tickets are going fast! Coach bus leaves from White Oak Park at 1:00pm for a 5:00pm show. You will have time upon arrival to visit Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and more! We return to the bus directly from the show to head back to Branchburg, arriving approximately at 8:00pm. Tickets are $92pp.

Carols by Candlelight Tues. 12/13 @ the White Oak Park Pavilion 6:30pm with the SHS Chamber Choir Hot Cocoa & cookies. Phone Calls from Santa Mon.12/19 Santa will be calling children in Branchburg. Forms will be posted on the township website in December. Please register for a call from Santa .

2022 BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP LEAF PICK -UP

SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE INCLEMENT WEATHER

will begin APPROXIMATELY October 10th to December 9th

two (2) PICKUPS in your area

leaves to the curb area

NOT rake them into the road, drainage ditch or within 10’ of a catch basin. Leaves can be taken to the Dumpster Facility by residents on normal days of operation: Every Friday: 12 to 3:00pm,1 st Saturday of the month:

3:00pm. As an alternative solution to disposing of your yard waste.

E-Waste Drop Off

November 5, 2022 9am to 3 pm

Public Works Garage-34 Kenbury Rd. Branchburg, NJ 08876

908-526-1300 x177

State and Federal environmental agencies have determined that electronic products must be treated as hazardous waste when intended for disposal and has mandated recycling for e-waste. Electronic waste is incredibly poisonous. It exceeds the level for hazardous waste by 30 to 100 times!

will be a drop off area set up at the Public Works Garage on the above date, to accept e waste at NO COST TO YOU!!

/Computers/Laptops/

/Monitors

Printers / Fax Machines/ Copiers /DVD/Video players/ Power supplies /Video Games Systems/Controllers/ CDs /DVDs/Telephones

Bi valent boosters are now available for children ages 5 17 years old. Residents should contact their pediatrician for the latest recommendations and information.

Branchburg Seniors Enjoy Fall Activities

By Audrey E. Henry Branchburg Recreation

The Branchburg Seniors have been a busy bunch! The Fall Senior Picnic was held recently at White Oak Park with nearly 60 members attending. Thanks to Elmers Ca tering for providing a wonderful BBQ for the group. The seniors manned a table under the big tent at the Branchburg Country Fair on Sept. 24 with Fred Sopko cracking jokes and attracting attention in his bright orange jumpsuit.

A group of 30 members took a coach bus trip to the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton. This “Museum, Sculpture Garden and Arboretum” holds some 300 con temporary sculptures and was founded by world-renowned artist and philanthropist Seward John son. We enjoyed an hour-long guided tour of the grounds with

our knowledgeable and passion ate tour guides. It was well worth the few extra dollars. (Spring Lake is hosting a Seward Johnson Sculpture Exhibit through Jan. 31, 2023, outdoors through the town.)

October’s business meeting at tracted a good number of mem bers to hear Elder Care Attorney Bob Shanahan. He was both ex tremely informative and quite entertaining with his presentation on estate planning. The October Social Meeting featured Russ Martone who sang great Frank Sinatra songs and many joined in!

Looking to the month of No vember, we have a few great things lined-up. For the Nov. 3 business meeting we have a brief presen tation from Chris Hall, Property Manager for Cornerstone, the new senior (55+) affordable hous ing community here in Branch

burg. He and the Social Services Coordinator will inform the mem bers of the services the company provides for residents. Following Hall’s presentation, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine & Nutrition ex pert Tamara Berisha will provide information and a demonstration. The Nov. 17 social meeting will be a catered Thanksgiving Lun cheon and on Nov. 29, 37 have signed up for the BrownstoneJersey Dreamers - Holiday show and dinner.

If you are a Branchburg Senior (55+) and are interested in joining this fun, welcoming group - reg istration begins on Jan. 1. Lots of planning is taking place for the new year, hope you join us! Regis tration is online through Commu nity Pass or by calling Recreation 908-526-1300 ext. 188.

Fred

by

“Finding Gobi” Author Visit Planned for Nov. 2 & 3

Through a generous grant from The Branchburg Education Foundation, au thor Dion Leonard and Gobi (the dog) will be visiting Branchburg schools on Nov. 2 and 3.

Here is the story of Finding Gobi:

“Finding Gobi” is a best-selling true story of a man, a dog, and the lengths to which love will go to sacrifice for its companion. Finding Gobi is the miracu lous tale of Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner, who crosses paths with a stray dog while competing in a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China. The lovable pup, who would later earn the name Gobi, proved that what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in heart, as she went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains,

across massive sand dunes, through yurt villages and the black sands of the Gobi Desert, keeping pace with him for nearly 80 miles.

As Dion witnessed the incredible de termination and heart of this small ani mal, he found his own heart undergoing a change as well. Whereas in the past these races were all about winning and being the best, his goal now was to make sure he and Gobi’s friendship continued well after the finish line. He found himself letting Gobi sleep in his tent at night, giving her food and water out of his own limited supply, and carrying her across numerous rivers, even when he knew it would mean putting him behind in the race, or worse, prevent him from finishing at all.

Although Dion did not cross the finish

line first, he felt he had won something even greater – a new outlook on life and a new friend that he planned on bringing home as soon as arrangements were made. However, before he could take her home, Gobi went missing in the sprawling Chi nese city where she was being kept. Dion, with the help of strangers and a viral out pouring of assistance on the internet, set out to track her down, and reunite with the amazing animal that changed his life and proved to him and the world that miracles are possible. food and water out of his own limited supply, and carrying her across numerous rivers, even when he knew it would mean putting him behind in the race, or worse, prevent him from finishing at all.

Meet Branchburg’s Board of Education Candidates

Branchburg Township voters will elect four Board of Education mem bers (3 for three-year terms and 1 for a one-year unexpired term) in the Nov. 8 General Election. Five can didates are vying for the four spots.

On the ballot for the unexpired term are incumbent Olajompo Moloye-Olabisi and Charles Tuma, who has previously served on the board 2018-2020. Running unop posed for the three-year terms are Puja Desai, Bindu Shah and David M. Dugan.

The Branchburg News requested the following info and 80-word can didate statements to assist voters in electing the candidates that best represent them. Responses are listed alphabetically.

Puja Desai: 1. What is your occupa tion? Lead Physical Therapist and Owner of Align Physical Therapy & Wellness LLC 2. How long have you lived in Branchburg? 8 years 3. If you

are an incumbent, how many years have you served on the board? N/A 4. What is your candidate statement, that is, why should residents vote for you? I feel this is the perfect opportunity for me to contribute and serve our com munity by preserving, improving, and advocating for the education of all children in our public school system. I understand that the students and learning is job number one, therefore all efforts and goals should be aimed towards promoting and advocating for the achievement for all students. I feel that I have unique talents and at tributes to share, while collaborating as a team with other board members, teachers/staff, the superintendent, and families of the community.

David Dugan: 1. What is your occu pation? Partner at CSG Law. 2. How long have you lived in Branchburg? 34 years 3. If you are an incumbent, how many years have you served on

w e a l t h m a n a g e m e n t

the board? N/A 4. What is your can didate statement, that is, why should residents vote for you? I have lived in Branchburg most of my life. Both our sons and I attended Branchburg schools and know this town inside out. I strongly support public education, the foundation of which is excellent teachers and support from an engaged, inclusive community. With extensive public service in the legal community focused on maintaining the integrity of my profession and my involvement in local organizations, I know the im portance of working collaboratively with fellow, dedicated volunteers to serve our community.

Olajompo Moloye-Olabisi: 1. What is your occupation? Senior ManagerExternal Operations 2. How long have you lived in Branchburg? 14 years 3.

If you are an incumbent, how many years have you served on the board? Less than a year (3 months - nomi nated for the vacant seat in July.) 4. What is your candidate statement, that is, why should residents vote for you? Jompo has two kids in the Branchburg School system - Fiyin at BCMS and

Jope at Whiton. As a current board member, Jompo knows that engage ment with the community and out reach to the community are paramount to our children’s success. If re-elected, Jompo wants to focus on increasing programs that target STEM and Art. Additionally, Jompo wants increased access to mental health programs for our children. Our kids matter, and we should do all we can to support them.

Bindu Shah: 1. What is your occu pation? I am a marketing executive within the consumer healthcare in dustry. 2. How long have you lived in Branchburg? Over 14 years 3. If you are an incumbent, how many years have you served on the board? N/A 4. What is your candidate statement, that is, why should residents vote for you? I have 3 children still in school and so for them and my community, I am passionate and invested in ensur ing our children are set up for success and can thrive. The elements that are most important to enable that success is supporting our kids from a learning and development basis, as well as from a social and emotional lens. We have

wonderful staff that are invested in our children and so making sure they feel supported is imperative to attracting and retaining high quality talent.

Charles Tuma: 1. What is your occu pation? Director IT Finance. Manage the finances of a $250M Information Technology division. 2. How long have you lived in Branchburg? 9 1/2 years 3. If you are an incumbent, how many years have you served on the board? I served on the board from 2018 to 2020 4. What is your candidate statement, that is, why should residents vote for you? The BOE budget makes up almost 65% of your property taxes. Do you know how it’s spent? Why do costs increase every year while enroll ment and test scores continue to de cline? Why are our most experienced teachers retiring in unprecedented numbers? Why has the district had so much administrative turn-over in the past 2 years? Something is wrong yet BOE leadership remains silent, why? Choose all 4 and get more of the same. Choose me and get answers! Experi ence matters!

I n v e s t m e n t s : A s s e t A o c a t i o n R e t i r e m e n t P l a n n i n g A n n u i t e s

T r a d i t i o n a l B r o k e r a g e E q u i t y I n v e s t m e n t s E d u c a t i o n P l a n n i n g F i x e d i n c o m e I n v e s t m e n t s

F i n a n c i a l S t r a t e g i e s : L i f e I n s u r a n c e D i s a b i t y I n c o m e I n s u r a n c e L o n g T e r m C a r e I n s u r a n c e

R i s k M a n a g e m e n t :

C E R T I F I E D F I N A N C I A L P L A N N E R ™ p r o f e s s i o n a l j a r r e t t @ r i c h p l a n n i n g g r o u p c o m T e l : ( 7 3 2 ) 3 8 4 9 1 9 2 R I C H P l a n n i n g G r o u p , L L C 5 0 D i v i s i o n S t r e e t S u i t e 5 0 1 S o m e r v i l l e , N J 0 8 8 7 6

J A R R E T T D E W E L D E , C F P ®

Branchburg Woman’s Club Plans Holiday Service Projects

Operation Holiday Stocking and Holiday Happiness. Stockings will be filled with goodies - snacks, personal care items, puzzles and games - for servicewomen. The second activity is the club’s annu al contribution to the PTO’s Holi day Happiness. Members fill tins with delicious homemade Christ mas cookies for families that the Branchburg Schools identify as candidates for an extra special Christmas. Each woman chooses

her favorite Christmas cookies to fill her tin. The PTO volunteers add presents and deliver them to these very special families.

President Linda Mish reports that the club’s participation in the Branchburg Country Fair was a success. Funds raised through the basket auction ($705) and 50/50 ($160) refresh our student awards account while the 48 pounds of food collected helped the Food Bank Network of Som

erset County.

Raritan Valley Community Col lege student Sophie Conwell was named the recipient of a $1,000 award in memory of our valued friend and colleague, Tricia Ihde, the previous author of this column in The Branchburg News. Sophie is a member of the National Honor Society for Leadership and Suc cess, Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Chi Ta and, like Tricia, plans a career in Communications.

By Kate Sarles

At the Nov. 17 meeting, the Branchburg Woman’s Club will welcome the most senior member (by length of continuous service) of the Branchburg Recreation De partment, Audrey Henry. Audrey will discuss recent changes in the Recreation Department’s services, programs, trips and events. The meeting will be held at the Whiton Hills Community Room at 7 p.m. Call 908-458-6832 or message branchburgwomansclub@gmail. co for information. All women are invited to attend.

Members will concentrate on two major activities this month:

Pictured at the Branchburg Country Fair on Sept. 24, from left, are Padma Karra, Fran Crandall, and Mary Enyingi. —Photo by Steve Harris

Branchburg Country Fair…

St. Ann’s of Hampton Pipes & Drums performs at the stage area. The bagpip ers then marched through the big tent for many photo opportunities with fairgoers.

The Green Planet classic rock band cap off the day’s entertainment at 7 p.m.

Branchburg’s biggest communi ty event - the Branchburg Country Fair - celebrated its 25th anniver sary in White Oak Park on Sept. 24.

Live music, food trucks, kids’ ac tivities, crafters, and vendors were featured along with community groups and local businesses.

The fair concluded with the Greg Gonzalez Memorial Fireworks dis play sponsored by Furino & Sons Inc.

Dozens of local business spon sors make the fair possible as well

as the Office of Emergency Man agement, Public Works, and the Po lice Department.

Volunteers plan the fair with meetings all year long. Fair Com mittee members are Chairman Bob Bouwman, Rita Bouwman, Jim Caprio, Marie Caprio, Joseph Chiarell, Anna Columbus, Maria DeSimone, Shavaun Gliksman, Pat Gallico, Steve Harris, Anita Krishnamurti, Rafal Wawrzyszko, Bill Lawson, Maria Mineo, Kim Naw rath, Patti Rees, and Amy Silva. To

join the committee, email branch burgcountryfair@gmail.com.

Entertainment included Flutter Wheel Square Dancing, Tom Klim chock, School of Rock, St. Ann’s of Hampton Pipes & Drums, Recurve, Somerset County Vo-Tech Danc ers, One Cell, Bubble Party, Prizea-palooza, Erio, and The Green Planet Band.

Activities included tricky trays, raffles, dunk tank, knockerball, trea sure hunt, pony rides, petting zoo, crafts, cornhole, hula hoop, and a

–Country Fair Photos by Steve Harris

…25th Anniversary Event

Children enjoy the beautiful fall day and a game of frisbee.

visit from the Somerset Patriot mas cot Sparkee.

The Branchburg Woman’s Club held a food drive, basket raffle and 50/50.

Sponsors were: Vollers, McDon alds, JT’s Lawn & Landscaping, The Branchburg News, Cognicare, Lycored, Barkley’s Marketplace, Frank Mineo Electric Contractor Inc., Hillsborough Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Coldwell Banker, Raritan Valley Pharmacy, Nature at Heart School, New York Life,

Ezential Wellness, Dream Tae kwondo, Fox Hollow Golf Club, Superior Tool & Manufacturing, Edward Jones, Yoga Central, New ell Strength, Eagle Fence & Supply, Femenella & Associates, Willie McBride’s, Pollock Brothers, Deli cious Heights at Neshanic, Larken Associates, Zeus Scientific, Pay worx Services, Razziano & DeSte fano, Law Office of Peter N. Laub Jr. & Associates, Abessi Eye Care, Goddard School, Mr. O’s Taekwon do & Martial Arts, Hair Port.

Spectacular fireworks signal the end to the 25th annual fair.

The stone plaque set in the fieldstone bridge over Cat Tail Brook is crudely chiseled with the date 1825 along with the name of the mason and men who directed its construction.

The graves of the early settlers pre served in a small patch of land are marked with red shale stones, some with hand carved epitaphs, other small, weathered stones barely decipherable, some messages completely eroded.

A block of shale rests in the river with the inscription J N Stout along with the Roman numeral XVI. Well into the twentieth century, property lines were represented by rocks or trees with slash marks.

The need to communicate is an innate human behavior, messages scribed on whatever canvas is avail able, whether it be scribbled on a nap kin, roadside billboard or graffiti on the side of a building. From the Chauvet Pont d’ arc caves of France and their well-preserved pictographs, to the Par sippany petroglyphs in North Jersey, each generation of humans, worldwide,

expressed themselves in the most rudi mentary ways, using whatever medium was on hand.

My interest is in the paleo or precolonial people who lived in our area whose rationale for leaving signs and messages is no different than those seen today. Messages that were the pre cursor of books, told stories of the hunt or other rituals in pictographs, dendro glyphs and petroglyphs. Pictographs are paintings placed in a protected area, dendroglyphs were images carved into a tree whose bark had been partially stripped, petroglyphs were figures carved or etched into stone, usually in the open for travelers to see.

In the book, “Rock Art of Eastern North America,” the author notes the scarcity of primitive art in the eastern woodlands versus the numerous ex amples in the western states, primarily due to climate. As trees were the domi nant canvasses of the woodlands, trees carved with dendroglyphs are not likely to be found. The rock strewn Sourland Mountains would be a prime location for glyphs, while in the glacial scoured highlands of Northern NJ, petroglyphs have been authenticated.

An example noted in the book ex plains dendroglyphs were located on well-travelled trails, river crossings and

It’s Carved in Stone

prominences. The topography of the land was also a factor as it restricted or directed travel around obstacles, along rivers or mountain trails. Humans as well as wildlife seek out paths of least resistance as well as places which pro vide a view. What traveler has not suc cumbed to the temptation to climb a huge boulder alongside a hiking trail. In paleo times that rock was a safe place to camp, seek refuge from a wolf or am bush a deer. A successful hunter might leave a mark to commemorate his luck.

Without having read or heard of such a ritual, I would leave a coin where a deer fell to my arrow. I don’t know why I did that; no one will ever find that coin. Maybe a lingering primal behavior act ed out to ensure my clan’s survival by telling another hunter that the location was a good place to hunt.

The South and North branch and Raritan rivers are prime places to look for petroglyphs on the shale cliffs. You are not likely to discover one, but cer tainly these would be the places to look. Indian artifacts abound and sto ries of local collectors are many. The cliffs protruding from the flood plain attracted passersby to the precipice, to see what they might see. We can only imagine a glyph carved into a nearby tree by the Unami clan, represented by

the image of a turtle. Perhaps it marked territory, a place to camp or images of a turtle holding a tomahawk to signify a war party, as mentioned in the Rock Art book. The chances of finding artifacts at these outcroppings are greater than finding stone carvings.

Knowing that our rivers were the highways of pre-colonial times, I can not resist re-examining one particular, smooth red shale cliff, for the remains of an eroded petroglyph. That rare,

smooth red shale canvas must have served as a primitive billboard with images of fish and deer taken by the Unami clan. I can’t find a sign, but I keep on looking at that cliff as if the imagined carvings were somehow transcribed to mental images perceived only by kindred spirits who traveled the same watery path.

Contact jjmish57@msn.com. See more articles and photos at winterbe arrising.wordpress.com.

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What They Went For

Recent property sales reported in

Branchburg Township:

50 Burnt Mill Road $414K

185 Carol Jean Way $537K

21 Cedar Grove Road $385K

1301 Churchill Circle $685K

1302 Churchill Circle $640K

1303 Churchill Circle $665,590

24 Covered Bridge Road $680K

48 Dreahook Road $512K

1801 Holland Brook Road $485K

513 Horizon Way $750K

521 Horizon Way $775K

117 Howell Drive $695K

85 Katydid Drive $700K

818 Magnolia Lane $275K

220 Miller Avenue $460K

6 Mulberry Court $635K

659 Old York Road $470K

1 Oxford Court $600K

9 Paddock Court $815K

862 Princeton Court $545K

504 Red Crest Lane $285K

9 Shaffer Street $450K

4 Watchung Trail $420K

2 White Birch Court $655K

What

95 and Fabulous Mary Preteska, 95 years young, received a free, impromptu flu shot from Sagar Patel of Raritan Valley Pharmacy at the 25th Anniversary of the Branchburg Country Fair on Sept. 24. She enjoyed gorgeous weather, great music and food, fun friends, a flu shot, and a free lollipop.

–Submitted by Mary’s daughter Nancy Schamberger of Branchburg

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