News from Township of Hillsborough

Issue: 2015 June 5

June 5, 2015

Flags Flown at Half Staff in Remembrance of Marion Fenwick

Flags have been lowered to half staff and will remain that way for 1 week in remembrance of Hillsborough's first female Mayor, Marion Fenwick who passed away earlier this week.

Traffic Advisory: Route 206 Night Paving

On or about Monday, June 15th through July 10th, NJDOT will begin night paving on portions of Route 206 in both directions north of Brooks Blvd. Expect delays through the area.

UPDATE: Off Track Wagering Facility

As Mayor Tomson announced Tuesday evening at the June 9th Hillsborough Township Committee meeting, the New Jersey Racing Commission advised Hillsborough Township on Tuesday afternoon, June 9th that the application filed by the NJ Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Inc, regarding the initial license for the planned off-track waging facility in Hillsborough New Jersey is now complete.

If there are no legal issues identified or new documents that need to be submitted that would render the application incomplete, N.J.S.A 5:5-132 requires the NJ Racing Commission to schedule a public hearing within 45 days in Hillsborough. As such, the New Jersey Racing Commission has scheduled a Public Hearing for Wednesday, July 22nd starting at 7pm at the Hillsborough High School Auditorium.

Due to the fact that the application is still under review by the NJ Racing Commission, information such as the application is not available until the NJ Racing Commission has completed its review.

The appropriate time to address any and all questions would be during the public hearing on July 22nd. We look forward to the public participating in this process.

Hillsborough Township's 2015 Independence Day Fireworks Set for June 27th

Mayor Doug Tomson announced at Tuesday's meeting that the Hillsborough Independence Day Fireworks Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 27th.

"Each year, the Township looks forward to this great community event," stated Mayor Doug Tomson during his announcement at Tuesday's Township Committee meeting.

This year's celebration will feature:

Fireworks
Food tent
Inflatable amusements available from 5 pm - 8 pm
DJ for musical entertainment from 5 pm - 9 pm
Recreational activities

The food tent will include local delights for purchase. Refreshments will include pizza, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, kettle corn and more.

The festivities begin at 5 pm at the Auten Road Intermediate School field. Shuttle busses will be available, beginning at 4:30 pm, from both the Hillsborough Middle School and Hillsborough High School parking lots.

The Hillsborough Community Assistance Network ("CAN") will be collecting non-perishable items, such as cereals, snack items and juice boxes for future distribution in the community. They will also have information about volunteer opportunities.

The rain date is Sunday, June 28th.

Mayor Hosts Daisy Troop 65052

Mayor Doug Tomson hosted members of Daisy Troop 65052 for a discussion on local government. The Troop met in the Mayor's office for the discussion and then proceeded with a tour of the Municipal Complex.

Pictured above: Mayor Tomson with member of Daisy Troop 65052

Township Committee Honors 50 Year Volunteer - George Marlatt

Hillsborough Township resident George Marlatt was honored at a recent Township Committee meeting with a proclamation for his 50 years as a volunteer member of Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company #3.

Thank you George for your many years of service and dedication to the residents of Hillsborough.

Pictured: Liaison to the Board of Fire Commissioners - Committeeman Carl Suraci, George Marlatt and Mayor Doug Tomson

Township Committee Honors Brandon White

Hillsborough Township Committee presented a certificate of achievement to Hillsborough High School Senior in honor of his 13 years of perfect attendance.

Pictured: Liaison to the Board of Education - Committeeman Carl Suraci, Brandon White and Mayor Doug Tomson.

15th Annual Hillsborough Hop

Mayor Doug Tomson sounded the horn for start of the 15th Annual Hillsborough Hop 5K event. Over 1,300 runners took to neighborhood near the YMCA at the annual 5K event which ended at the Municipal Complex. Congratulations to all the participants in this year's event.

Hillsborough Township's 2015 Green Living and Wellness Fair to Host Various Health Screenings, Blood Drive, Sustainable Displays and Poster Contest

Wednesday, June 17th, 2-5pm at the Municipal Complex

The fair will offer various health evaluations including vision screening for ages 3 and up, blood pressure tests, glucose / diabetes screenings, skin cancer screenings and foot exams. Those interested in skin cancer screenings need to call the Health Department at 908-369-5652 to make an appointment.

Blood Drive

Robert Wood Johnson - Somerset will be conducting a Blood Drive in the Senior Activity Center. Please call RWJUH Somerset at 908-685-2926 to register. Walk-ins for the blood drive are welcomed. All donors will be entered into a raffle for a $25 Shop Rite gift card.

Poster Contest

Mayor Tomson and Committeewoman McCauley invite school aged Hillsborough Residents to design a poster with a "Green Living" message. Posters will be judged on message content, prizes will be awarded and all entrants will receive a certificate of participation signed by Mayor Tomson.

Participating organizations include:

BoroSAFE (Suicide Awareness for Everyone)
Bridgeway Care & Rehabilitation & Avalon Assisted Living
Carrier Clinic
Central Jersey Family Heath Consortium
Community VNA
Companion Care
doTerra
Emergency Management
Emeritus at Hillsborough
EmPoWER Family Success Center
Family Foot & Ankle Specialists
Foothill Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
Garden Club
Hillsborough Fire Safety
Hillsborough Municipal Alliance
Home Instead Senior Care
Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy
Morris Somerset RCDC

And many more......

Mountainview Chiropractic Center
Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation
NJ Commission For the Blind and Visually Impaired
Organized to a T
Planet Fitness Hillsborough
Powerhouse Gym Hillsborough
Princeton HealthCare System
Ridewise
Right at Home
RWJU Hospital Somerset
Rutgers
Saint Peter's University Hospital Community Mobile Health Services
Somerset County Office on Aging & Disbability Services
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center
Sustainable Hillsborough
The Max of Hillsborough
University Radiology
Walgreens

For full news account, click here...

For information about the Blood Drive, click here...

For information about the Poster Contest, click here..

Summer Camp - Registration Remains Open

Camps are returning to Auten Road and Amsterdam Schools for children ages 5 (who have finished Kindergarten) to 11, and the Middle School Camp is for children ages 12 to 14. Tiny Camp is a half day camp with weekly themes and activities for children ages 4 and 5.

Camps begin on June 22nd and continues through August 14th; they are open from 7:00am to 6:00pm.

Extended Camp will be August 17 to 28.

To register online, click here...

Parks and Recreation Update: Summer Activities Brochure Now Available

The Summer Activities Guide is now available and registration is open.

Included in this season's Activities Guide are Youth Programs, Adult Programs, Swim Lessons, Tennis Lessons, Golf Camps, Summer Camps, Fall Co-Ed Soccer League, Independence Day Celebration, Family Campout & Fishing Derby.

To download brochure, click here...

Registration and information for all programs and leagues is available at the Parks and Recreation website: hillsboroughnjrecreation.org

Clean Up Coupons Still Available for Select Dates:

Coupons for access to the Auten Road Facility are still available for the following dates:

August 29th
September 12th, 26th
October 3rd, 31st

Please visit the Department of Public Works between the hours of 7am until 3pm to obtain a coupon for any of the above dates.

Senior Curbside pickup has been completed.

For more information, please click here...

Shop Hillsborough

The Shop Hillsborough Reward Program promotes local shopping while allowing card holders the opportunity to reduce their property tax bill.

All Hillsborough residents should have received a "Shop Hillsborough" card in the mail. If you haven't received yours, stop by the Administration office in the Municipal Building and pick one up.

If you haven't done so already, be sure to register your card at www.propertytaxcard.com to start earning a discount on your property tax bill.

Every time you shop in Hillsborough, make sure you ask if the merchant participates in Shop Hillsborough. You can help increase your savings by encouraging even more local businesses to join Shop Hillsborough.

To view the June Deals of the Month, click here...

To view a list of participating merchants, click here...

Flag Day Festival to be held in Somerville on Saturday, June 13th

The American flag has been a symbol of our freedom and aspirations for more than two centuries. In downtown Somerville on June 13th (14th rain date) it will be celebrated with a large Flag Day Festival. The event will feature live music, interactive exhibits, contests with prizes, historic military vehicles, cool modern SWAT vehicles, and re-enactors. There will also be games, entertainment, and arts and crafts for children of all ages, as well as food and snack vendors. The event will be held on the courthouse lawn between 11:30am and 4pm.

The event is being organized by members of the Somerville Elks, YMCA, Boy Scouts, John Basilone Parade Committee, American Legion and others. All proceeds from event sponsors and advertisers will go to fund programs through the Somerville Elks Charitable Trust benefitting local veterans. The goal of the event is to expand appreciation of our flag, educate students and adults to its history and significance, and instill good will and a sense of patriotism to all that attend.

Part of the entertainment for the day will be a performance contest called the American Flag Day Super-Patriot. The contest is being run through the School Of Rock Somerville and will bring many of New Jersey's most talented musical performers together to demonstrate patriotism while showcasing their talents. The crowd can cheer on the performers; only one will be given the title of American Flag Day Super-Patriot, and will lead the crowd in Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA.

For a full news account, click here...

For more information, click here...

Girl Scouts SUNDAES and Super

FUND-daes

Stop by Super Sundaes (435 Amwell Rd) any day between Tuesday June 9th and Friday June 19th for a special GS Cookie-inspired Sundae competition! $5 gets you a delicious treat - perfect for celebrating the end of school, great report card, a sports championship, or any other occasion - and $1 of each sundae supports the 'Boro Girl Scouts Camporee Scholarship Fund!

Grilling Safety

There's nothing like outdoor grilling. It's one of the most popular ways to cook food. But, a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. They can be very hot, causing burn injuries.

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
Keep children and pets away from the grill area.
Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
Never leave your grill unattended.

For more grilling safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association, click here....

RideConnect Program Provides Subsidized Rides For Senior Citizens and Residents With Special Needs

Hillsborough residents who are 65 years and older, or 18 years and older with special needs, are eligible for subsidized rides through the RideConnect program from RideWise. This service uses screened, professional drivers to provide door-to-door transportation services. After residents enroll as members in the program and establish a prepaid transportation account, they are able to schedule appointments for rides. Travel destinations can be anywhere within Somerset County or up to five miles outside of the county borders. Program participants pay an annual membership fee of $40. As rides are taken, $3.00 per mile is deducted from their prepaid transportation account.

Thanks to a recent grant from United Way of Northern NJ, RideWise is now able to increase their transportation subsidy for those who meet low income eligibility guidelines. Eligible program participants are offered a reduced membership rate and per mile charge.

RideConnect is an on-demand mobility option that is helpful for seniors who want to age in place or disabled residents who "age out" of other transportation programs. In 2013, 1,100 trips were provided for medical, employment, daily errands and social/recreational needs.

RideConnect began in 2012 as a pilot program named Senior RideWise. The program served the residents of northern Somerset County. In 2013 the program expanded to serve all residents of Somerset County. Recently the program name was changed from Senior RideWise to RideConnect. RideWise believes that "RideConnect" better reflects that rides are not only for senior residents, but also for individuals with special needs.

RideWise was formed in 1992 to provide and promote sustainable travel solutions that improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion and decrease carbon emissions. Learn more by visiting the agency's website at ridewise.org or contact us at (908) 704-1011. Follow @RideWise on Twitter or Like RideWise TMA on Facebook.

For more information, click here...

Senior Center Events This Week

HILLSBOROUGH SENIOR CENTER
339 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 369-8700

Open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

_______________________________

Caram - Daily (East Indian Game Similar to Billiards)

Fit & Flex with Rose - Every Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. (Please check monthly calendar for schedule updates.)

Game Room - Open Daily

Stretching - Available Daily

Zumba Gold - Monday, 1 p.m. Advance registration is required. The cost is $40 for eight classes, which begin June 10. (Forms are available at the Hillsborough Senior Center. Zumba is an aerobic fitness program featuring movements inspired by various styles of Latin American dance. There are several benefits of Zumba such as strengthening of the cardiovascular system and bones, improving range of motion and good posture.)

June 15 - "Take Control of Your Health: Chronic Disease Self-Management" by Faye Dolan & Marilyn O'Regan, 9:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (This Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a highly interactive workshop designed to give people with chronic conditions, such as arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, etc., and/or their caregivers the knowledge and the skills needed to take a more active role in their health care. Participants gain confidence and motivation to manage their health and feel more positive about life. The program is supported, in part by grant number 90CS0042-02-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington D.C., 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinion do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy).

June 16, 23 & 30 - Mahjong Mornings, 10:00 am (Have you always wanted to learn how to play Mahjong? Have you played before but can't find people to play with? Tuesday mornings are Mahjong mornings. Lessons and refreshers will be available).

June 17 - "Drawing 101" by Discovery Jersey Arts, 12:30-1:30 pm (Anyone can draw! Did you stop drawing years ago? Do you think you can't draw but would like to? This class is for you. Review or start anew with the basics of drawing. Learn warm up exercises that encourage you to explore the pencil line on paper. Demonstrations and one-on-one instruction will be provided. Discover your inner artist in a safe, non-competitive environment. Limited to 15 participants, who must attend all 3 workshops. This program is made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program).

June 17 & 29 - Bingo Bonanza

June 18 - Name That Tune (Challenge your memory to guess old and new favorite songs in this hilarious game).

June 19 - "All About Recycling" by Melissa Harvey, Somerset County Recycling Coordinator, will give a presentation about what recyclables Somerset County accepts and will show samples of how they are repurposed. Learn how to handle electronic supplies such as TV's, computers, etc. as well as shredding and Household Hazardous Waste disposal. Melissa will bring a wealth of valuable information and literature for all attendees.

WHEN: Sunday. June 14th. 1:00pm - 6:00pm.

WHERE: SPRING REINS of LIFE (501c3) @ Foxx Creek Farm (Hillsborough, NJ)

WHAT: 2nd Annual Spring Festival Open House - COME MEET THE HERD!

Family Friendly Event. Horse Demos LIVE @ 2:00pm, 3:30pm & 5:00pm!

No horse experience needed to participate.

DETAILS: RAIN or SHINE (Indoor Arena). Catering Truck, Parking / Restroom, Crafts, PRIZES

CONTACT: RSVP/ Tickets are FREE (Tax Deductible Donations Welcome)

Face-Painting, Bake Sale, Live Music, Games & More Fun!
Online: www.srol-june14event-2015.eventbrite.com
Call: 347-886-2798 / Email: info@springreinsoflife.org
Website: www.SpringReinsofLife.org

Spring Reins of Life (SRoL) is a volunteer run 501c3 nonprofit whose mission
is to serve trauma survivors in NJ with the assistance of Horses.

Veterans ~ At-risk/Hi-risk Youth Teens ~ Bereaved Children

SRoL is currently the only program in NJ to earn the EAGALA Military Services Provider Certificate.

Most trauma survivors either do not want to or simply cannot "talk about it"...

Horses HELP to heal without saying a single word!

For more information, click here...

3rd Annual Knights of Columbus Charity Golf Outing

The Knights of Columbus - Somerville Council #1432, Charity Golf Outing will take place on June 22, 2015 at the Heron Glenn Golf Course. All money raised will be used to support local charities in our area. In order to meet this goal we are asking for sponsorships from local businesses and individuals.

By giving to this event you'll be supporting the Raritan Pregnancy Aid Center in Raritan, NJ, and the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program in Somerville (SHIPS) as well as help the Knights of Columbus provide assistance to those in our communities. The Raritan Pregnancy Aid Center provides much needed assistance to unwed mothers in the local area while, SHIPS provides a network of food pantries that supply food staples to families of low income. Any remaining funds the Knights of Columbus will use for supplementing any assistance programs already in place.

It is a 1 PM shotgun start with lunch, dinner, prizes, and loads of fun included.

Cost per golfer is $130, and Please make all check payable to: Knights of Columbus - Council # 1432.

For a $150 donation, you can sponsor a hole. "Golf Hole" sponsorship will entitle you to have your name highlighted at the Tee Box of the hole you are sponsoring.

If you have any questions or need more information feel free to contact
Bob Stutz at 908-369-8696 or Kevin Henry at 908-421-2412.

For more information, click here...

To register online, click here...

1/2 PRICE SALE - ARIS/HMS 2014-2015 Discount Cards Only $5.00

ARIS/HMS 2014-2015 Discount Cards are being sold for ½ price, now at a cost only $5.00 each, with all proceeds going to ARIS and HMS school programs and teacher grants. The card includes reusable discounts shown below from 37 local businesses; valid through 9/30/15.

Special Promotion: Buy 5 cards, get 1 card free!

If you would like to purchase a discount card, please email Wendy Holt, HSA Discount Card Committee Chairperson, at wenholt@aol.com.

Purchases will be redeemed quickly upon receipt of payment (payment via checks only please).

To view participating businesses, click here...

Important Dates To Remember

June 11