MONTGOMERY SCHOOLS GO GREENER
Montgomery Township's Shade Tree Committee has spearheaded a new program this spring. Trees have been planted at all five of Montgomery Township’s public schools in partnership with the Board of Education, Administration, the Montgomery Township Education Fund, and PTAs. A total of 18 trees were planted with money contributed by the BOE, MTEF, and the Orchard Hill Elementary, Village Elementary & Upper Middle School PTAs. The Montgomery Twp. Public Works Dept. helped to plant the trees in addition to the schools’ grounds crew. It is anticipated that this effort will continue annually.
Montgomery Recreation Bus Trips
Montgomery Recreation Bus Trips
NY Mets vs Phillies – Fri, Sept 5, 7:10 pm game – 3:30 pm departure.
Radio City Christmas Show – Fri, Nov 7, 9:30 am departure for 2 pm show.
All trips include chartered bus transportation unless otherwise noted. Please call the Recreation Dept for more details at 609-466-3023.
Montgomery Township Education Foundation Raises $71K
Montgomery Township Education Foundation Raises $71K
By Lisa Neeld
The Montgomery Township Education Foundation raised a record $71K at its third annual fundraiser, “An Evening for our Future.” 187 people attended the event, held at Cherry Valley Country Club on April 5, which included dinner, music, silent auction and live auction. The single highest grossing item was a private party for 100 guests at Tiger’s Tale for next year’s Super Bowl. This sold for $13,000.
“We are very happy with the results. This event was a party for Montgomery, not just a fundraiser. It was a fun evening for all and we raised a lot of money for the children of the Township,” says Wade Martin, life-long Montgomery resident and Treasurer for the Montgomery Township Education Foundation (MTEF).
MTEF is an independent, non-profit organization that funds programs benefiting Montgomery’s public school children. Their goal is to raise money to improve the children’s educational experience by acquiring supplies and equipment not otherwise available. The Foundation’s first and most visible achievement was Cougar Stadium at the high school.
“Most people don’t realize that if not for MTEF, the high school would have been built with nothing behind it,” says Martin. Through the generosity of residents, local corporations and the different booster clubs, he says, the Township now has a field used and enjoyed by so many Montgomery children. To build the stadium, the Foundation took out a $1 million loan, to be paid over ten years, so the funding of the stadium is an ongoing project.
The Foundation also funds innovative teaching and learning systems like scholarships, Project Achieve and Project Literacy, among others. The Foundation has provided funds to purchase new uniforms for the high school marching band and the squad the leads the band at games, parades and other events. At this year’s fundraiser, MTEF invited as guests five Montgomery teachers who won Governor’s Awards and gave them each $200 grants for their classrooms.
Next year, MTEF hopes to have 200 attendees to the annual fundraiser and is looking to raise $100K.
“The more money we can raise, the more we can do,” says Martin. “We would like to thank everyone for their generous support over the years, and we look forward to their continued support in the future.”
For more information about or to donate to the Montgomery Township Education Foundation, visit their website at www.mtefnj.org.
Troop 1061 Bronze Award – Feeding the Hungry in Montgomery
Troop 1061 Bronze Award – Feeding the Hungry in Montgomery
On May 8, 2008 Troop 1061 was awarded the Girl Scout Bronze Award. The Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can earn, requires her to learn the leadership and planning skills necessary to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on her community. Working towards this award demonstrates her commitment to helping others, improving her community and the world, and becoming the best she can be.
Troop 1061 always knew they wanted to do a Bronze Award project but were not always sure what that project would be. The girls love children, seniors, animals, helping and teaching younger girl scouts, and camping. They wanted their project make a difference in their community.
In the Fall of this year, the girls were learning about the many families in Montgomery who have difficulty making ends meet and who are utilizing the Hillsborough Food Pantry to feed their families. They learned that Montgomery Township had plans to open a Food Pantry and the Township’s Community Resource Officer would manage it. That was it – the moment that everyone in Troop 1061 became excited. They wanted to make the Montgomery Food Pantry a reality. Their project -- “Feeding the Hungry in Montgomery.”
They met with the Township’s Community Resource Manager, Denise Crowley, at the Otto Kaufmann Center almost every week since November to talk about their many ideas and what needed to be done. They planned and mapped out the Food Pantry with her.
The pantry is located in the senior area of the Otto Kaufmann center. Troop 1061 began their project by cleaning up the Montgomery Senior Center. They cleaned out the closets, craft rooms, craft cabinets and game cabinets. They organized books, videos, crafts and holiday decorations. They moved furniture and mapped out areas for shelves and storage.
The Montgomery Rocky Hill Rotary Club paid for all the shelving and storage cabinets and baskets and bins. Members of the Rotary Club spent a Saturday in February helping the Troop put the shelving and cabinets together.
Once the shelves and storage cabinets were in place, the girls wrote procedures for donations as well as inventory and shelf management. They made labels, forms, wish lists and checklists for volunteers, donors and clients.
Food and non-food items were collected at Johnson and Johnson, Montgomery High School, SU 18 Thinking Day and Boy Scouts and delivered to the Food Pantry. The girls screened the items for expiration dates, sorted and organized the items on shelves and in the storage cabinets.
Troop 1061 is very excited that the transition from the Hillsborough Food Pantry to the Montgomery Food Pantry began earlier this month. They are very proud of their project and know that they have made a huge contribution to the Montgomery community. Their project took close to 40 hours to complete and it will make a difference in the lives of many Montgomery Families.
Montgomery Township Education Foundation Raises $71K
The Montgomery Township Education Foundation raised a record $71K at its third annual fundraiser, “An Evening for our Future.” 187 people attended the event, held at Cherry Valley Country Club on April 5, which included dinner, music, silent auction and live auction. The single highest grossing item was a private party for 100 guests at Tiger’s Tale for next year’s Super Bowl. This sold for $13,000.
“We are very happy with the results. This event was a party for Montgomery, not just a fundraiser. It was a fun evening for all and we raised a lot of money for the children of the Township,” says Wade Martin, life-long Montgomery resident and Treasurer for the Montgomery Township Education Foundation (MTEF).
MTEF is an independent, non-profit organization that funds programs benefiting Montgomery’s public school children. Their goal is to raise money to improve the children’s educational experience by acquiring supplies and equipment not otherwise available. The Foundation’s first and most visible achievement was Cougar Stadium at the high school.
“Most people don’t realize that if not for MTEF, the high school would have been built with nothing behind it,” says Martin. Through the generosity of residents, local corporations and the different booster clubs, he says, the Township now has a field used and enjoyed by so many Montgomery children. To build the stadium, the Foundation took out a $1 million loan, to be paid over ten years, so the funding of the stadium is an ongoing project.
The Foundation also funds innovative teaching and learning systems like scholarships, Project Achieve and Project Literacy, among others. The Foundation has provided funds to purchase new uniforms for the high school marching band and the squad the leads the band at games, parades and other events. At this year’s fundraiser, MTEF invited as guests five Montgomery teachers who won Governor’s Awards and gave them each $200 grants for their classrooms.
Next year, MTEF hopes to have 200 attendees to the annual fundraiser and is looking to raise $100K.
“The more money we can raise, the more we can do,” says Martin. “We would like to thank everyone for their generous support over the years, and we look forward to their continued support in the future.”
For more information about or to donate to the Montgomery Township Education Foundation, visit their website at www.mtefnj.org.
Provinceline Swim Club looking for new members!
Province Line Swim Club is a family-oriented non-profit pool club located on Province Line Road, just off route 518. We offer free swim lessons for members, no over-crowding, and a generous guest policy. Come meet new friends and enjoy the freedom of a co-op member-owned swim club. Please see www.plswim.com or email info@plswim.com for more information.
Province Line also has openings available for certified lifeguards for the 2008 swim season. Please see www.plswim.com or email info@plswim.com for details.
Senior Centers Seek Young Talent to Perform This Summer
Does your child or grandchild have a special talent that you would like to showcase at a local senior center during summer vacation? The Somerset County Office on Aging is looking for children or teens who can perform at 11 am on any day of the week, Monday through Friday. If you and your child are interested in this opportunity, please contact one of the seven senior centers operated by the Office on Aging.
Somerset County Senior Wellness Center, 202 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, Joyce Plick at (908) 204-3435;
Hillsborough Senior Center, 339 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, Renee Moody at (908) 369-8700; Manville Senior Center at Fire Company #1, 20 South Third Avenue, Manville, Joanne Pearson at (908) 526-0175; Montgomery Senior Center, 356 Skillman Road, Skillman, Denise Crowley at (609) 466-0846; Quail Brook Senior Center, 625 New Brunswick Road, Somerset, Ellen Baxter at (732) 563-4213, Raritan Senior Center, 614 First Avenue, Raritan, Lynda Augustine at (908) 203-0001; Warrenbrook Senior Center, 500 Warrenville Road, Warren, Alwayne Blechar at (908) 753-9440.
Troop 1110 Hosts 2008 Daisy-Brownie Camporee
"Girls Through the Years"
The eight members of 6th Grade Girl Scout Troop 1110 were planners and hosts of the 2008 Service Unit 18 Daisy Brownie Camporee at Camp DeWitt in Hillsborough, on May 17-18, 2008. Twenty-four Montgomery troops participated, including almost 200 young girls, with a total attendance of about 350 including leaders, parents, and older girl scouts.
The theme of the Camporee was "Girls Through the Years", and one of the badge programs offered for the day was "Brownie Girl Scouts Through the Years." Participants were assigned either 1950s, 1960s, or "Medieval Times" as the time period that their badge program focused on.
The Troop 1110 girls took on the job as their Bronze Award Project, the highest award that can be earned in at the Junior level of girl scouting. A great time was had by all! Thanks also to Troop 433 for running the "Discover Dewitt" try it.
1783 - 225th Anniversary Of The American Revolution
225th Anniversary Of The American Revolution
General George Washington’s Departure From Military Service
By Jeanette K. Muser, Rocky Hill Heritage Project
“Congress Moves to Princeton”
Three months after the Newburgh conspiracy in March, a second crisis occurred. On May 6, 1783, the Confederation Congress ordered General Washington to furlough most of his soldiers as soon as possible. A furlough meant permission to return home but to return to army service again if required. Furloughs began on June 11th.
The news of the furloughs with no promise of payment caused unrest among rank and file troops in Philadelphia. Several hundred veterans of the Continental Army gathered there grumbling about being furloughed and paid with “Morris notes,” certificates to be redeemed by Congress at a later date. Robert Morris, the Congressional Superintendent of Finance, had no money in the treasury. Sergeants from each military unit delivered a remonstrance to Congress demanding their full pay.
On June 21, the soldiers in Philadelphia surrounded the statehouse (now Independence Hall) where Congress was meeting. Congressional president, Elias Boudinot, assured them that they would receive full pay. Later, without violence, the angry crowd allowed the Congressional delegates to file out and go to their lodgings.
Congress adjourned on June 24th after deciding to leave Philadelphia for Prince town, New Jersey. Boudinot wrote a letter to General Washington at Newburgh instructing him to send troops to keep order in Philadelphia.
Congress reconvened on June 30 in Prince town (Princeton). From June until November 1783, meetings of Congress were held in Nassau Hall, which had been badly damaged at the Battle of Princeton in 1777. The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) was closed during the war and President John Witherspoon was away visiting a friend at Yale. The little village of about 300 residents was suddenly the nation’s capital.
Finding accommodations for delegates and others, was a challenge. Elias Boudinot stayed with his sister, Annis Boudinot Stockton, the widow of Richard Stockton. Boudinot had married Stockton’s sister Hannah. Mrs. Stockton hosted a series of social events for delegates and friends.
On July 31, 1783, Boudinot wrote a letter to General Washington inviting him to attend the Confederation Congress in Prince town.
Zen Wisdom
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT - Liguria
Liguria
Liguria, a region of northwest Italy, is a 220 mile long, crescent-shaped area on the Mediterranean. Part of the Italian Riviera, it is bordered by the French territory of Provence on the west, and the Italian districts of Piedmont in the north and Tuscany in the east. The Etruscans were an ancient people of the region. Their civilization flourished in the 6th through 4th centuries BC until being incorporated into the Roman Empire. Genoa, the capital city and birthplace of Christopher Columbus, was a major Mediterranean commercial power beginning in the 11th century.
Like every section of Italy, Liguria has a rich culinary history. The Ligurians are known for their independence and reliance on their own freshly grown products. The mild Mediterranean climate, mountainous terrain, and costal location, influence the culinary landscape as much as the geographical. Similar to Provence, their gastronomy is dominated by the use of seafood, olive oil, herbs, and vegetables, (particularly artichokes, olives, asparagus, leeks, and tomatoes).
Although not a major wine producing area, the Ligurians make white wine from Vermentino and Pigato grapes, and red wine from Dolcetto and Rossese grapes. Most Ligurian wine is sold locally or to tourists. Dolcetto is the best known in America although it will inevitably be from Piedmont and not Liguria. Piedmont produces Dolcetto on a larger scale and usually of better quality.
The two most famous Ligurian culinary creations are pesto and focaccia. Pesto is a basil and olive oil sauce most often used on pasta. Basil leaves, pine nuts, and garlic are traditionally ground with a mortar and pestle, (although most cooks use a food processor), and then extra-virgin olive oil, a blend of grated Parmesan and/or Romano cheese and salt are gradually mixed in. Although true for many preparations, I found great variability in the amounts of each ingredient across numerous pesto recipes. I reviewed seven pesto recipes from the cookbooks on my shelf. Here are the ranges of the ingredient amounts across the recipes:
Olive oil: two tablespoons to two cups.
Nuts: two tablespoons to a half-cup.
Cheese: Quarter cup to one full cup.
Garlic: One to four cloves.
Naturally these ingredients should vary with the amount of basil being employed, but interestingly, in ALL BUT ONE of the seven recipes, the amount of basil called for was exactly two cups. Clearly these recipes will produce seven very different tasting pestos. So what are you to do? I would aim for the mid-range of the above amounts, adjusting accordingly to personal taste. Place two cups of basil in the food processor along with the desired amount of nuts, cheese and garlic, and a little of the oil. Whiz that until smooth and then gradually add in the remaining oil with the processor running until the desired consistency is achieved. Then season with salt.
Focaccia bread is 2,000 years older than pizza, even though the two doughs are nearly identical. Originally focaccia bread was unleavened since the salty air of the Ligurian coast hampered the action of the yeast and thus, the rising of the bread. Below is a basic recipe but there are many variations which include the use of tomatoes, cheese, anchovies, onions, olives, and honey to name a few.
One package active dry yeast
Two cups warm water (105-110 degrees)
9 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Five cups all-purpose flour
One tablespoon kosher salt
Three tablespoons plus one teaspoon chopped rosemary
Combine the yeast, water and four tablespoons of the oil in a bowl and rest for five minutes. Mix the flour, half of the rosemary and the salt in a bowl. Then mix in the water and knead the dough for ten minutes. Brush a large stainless steel bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it once to coat it evenly, cover with a cloth and rest for an hour and a half. Now you must decide how you wish to shape the bread. You can spread the dough into a 12 X 18 pan for a thinner loaf. I use a 10 X 13 pan that is two inches deep for a thicker loaf. Oil the pan, spread out the dough and rest for one more hour. With your hands spread, using your fingers, poke holes across the top of the dough. Drizzle the remaining olive oil, rosemary, and a little more salt on the top. Place it into a preheated 400 degree oven for approximately 25 minutes. Keep an eye on it, (especially to ensure the bottom is not burning), and adjust the heat if need be. Ovens can vary a great deal. When finished, dip pieces of the bread in extra-virgin olive oil seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Readers can get in touch with Mark at epicure1@optonline.net
The Old Gardener July/August 2008
Making a Statement, with Punctuation
There are all kinds of gardens: vegetable, collector’s, flower, decorative, even semi-wild come to mind. All gardens have a purpose - even that of aiding and abetting lazybone owners. Gardens speak about their people and their lives. Gardener’s gardens speak volumes, and people who love gardens read gardens like stories.
The way you have put together your landscape is a snapshot of who you are. Editing the script can be compared to helping a garden speak clearly, paying attention to pauses and not yelling too much.
There are a few basic statements used in composing a landscape: horizontal and vertical; short and tall; light and dark; large leaves and small. Keeping these in mind will prevent the salad effect - a bunch of nice stuff, just tossed together.
Horizontal layering is seen in dogwoods and older spruces and pines, all just kind of humming along. Vertical exclamation marks are made by birches, narrow hollies, or even a tall viney trellis.
So a simple garden statement would be: short humm, short humm, wow (tall exclamation), short humm. Or flip it around - three wows! And one hummm.
Hopefully there are odd numbers of tall and short things (people seem to find this arrangement restful and so a good rule to follow). This is the usual placement of shrubs around a house, sometimes jazzed up by a splash of color. Where there is a lot of enthusiasm sometimes there is a whole jazz band.
For most of us, as soon as color is added a little juggling is needed. Color makes a strong statement and also brings into play the balance of light and dark. A tall narrow yellow shrub comes pretty darn close to shouting while the same shape in silver blue is quieter. On the other hand these might be exactly what are needed to balance out the weight of a huge purple beech or maple. The combination makes a pretty bold statement and not to everybody’s taste.
Generally most landscapes have lots and lots of medium sized trees and shrubs with medium sized leaves of medium shades of green. Mumble, mumble, mumble. Thank heavens (as a tee-shirt says) for our ability to accessorize!
Many people have dogwoods, so that takes care of the horizontal, and there is probably something spiky-tall taking care of the vertical; low growing blue juniper can cover short and light as can roses or annuals. Large leaves or small will take a little thought. In the sun let us choose 1 birch and 3 dogwoods with either annuals or cotoneaster as a skirt. One exclamation, three horizontal humms with a small leafed accessory. Any decent garden center can help you with selections. Rearrange them in your mind or on paper until they make sense.
The face your garden shows to the public is one thing its private face is another. It is a balancing act between your Betty Boop jammies and what you share with your friends. Your personal space is where you try out the wild combinations, audition the jazz bands or relive the Arabian nights; after a while you will find your authentic gardening voice and find it simple to speak clearly and with emphasis.
Iraq War Dead
This Memorial Day, remember of our servicemen and women. Since March 19, 2003, when the second Iraq War began, there have been 4,101 American military personnel killed, and 30,333 wounded, as of March 17, 2007.
For more information, www.antiwar.com/casualties.
Hurricane Season Begins – Get Serious, Be Prepared
Hurricane Season Begins – Get Serious, Be Prepared
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hurricane Season 2008 begins today, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants residents living in hurricane prone areas to get serious and be prepared now. The agency cited the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s May 22 prediction that projected climate conditions point to a near normal or above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this year. The first named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Arthur, developed late Friday and moved slowly across the Yucatan this weekend and FEMA is reminding people that preparing for hurricanes is a shared responsibility.
“Individuals also must prepare themselves for a hurricane," said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. “Americans in hurricane-prone states must get serious and be prepared. Government - even with the federal, tribal, state and local governments working perfectly in sync - is not the entire answer. Everyone is part of the emergency management process.”
“We must continue to develop a culture of preparedness in America in which every American takes personal responsibility for his or her own emergency preparedness."
Prepare a disaster kit for your home: Stock up on non-perishable food and water to sustain you and your family for up to 72 hours or longer. Ensure you have important papers (e.g. insurance, identification), first aid kit, a supply of prescription medicines and other specialty items in your preparedness kit. In addition, plan to have an emergency kit for your car in case you need to evacuate. While creating a disaster kit, pet owners should remember to pack the necessary items for their pets.
You can find more information on preparing your disaster kit at: www.ready.gov
Create an emergency plan: Know what to do if you have to evacuate. Make sure you know how to contact members of your family and have an emergency contact number for someone out of state who knows where you are in the event of an emergency. Make sure your pet is included in your emergency plan. You may want to offer assistance to an elderly or disabled family member or neighbor that may be alone and may need your help during an emergency. Make your plans ahead of time and practice them.
Be informed: Know evacuation routes, and listen to local authorities when asked to evacuate. Everyone should know their risks. Whether you live in a coastal community or inland, speak with your insurance agent now about flood insurance and review your homeowner’s policy. Every state is at risk for flooding and homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a cost-effective way to prepare financially for floods. To learn more about your risk and flood insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov.
Inland states often receive damaging flooding as a result of hurricanes so even residents who don’t live in a coastal state should prepare. Knowing your flood risk, emergency evacuation plans and purchasing flood insurance are all things that inland residents should plan for as part of their hurricane preparations.
People who live in manufactured housing also should be aware of their risk during a storm as well as the many who are still residing in FEMA-provided travel trailers and mobile homes. People should have disaster plans and be ready to vacate their residence when advised by local authorities.
To stay informed during a storm keep a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information should you experience a power outage and have extra batteries on hand.
Get involved. Contact your local Citizen Corps Council to learn what efforts your community is taking to prepare for hurricane season, and learn how you can help. Through the Councils and Citizen Corps Partner Programs, it is possible to receive training in basic emergency response and find volunteer opportunities to assist your first responders in an emergency. To find a nearby Citizen Corps Council or to learn more about Citizen Corps' Partner Programs, visit www.citizencorps.gov.
For more information on how to prepare for this hurricane season, please visit “Hurricane Season 08. Get Serious. Be Prepared” at www.fema.gov. There, you will find a comprehensive listing of information on family and business preparedness, disaster support links for people with disabilities and other special needs, and tips for preparing your pets for the next disaster.
Get Serious. Be Prepared.
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
MEMS Now Using Epipens
We’ve Added Epi-Pens!
Randy Sherman, Montgomery EMS
This past July, Montgomery EMS, along with other rescue squads in New Jersey added new equipment to ambulances and first responder vehicles. We are now allowed to carry epinephrine auto-injectors for both adults and children. An Epinephrine auto-injector, best know as an Epi-pen®, is the emergency treatment for severe allergic reactions.
These reactions, called anaphylaxis, can become fatal within minutes, if untreated. The most common causes for anaphylaxis come from mundane sources: food, medications and reactions to insect bites/stings. Many people who have been previously diagnosed as anaphylaxis-prone have already been prescribed their own auto-injectors, but many fail to carry them.
In many cases, allergic reactions have been previously undiagnosed, the patients having never experienced an anaphylactic attack before. Anaphylaxis is commonly considered a rare occurrence, yet in fact, there are more than 41 million Americans at risk and there seems to be an increase in the reported incidence.
In the past, New Jersey EMTs have only been able to assist patients with their own Epi-pens®, and rush them to the hospital or the closest paramedic unit. Injecting an Epi-pen® enables us to help the patient breath easier and allows us to get to a hospital in a manner safer for us, the patient, and all others on the road.
The most common symptoms of anaphylaxis are itching, hives, swelling and difficulty breathing. If you think you, or someone else, is having an anaphylaxis reaction, call us immediately at 911. The good news is that we now carry a new powerful tool that will get you the treatment you need in a timely matter.
Remember Epi-pens® are not a replacement or substitute for immediate medical care. If you are injected with an Epi-pen® contact us immediately, at 911. Eventually the dose will wear off and you may require more injections.
With the addition of new tools comes the added cost. Currently each of our five vehicles carry an Epi-pen® and an Epi-pen Jr®. Each unit cost approx. $75 which is a total of $750 for all our vehicles. Epi-pens® need to be replaced if unused every 1-2 years.
If you would like more information or would like to make a donation, please visit our web site at www.MEMS47.org.
Life-long Montgomery Farmer Celebrates 90th Birthday
At a party on Saturday, June 14, Montgomery resident Peter Staats celebrated his 90th birthday, surrounded by his family and friends. Guests at the party numbered about 70, including Staats and his wife Neva, their five children, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
On a recent June afternoon, the soft-spoken farmer with the gentle smile talked about a life lived in Montgomery, a life that has seen so many changes over the years. From living in a farmhouse with no electricity to watching a man walk on the moon on television, Staats has witnessed technology progress from party lines to cell phones to the internet.
A third generation farmer, Staats was born in the parlor of the house he still lives in, a large farmhouse on Rte. 206 across from the municipal building, but in a Montgomery very different from the one we know today.
“I remember when 206 was a dirt road,” he says, smiling, “and I’d drive up and down it with my tractor and wagons of hay.”
When Staats grew up in that farmhouse, which was built in 1860 and originally owned by his grandfather, the surrounding areas were his family’s fields of crops, not housing developments. And when he and his wife raised their children there, Montgomery was a quiet farming community.
Staats met his future wife Neva at a church social where he actually arrived with another girl as his date. The two also went to the same high school and eventually married. They will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary this fall.
The farm itself covered 140 acres of land, and Staats rented additional farmland for a total of 1,000 acres which he worked. In the farm’s heyday, the crops included corn, wheat, soybeans, oats and barley, with alfalfa being the main cash crop. Each season, he would put up about 500 tons of hay, 300 tons of straw and 5,000 bushels each of soybeans and corn.
The Staats family raised chickens and sold their eggs. On average, they had to gather ten baskets of eggs daily that had to then be cleaned, graded and packed up to be sold.
The farm was self-sufficient; what they grew fed the animals on the farm. In addition, there were cash crops; grains and hay that he would grow and then sell to granaries, local horse farms and racetracks, and even the Turtleback Zoo and Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ horse farm.
Over the years the Staats family opened their home to many young men who they hired to work in the fields. They took in troubled young men who had never had a stable home life until they sat down at the Staats table for meals.
“They were good kids,” says Mrs. Staats, “and we hear from some of them still.”
Later, Staats used migrant help. He would travel down to Lakewood to find migrant workers interested in working on his farm. He and his wife took them in, having the workers live with them until a tenant house was built; and even after the tenant house was built, the workers would continue to have meals with the Staatses in the big farmhouse.
In addition to his commitment to the land, Staats has had a commitment to the community too. For many years, Montgomery didn’t have its own rescue squad, so when there were accidents or emergencies, the Township had to rely on the State Police or the rescue squads from Rocky Hill or even Princeton to help. It would take a long time for help to arrive, if they were even available. In 1972, Staats, his wife and daughter, Cary, chartered Montgomery’s first rescue squad after learning a resident’s father had died, possibly because help didn’t get to him in time. They were rescue members for 18 years.
Staats has also served on the executive board of the Somerset County Farm Bureau, was a member of the New Jersey Farm Bureau, director of the Belle Mead Co-op and a member of the Hopewell Grange. He has also been a deacon and elder at the Harlingen Reformed Church.
Staats stopped farming in the mid-90s, but he put in a two-acre garden, where he farmed on a much, much smaller scale, selling his produce to local restaurants. Today, he is happy to spend time with his family and his pets – Boots the cat and Nibbles the lory, who co-exist happily in the house with the Staatses.
Rabies Alert
The Montgomery Township Animal Control Officer removed a rabid raccoon from the woods near Blue Spring Rd. near Salisbury Drive on June 4.
Township and Rocky Hill residents are reminded to never touch or feed wild animals or stray cats; to report any unusual behavior of wild animals; and to report any incident involving animal bites. Also, all residents are reminded to vaccinate their pets against rabies.
The Rotary Club Of Montgomery Rocky Hill Awards $16,500 In Scholarships To MHS Students
The scholarship program has grown to $16,500 annually and this year we honored nine graduating seniors. The scholarship selection committee interviewed over 130 applicants to find these deserving students who exemplify the object of Rotary. “Service above Self.”
Kimberly Heil, Amanda Herrmann, Casey Smith, Kathryn Pettit, Catherine Weinschenk, and Carey Youmans were each awarded a $1000 Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary Club Scholarship.
Three additional scholarships were awarded in the names of individuals near and dear to the hearts of our Rotarians -- two former students at MHS and one of our own charter members.
Yumi Shibatani was a Rotary Exchange Student from Osaka, Japan who charmed her teachers, fellow students and our club members. Andy Malek was one of a kind who was outstanding in school, his community, his church, and his family. Both were killed by a drunken driver as they drove to their prom 13 years ago.
The charter member, Harry Fenton, one who had been extremely close to Yumi converted his grief at her death into what is today the Yumi Foundation. It awards grants for student exchanges between Montgomery Township and Japan.
This year the $3500 Andy Malek scholarship was awarded to Andrew Pottorf; the $3500 Yumi Shibatani scholarship was awarded to Anoosha Reddy; and the $3500 Harry Fenton scholarship was awarded to Joshua Hidalgo.
Making Summer Travel Fun for the Kids
Hillsborough Learning Express reveals its "Top 10 Travel Toys" to keep children entertained on long trips this summer
Whether it is in the car or on an airplane, traveling can be tedious for children, no matter what their age. The license plate game will last only so long, and before parents know it, they will be racking their brains for other ways to occupy their children on the long trip to their final destination.
In an effort to help local residents traveling with children this summer, Learning Express of Hillsborough is inviting the community to enter the world of fun and embark on the store's highlighted "Top 10 Travel Toys" that are perfect for any trip. Rick Grossman, owner of the local toy store, says the following toys are fun and exciting for kids and offer excellent learning opportunities at the same time.
Learning Express' Top 10 Traveling Toys this Summer 1. Time Flies Game - Wipe away the hours on long summer trips with this fun and colorful spiral-bound book. Mazes, codes, hangman and more. Wipe the pages clean and play again. Ages 7+ 2. Learn to Write Erasable Board - At home or on the road, turn a wheel to select a picture and then trace the letter. Washable marker. Board wipes clean with a damp cloth. Ages 3+ 3. Travel Blokus - Now you can take your favorite game with you when you’re on the road. Players match wits to fit all of their pieces onto the board while endeavoring to insure that the other player can’t.
Ages 5+ 4. Brain Quest for the Car - Pick a card, any card and challenge yourself to a round of fascinating facts. Each deck riveted at the bottom with a grommet, holds questions on one side and answers on the other. Play alone or with friends. Ages 7+ 5. Maggie Leigh Dress-Up Set - Whatever will she wear? Dress this wooden figure in colorful clothing that sticks magnetically plus everything stores in the partitioned box with cover. Ages 3+ 6. Sparkle Sticky Mosaic Kit - It’s so much fun creating these stunning scenes that you can barely bring yourself to stop. Thousands of self-adhesive foam tiles with different surfaces bring the mosaics to life.
Ages 6+7. BFF Swap Journal - BFF love TFTPOO! That’s Two-For-The-Price-Of-One to you, but tons of fun for two friends who can swap journals, sharing secrets, crushes, gripes and more. Double journal includes two charm necklaces with the keys that open the lock. Shhh, don’t tell! Ages 6+ 8. Bananangram’s Game - The best travel game around…it's a fast-paced, addictive word game that allows each team member to play at their own level to form individual crosswords. The bright yellow banana bag holds the tiles and rules.
Ages 7+ 9. Travel Hangman-Hang 'em high! Hit the road with Hangman, no pencil or paper needed. Clever hook and loop letters and body parts make for easy play while on the move. Ages 5+ 10. Hot Dots Talking Pen and Flash Cards - Turn ordinary flash cards into a basic skills tutor with this amazing set. Kids identify the answer by touching a dot with the pen; if correct the pen glows, makes fun sounds and kids are thrilled. Pen works with all Hot Dots flash card sets.
Ages 6+ “When kids bring along entertainment in the form of a few cool travel toys, those moments between here and there become a lot shorter and sweet,” Grossman said. "We offer a wonderful selection of travel toys including games, books and portable activities, to keep young ones interested and intrigued. Our goal is to help parents and kids get to their destination 'peacefully' without hearing too many 'are we there yet?'"
Learning Express of Hillsborough's shelves are stocked with an array of fun and innovative toys from all the important categories: games and puzzles, developmental toddler toys, arts and crafts kits, science and nature products, books, dolls, sports and construction toys. In addition, the store offers a calendar full of fun events and is a hub of activity for kids and families.
For more information on Learning Express of Hillsborough, or to learn about additional toys and games for summer traveling, please contact Rick Grossman at 908-431-7869.
This Summer Give Rosé a Try
There are many reasons this is the perfect wine for hot weather
By George M. Taber
Everyone has that special wine moment that he will never forget. I actually have several. The most unusual involved a bottle of Tavel rosé, a wine from France. At the time I was working in France, and I had been assigned to do a job that I really didn’t want to do in the Tavel region of Southern France. So I was pretty disgruntled when I sat down alone for lunch in the main square of a village whose name I have long since forgotten. But I ordered a half bottle of Tavel to go with lunch, and it was delicious. All my troubles melted away. I’ve never forgotten Tavel.
Rosé for a long time was the wine that didn’t get any respect. In the past few years, though, that has changed. It’s become a hot product that is being made all around the world using different grapes. Summer is a perfect time for rosé because it’s best served chilled. Also it’s a good deal. It’s hard to spend more than $15 for a rosé. The wine is also made to be drunk young and chilled.
You might wonder how the wine gets its rose or pink color. The answer is simple. Juice from grapes is naturally almost clear from both red and white ones. Wine gets its red color from being left in contact with grape skins for about a month. In order to get pink wine, vintners leave the juice in contract with skins for only a few days.
Good rosés are always dry, although you may have some experience with bubbly rosés from Portugal such as Lancers, which are sweet. I personally don’t like those, and that’s not the type of wine I’m discussing in this story. All these are dry.
The Rhône Valley area of France remains the home of rosé, and they are made primarily with Grenache grapes, although a little Mouvedre and Syrah also goes into them. I still like Tavel, but it is a little more expensive than other rosés.
Some of the more interesting and innovative rosés now on the market come from other areas, where winemakers use their most common red wine. Rosés from South Africa are likely to be made with Pinotage grapes. I had a great one recently from Delheim Wine Estate. A Montes Cherub rosé from Chile is made with 100% Syrah grapes. Muga rosé from Spain is a Grenache blend. Solo Rosa, a Sonoma winery, produces only rosé, using mainly Sangiovese grapes. Bon Bon Rose from Australia is made with Shiraz. As you see, there are plenty of inexpensive rosés out there. Try one or more this summer.
George M. Taber is the author of the new book To Cork or Not to Cork---Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for
Walter Baker Day Celebrated
June 13 was declared “Walter Baker Day” in Montgomery in honor of this acclaimed local historian who is the oldest male resident of both Montgomery Township and Somerset County, according to Somerset County Office on Aging records.
A celebration given to honor Walter Friday morning in an open air tent next to the Montgomery Senior Center was a well-attended, joyous occasion.
“Walter is a very special gentleman, just as notable for his accomplishments, quick wit, amazing memory and wealth of historic knowledge as he is for his new centenarian status. We are proud that he has chosen to make Montgomery his home for 54 years and thankful for all his contributions to this community,” said Mayor Birge.
Among the highlights:
Mayor Cecilia Birge read a Township Committee proclamation honoring Walter. Deputy Mayor Brad Fay shared some touching personal comments. Committeewoman Louise Wilson read a framed statement of congratulations from Governor Corzine. Professor Joan Goldstein read a poem she wrote for Walter.
Walter was presented with a framed birthday card signed by First Lady Laura & President George W. Bush, read by Senior Center Director Denise Crowley, who planned much of this happy celebration.
The State Legislature, New Jersey Senator “Kip” Bateman and Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi all sent Walter letters of congratulations.
Walter was very impressed with a book gift, “Patriots United” from the New England Patriots which included a personal note from owner Robert Kraft to Walter, possibly their most senior fan.
The Blawenburg Jazz Band entertained throughout much of the morning.
Walter thanked everyone for organizing and attending his party. “All I was expecting was maybe a little cake after lunch,” he remarked. When asked the secret of his long, healthy life, Walter understated that he has always tried to stay mentally active and engaged. The birthday celebration was followed by a seniors’ luncheon.
Background Info on Walter Baker
Walter C. Baker was born June 13, 1908 in Franklin, Massachusetts, eldest of three children of George Baker and Mary Ellen Connor. Walter and his wife of 57 years, Ethel Kimball Baker, chose Montgomery to raise their family, living in Montgomery for more than half of his long and productive life.
Walter served his country as a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service, at military installations at Corpus Christi, Fort Dix, and at various Prisoner of War Camps during World War II; in the CDC Laboratories at Savannah; as Chief of Malaria Control for the Division of International Health in Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam; and testing radioactive fallout around Yucca Flats, Nevada for the Atomic Energy Commission.
Walter served the State of New Jersey as an environmental sanitarian, responsible for monitoring health conditions at such places as Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and Trenton State Prison, while based at the Neuro-Psychiatric Institute in Skillman from 1954 until retirement in 1978.
Walter served Somerset County on the Advisory Council to the County Office on Aging between 1979 and 1985, including two years as council president.
Walter served Montgomery for fourteen years as its first health officer; on the local Civil Defense and Disaster Control Board; as advisor to the Planning Board and to the construction committee for our first high school; and on the NPDC Redevelopment Concept Committee.
Walter has been active in local civic organizations, as a charter member and long serving Trustee of the Van Harlingen Historical Society; as a member of the Montgomery Senior Citizens; and as a board member and president of the Visiting Nurse Association.
Walter has been prolific in documenting the history of Montgomery Township by leading an oral history program that has published the histories of dozens of long-time residents, and by writing books about Montgomery’s Family Burying Grounds and the history of the New Jersey Village for Epileptics, now Skillman Village; these works earning him a History Award for Education from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission in 2003.
Walter’s many years of public service were recognized in 1985 when he received the Governor’s Award from the Department of Community Affairs’ Division on Aging, at a luncheon at Drumthwacket, Governor Thomas Kean presiding.
Special Olympics Summer Games 2008 Complete
LAWRENCEVILLE – Over 2,200 athletes took part in Special Olympics New Jersey 2008 Summer Games June 6-8 at the College of New Jersey campus in Ewing.
Faced with blistering hot temperatures the athletes persevered to compete in track and field, aquatics, bocce, tennis, softball, gymnastics and powerlifting. For the first time at Summer Games, the athletes of the Young Athlete Program were able to compete in an exhibition race to showcase future talent.
Athletes from all age levels competed in many different events throughout the weekend. Softball teams from all over New Jersey competed on nearby Armstrong Field while track and field, aquatics, bocce, tennis, gymnastics and powerlifting took place on TCNJ’s main campus.
Despite the heat, the athletes competed in all their events to the cheers of each other, volunteers, friends and family in attendance. There were hundreds of spectators and supporters that braved the heat to cheer on these deserving athletes who showcased the skills they have been working on all year in preparation for Summer Games.
All through the day athletes showed their talent and also enjoyed activities provided by sponsors in Olympic Village including an autograph session with professional Red Bull soccer players. They also received free medical exams from volunteer doctors in the Wellness Center, part of Special Olympics Healthy Athlete Initiatives.
After all their hard work the athletes and coaches were treated to a Trenton Thunder baseball game Saturday night at Waterfront Park. Athletes also enjoyed a dance in celebration of all their dedication and hard work throughout the weekend.
2004 MHS Grad Promoted to Navy PO2nd Class
It was announced on May 23, 2008 that Jonathan C. Fini, originally of Montgomery Township, New Jersey, was promoted to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class in his field of Master at Arms.
Jonathan, a 2004 graduate of Montgomery High School, has been in the Navy since July 12, 2005. After his training at the Great Lakes Training Center in Chicago, Illinois, and other terrorism training courses in San Antonio, Texas and Biloxi, Mississippi, Jonathan had a twelve month assignment in Master at Arms at Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, Cuba.
Following his tour of duty there, he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Station Rota, in Rota, Spain, commonly known as the gateway to the Mediterranean, and the largest US Naval Base in Spain, where he is currently serving in Master at Arms on Harbor Security until December 2008.
Service Medals that Petty Officer Fini has received are: Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corp Achievement medal.
Jonathan has also received numerous other ribbons for various forms of achievement and a Letter of Commendation for exceptional work as a guard in Guantanamo Bay (GITMO), Cuba from Major General Jay W. Hood, Commander of the United States Prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Jonathan currently lives on the beach in Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain with his dogs Curro and Rocco; he is attending college classes at The University of Maryland and has just received orders for The Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, NJ for his remaining 18 months of duty, starting in January 2009.
Marine and Big Brother
By Lance Cpl. Jimmy Serena Jr.
MCB QUANTICO Corporal William Moore enlisted five years ago, hoping to serve his nation by fighting. Now, he services his community by showing compassion.
As one of Quantico’s range safety specialist, Moore seeks out potential safety problems, working to prevent them before anyone gets hurt. Out of uniform, Moore volunteers with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization, working with children in need of positive influences.
As a volunteer ‘‘big brother,” Moore does pretty much the same thing for children as he does for leathernecks. Big Brothers and Big Sisters pair young, responsible adults with youths needing someone to help guide them, preventing them from potentially harming their future.
Growing up an only child, Moore was raised in the very small town of Rocky Hill, N.J. His parents, Clifford and Theresa Moore, have been married for more than 28 years and are still together happily married, according to Moore.
‘‘I think it is a travesty that some kids will never have the opportunity to do the simple things such as talk, play, and have someone to look up to,” Moore said.
Moore has been volunteering with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program for a little more than five months. Moore’s ‘‘little brother” Maxwell Scofield-Tyree is a 12-year-old from Fredericksburg who enjoys the same types of events that Moore does.
"He is really a good kid,” Moore said of Scofield-Tyree. ‘‘He was really shy at first, but he has really opened up to me.
‘‘He likes to go fishing and hunting. Basically, he likes to do anything outdoors. This summer I am going to take him on his first deer hunt.”
Moore said he has seen changes in Max since they first met.
‘‘Max had a little trouble in school,” Moore said. ‘‘But he has really improved now, and he just seems happier and more content, overall.”
Moore attributes his own good merit to his parents. ‘‘I like to think my parents raised me right. They taught me that if I have something and someone else doesn’t, then I should share it with them.”
Moore grew up looking up to his grandfather, Joseph Carver, as well. ‘‘My grandfather taught me how to fish, hunt and how to farm,” Moore said. ‘‘He was someone I really looked up to. I hope to be that kind of role model for my little brother, someone he can look up to.”
Big Brothers and Big Sisters claims to be the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. The program has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century. The program’s volunteers mentor children ages 6 through 18 in communities across the country.
HiTOPS Takes A Stand Against AIDS
July 21, 2008—Princeton, NJ
On September 26th, 2008, members of the HiTOPS staff and board will be participating in the three day, 250-mile, New Jersey Ride Against AIDS (NJRAA). The ride runs throughout New Jersey, from High Point State Park to Cape May.
Each year the NJRAA raises thousands of dollars for charities in New Jersey devoted to AIDS education, prevention and support. The entire ride is organized by volunteers, and 100% of the proceeds are given to AIDS-related charities. HiTOPS Executive Director and NJRAA rider Lori Heninger notes, “For six years, the New Jersey Ride Against AIDS has been raising money for AIDS-related charities throughout New Jersey. HiTOPS is fortunate in that we have been a beneficiary of the ride for four years. Their donation directly supports our HIV testing and counseling services, as well as our support programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth. I am proud to have been a crew member last year, and a rider this year.”
Those interested in donating, volunteering, or participating in the ride should contact HiTOPS, or visit www.njrideagainstaids.org for more information.
HiTOPS is a non-profit organization located in Mercer County, New Jersey. HiTOPS envisions a world where youth have the resources the need to live healthy, responsible lives. For over 20 years, HiTOPS has been providing adolescents with the knowledge, risk reduction strategies, and resources they need to make responsible decisions concerning their health and well-being.
Container Facility Schedule Changes
The number of days the container facility will be open has been slightly changed. The following dates have been taken off the schedule:
August 23
September 20
October 25
The Facility will be open the mornings of August 9, September 6, and October 11 from 8 to 12. Schedule of open Saturdays can be found by scrolling down the Container Facility webpage under Public Works section of the Montgomery Township website. Rules for using the facility and what items can be brought there can also be found on that page.
Great Rd to Close Monday by Cherry Valley
Beginning this Monday, July 21st, the bridge over Bedens Brook on Great Road (CR601) will be rehabilitated by Somerset County. This bridge is located south of Georgetown and Franklin Turnpike (CR518) and Bedens Brook Road and north of Cherry Valley Road. During the construction, the bridge will be completely closed. The anticipated completion date for the bridge rehabilitation is August 24th but may be completed earlier. Two variable message boards were placed on July 16th, one for each direction, near the subject bridge. The detour route is Georgetown and Franklin Turnpike (CR518), Province Line Road and Cherry Valley Road, all located to the west of Great Road. Any further questions may be directed to Somerset County Engineering at EngineeringDiv@co.somerset.nj.us or (908) 231-7024. Thank you.
Girl Scout Babysitting Service for Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
Are you undergoing or recovering from treatment, and need a responsible babysitter to help watch your kids this summer?
Sarah Siegel, a sixteen-year-old Montgomery Girl Scout, has organized a baby-sitting service for breast cancer survivors as part of her Gold Award project. Fourteen Montgomery Girl Scouts have taken and passed the Red Cross babysitting course that she organized on Saturday November 17th, 2007. Any breast cancer patient/survivor who needs a baby-sitter in order to go to doctor’s appointments, receive chemotherapy or radiation, run errands, go to a support group meeting, or just rest at home, can call Kara Stephenson at the YWCA Breast Cancer Resource Center at 609-497-2100, ext 346, who will arrange for a free visit from one of these trained Girl Scout babysitters. The girls will receive service hours, rather than being paid for their services.
Sarah’s goal is to make this difficult time in a breast cancer patient/survivor’s life a little bit easier, with the help of Montgomery Girl Scouts.
We at BCRC encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful service, and help support Sarah’s wonderful project!
LONG-TIME TROOP 46 SCOUTMASTER VICTOR ELGORT RETIRES AT COURT OF HONOR
Montgomery Township, NJ — He got involved as an adult Boy Scout leader in the usual way: when his eldest son, Daniel, joined Montgomery’s Troop 46 in 1989 and Vic casually offered to help out. It would take, he was told, only about an hour and a half or so a week.
That weekly “or so” was often 25 or 30 hours or more. In the course of a 19-year career, first as an Assistant Scoutmaster, and then, for 14 years, as Scoutmaster himself, Victor Elgort left an indelible mark on the Troop’s history and programs. When he retired at the Troop 46’s Court of Honor in early June, he had been the longest-serving Scoutmaster in the troop’s history, and his leadership and ideas had influenced hundreds of young men and greatly changed and shaped Scouting in the area.
• During his tenure as Scoutmaster from 1994 to 2008, Troop 46 grew from about 30 Scouts to well over 100, peaking at 145 in 2001. (Today, the roster still shows 103 Scouts – remarkable, considering the growth in other and competing activities that are now available to the boys.)
• Under his leadership, Vic instituted a high-adventure program as an annual event. This program has enabled scores of Scouts to test their survival skills and teamwork during lengthy, often grueling wilderness treks in the Pacific Northwest, the mountains and deserts of several Rocky Mountain states, and all three of the national BSA high-adventure programs – the renowned Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Canoebase in the Boundary Waters area of northern Minnesota and Canada, and Seabase in Florida and the Bahamas.
• Over 60 of the approximately 600 boys who grew into young men as Troop 46 Scouts while Vic was Scoutmaster became Eagle Scouts, the highest rank in Scouting; the national average is only about 2%.
• Several of his program ideas have become much-anticipated Troop 46 traditions to this day, including the annual camp cooking competition in November, father/son camping excursions to Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Washington, D.C., and West Point, and the heavily-attended summer camp at Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island.
“These are all fantastic achievements,” said Frank McVeigh, that former Scoutmaster who readily accepted Vic’s offer to help out and who now co-chairs the Troop Committee, “but the single greatest thing Vic accomplished was to turn the Troop into a boy-run organization. It leads to some chaotic and occasionally confusing moments, but we found that only by actually leading and doing can Scouts learn true leadership as well as effective teamwork and responsibility.” That sentiment was echoed by Rich Epp, the incoming Scoutmaster. “One of the hardest things to do is to stay hands off. It is very tempting to do things for the Scouts when a problem arises. It’s easier and quicker. But if an adult steps in whenever there’s a difficulty, how can the Scouts learn to think through and handle problems for themselves?” The adult leaders see their roles as prompters, encouragers, and guides for the boys. Epp continued, “Our main responsibilities as adults are to keep things safe and to elicit planning and problem-solving on the part of each Scout when needed. Vic was a master at getting the most out of each Scout. We hope to continue his approach in the future.”
UMCP Receives Site Plan Approval for New Hospital in Plainsboro
UMCP Receives Site Plan Approval for New Hospital in Plainsboro
The Plainsboro Township Planning Board on Monday evening, July 7, unanimously approved the site plan for University Medical Center at Princeton’s (UMCP's) replacement hospital. This approval represents Plainsboro's endorsement of the significant development project at a prominent location within the community, a 50-acre site bounded by Route One, Scudders Mill Road and Plainsboro Road, less than three miles from the hospital’s current location in Princeton. The Plainsboro site plan approval, which followed Plainsboro's rezoning of the site in January 2008, and New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Certificate of Need approval in February 2007, is a major milestone in the process of constructing the new hospital, which is expected to be completed in 2011. Demolition and utility relocation will proceed shortly.
Last week, UMCP obtained in Princeton Borough the final rezoning essential to the disposition of its Merwick property on Route 206. Now three hospital properties in Princeton – the Merwick site, the Franklin Avenue parking lot site and the Witherspoon site – are zoned as contemplated by the agreements of sale with UMCP's purchasers.
The replacement hospital site in Plainsboro, however, is only one element of a 159-acre health campus, which extends from Scudders Mill Road to the Millstone River. The other development includes: a 32-acre public park along the Millstone River, for which the Planning Board also gave site plan approval on Monday night; medical office building; senior residential community with independent and assisted living units; skilled nursing facility; health and fitness center; and general office research facilities.
“We welcome the hospital as a first-rate healthcare provider to our community. The hospital and the accompanying health campus development will have very significant economic and community-building advantages for Plainsboro and the entire region. We look forward to working closely with Princeton HealthCare System as the development of the campus proceeds,” Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu said.
The $441.7 million replacement hospital will feature the latest innovations in healthcare and medical technology to create an environment that will make UMCP one of the nation’s top hospitals for clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, operational efficiency and sustainability. Upon opening, it will consist of approximately 636,000 square feet, 243 private patient rooms, state-of-the-art emergency services, operating suites and a comprehensive array of ambulatory services and laboratories. Subsequent development would provide an additional 324,000 square feet to be used for more than 100 additional private patient rooms and expanded hospital services and physician offices.
The new hospital will be financed through a combination of savings, earnings, loans and donations. UMCP now has gifts and pledges totaling $76 million, with a fundraising goal of $115 million.
By building a new hospital in a location that is closer to 70 percent of its patients, Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS) can ensure that UMCP is sufficiently sized and equipped to continue to do what it has done since 1919 – provide outstanding healthcare to the community it has traditionally served and meet the changing healthcare needs of the Central Jersey region. The decision to relocate UMCP emerged as the best choice for the hospital’s future, after the hospital conducted extensive analysis of the feasibility of renovating and expanding the current facility on Witherspoon Street in Princeton. Members of the community and local government officials were involved in dozens of public meetings devoted to determining a course of action that would allow the hospital to fulfill its mission of providing the highest standard of healthcare to everyone regardless of his/her ability to pay.
“Plainsboro Township’s staff and elected officials have provided constructive advice and numerous hours of hard work to help us develop a site plan that meets the goals of the town and the hospital. Plainsboro has been a true partner in this process and we thank everyone for their efforts. We are proud to be part of Plainsboro and are eager to be an outstanding citizen of the community,” PHCS CEO and President Barry Rabner said.
RWJH Honored By American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for Achievement in Stroke Care
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - July 9, 2008 - The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recently presented Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) with the "Get with the Guidelines Bronze Award (GWTG)" for achievement in stroke care. RWJUH earned the prestigious designation for consistently maintaining an 85 percent or better compliance rate for seven stroke care measures over a consecutive 90-day period.
"We are extremely pleased that all of the hard work and commitment to improving our stroke care practices has paid off with this award," said Virginia Roberts, RN, Director of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center. "Achieving this status was the result of a focused, multidisciplinary effort by our entire stroke care team to deliver the best care possible to patients who have suffered a stroke."
To earn GWTG Bronze status, RWJUH consistently followed the 10 treatment guidelines established by the program. These guidelines include aggressive use of clot-busting stroke treatment medications such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol-reducing drugs and smoking cessation counseling. The 90-day evaluation period which resulted in the Bronze Award, is the first step in an ongoing self evaluation by the hospital to consistently reach the 85 percent compliance level needed to sustain the award.
At RWJUH's state-designated comprehensive stroke center, an interdisciplinary Stroke Center Steering Committee meets monthly to review stroke care response and practices with an eye toward enhancing the hospital's overall performance in stroke care. The committee has initiated improvements such as a "brain attack" overhead page to ensure that the hospital's stroke care team is assembled as quickly as possible once hospital staff is alerted that a stroke patient is on the way. The team also works closely with emergency medical service crews on educational programs to help them quickly identify early stroke symptoms. Identifying stroke symptoms immediately allows EMS crews and hospital staff to initiate a brain attack call before the patient's arrival at the hospital, allowing the stroke care team to save precious minutes.
"There is an entire chain of events that needs to occur rapidly when we receive a brain attack call," Roberts explained. "For example, the CAT-Scan area needs to be cleared, the lab needs to be aware that we will require immediate blood work analysis with expedited results, and the doctor needs to be ready for the patient's arrival in the emergency department."
The Comprehensive Stroke Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has received the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission. To earn and maintain this certification, the Stroke Center embarked on an extensive on-site review by Joint Commission professionals to assure the deployment of rapid-response stroke treatment teams; the operation of designated inpatient stroke care units staffed by qualified stroke caregivers; the use of comprehensive, written stroke care protocols; the existence of an integrated system for managing stroke patients; compliance with professional standards; and a firm commitment from administrators as well as clinicians to provide up-to-date community education about stroke risks, symptoms and treatment.
The GWTG-Stroke program encourages performance improvement efforts and enhanced patient education to help hospitals improve all aspects of stroke care. GWTG-Stroke uses "the teachable moment," the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen and follow their health care professionals' guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second stroke. Through GWTG-Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients' individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in both English and Spanish. In addition, the GWTG Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.
According to the American Stroke Association, each year approximately 700,000 people suffer a stroke - 500,000 are first attacks and 200,000 are recurrent attacks. Of stroke survivors, 21 percent of men and 24 percent of women die within a year, and for those aged 65 and older, the percentage is even higher.
To locate a physician affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, please call 1-888-MD-RWJUH or visit www.rwjuh.edu.
About the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
The Stroke Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital offers comprehensive, compassionate, state-of-the-art care for people who have had a stroke or other critical neurologic conditions. The Stroke Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval and achieved Disease-Specific Care Certification for Acute Care Stroke from The Joint Commission.
About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Selected as one of three hospitals nationwide to offer the world's first self-contained implantable artificial heart, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.rwjuh.edu) is a 600-bed academic medical center and the principal hospital of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. Robert Wood Johnson is an innovative leader in advancing state-of-the-art care in medicine. Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care and women's and children's care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.bmsch.org). The hospital is also a Level 1 Trauma Center and serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness. The hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital was ranked number 26 in the nation for heart care according to U.S.News & World Report's 2007 ranking of "America's Best Hospitals," as well as best in the state for Respiratory Disorders (#26) and Urology (#50), and among the nation's best for Geriatrics (#40). The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer has rated Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital among the nation's best comprehensive cancer centers. The Leapfrog Group rated Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as one of the 50 exceptional U.S. hospitals, as published in Consumers Digest magazine. Harvard University researchers, in a study commissioned by The Commonwealth Fund, identified Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for clinical quality. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is also a recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence for more than 10 consecutive years.
Butterfly Festival Flutters Into 8th Year!
Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Event Celebrates Green Living
Hopewell, NJ (July 9, 2008) -- Come celebrate the wonder of nature's favorite quick-change artist - the butterfly - at the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association's 8th Annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday August 9.
Held at the scenic Watershed Reserve on Titus Mill Road in Hopewell NJ, the festival offers fun for the entire family. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. attendees can enjoy naturalist-guided tours of the Kate Gorrie Memorial Butterfly House, along with nature hikes, live entertainment, food from local purveyors, children's activities, a butterfly costume contest, and an array of demonstrations and exhibits about the environment and conservation.
Carefully timed to share in the seasonal crescendo of activity in the Kate Gorrie Memorial Butterfly House - a screen structure housing hundreds of native butterflies and the plants they love - the festival shines a ligh on the needs and lifecycle of one of our most colorful insect friends.
"At a time when butterflies and other pollinators are in serious jeopardy from loss of habitat and pollution, there's no better opportunity to learn about ways we can all live a little 'greener' to save our local environment and its most delicate inhabitants," said Jim Waltman, Watershed Association executive director.
All-day demonstrations will inform attendees about hybrid cars, alternative fuels, solar power and the Watershed's Association's own photovoltaic installation at the Buttinger Nature Center and River-Friendly Program. Food vendors include The Brothers Moon, Honey Brook Organic Farm, Blossoms Soul Food, and Dip A Dee Doo ice cream. Wares include photographs, art, jewelry, stained glass, stoneware pottery, natural cosmetics and cleaning products, native plants to attract butterflies, and other "green" items for your property. A free waterslide will cool guests.
Admission is $5 per person ($15 per carload) with parking generously provided across the street from the Watershed Association at Bristol-Myers Squibb. For more information or directions, visit www.thewatershed.org or call (609) 737-3735.
Photos and interviews available upon request. Contact Gwen McNamara, Communications Manager, at (609) 737-3735 x16 or gmcnamara@thewatershed.org.
The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association is central New Jersey's first environmental group, protecting clean water and the environment through science, education, conservation and advocacy since 1949.
Bird Seed - Good Reads
Summer is a wonderful time to get caught up on reading or tackle that tome you’ve been meaning to get to. Some books are so unforgettable they are worthy of recommendation. Here are a few I think qualify.
Teacher Man by Frank McCourt (Scribner, 272pp) is a memoir of teaching English/Creative writing in several high schools in NYC over 35 years. It is a window into public education and teenage angst but also the struggle of a teacher (McCourt) to reach his students and challenge them to see the poetry in everything (like reading recipes!). If it was written by anyone else it could be mundane material but his lyrical style and gift for story telling draws the reader in from the first page.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Knopf Publishing Group, 464pp) is the nonfiction account of the legendary 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and a notorious serial killer. The brilliant architect, Burnham, takes the fair from inception to completion while charismatic and evil Mugett, AKA Dr. W. W. Holmes, sets up “shop” and trolls for victims. Larson brings many famous people to life like Olmsted, landscape architect for Central Park. The people and events are compelling; the research Larson did was astronomical. It reads like a novel.
Night by Elie Wiesel, new translation from French by Marion Wiesel, (Hill and Wang, 144pp) is the chilling account of his (Wiesel’s) deportation as a Jewish teenager to Auschwitz and Buchenwald and the separation and death of his family. Almost as powerful as the story itself is his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech included at the end of the book where he says, “…This honor belongs to all the survivors and their children…” It is beautifully written and deeply reflective.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Knopf Publishing Group, 287pp) is an end of the world tale where a man and boy (presumably father and son) journey through a burned out landscape while defending the only things they have left, their lives and love for each other. An apocalyptic event has occurred that is not revealed to the reader but is conveyed by McCarthy through a starkness of tone, economy of words and absence of punctuation that is brilliant.
I can’t end without recommending one of favorite authors. Duma Key, by Stephan King (Simon & Schuster, 624 pp), is a novel about a broken man (figuratively and literally), who moves to Florida to rent a house on Duma Key in an effort to salvage what is left of his life. King’s characters are vivid; he is not afraid to show the depth of human emotion and his stories are always a journey of dark and light. This is classic King at his best.
Happy reading!
Little Slice of Paradise
I want to investigate the summers of my youth, to toss care and time to the wind, whenever I have a chance. It is not easy to forget the household chores, the yard work, the garden or any of the other distractions that could keep me at home today. It helps that I have children who still own that carefree mindset, though they are vulnerable to modern distractions as well. I choose to visit a small wooded area that harbors the Bedens Brook miles downstream from where it runs through our backyard.
The Opossum Road Woods offer the finest of nature’s diversions. This small tract, protected by Montgomery Township, hosts a small Eagle scout-built trail with several brookside benches. The Bedens Brook runs through the preserve and seasonally spills out of her banks and through the rich, green floodplain forest here. Standing at the trailhead just south of the historic 1822 Opossum Road Bridge, the invitation is very clear.
Entering the woods, it is simply impossible not to notice the plant life. The richness of the floodplain soils are expressed by a thick green understory of spicebush. These shrubs will offer red ripe berries to migrating birds in autumn but for now they simply fill the moist air with the a gentle lemony fragrance. Inhabiting the spaces beneath the spicebush and along the trail are plants whose names conjure up as much magic as the plants themselves. Spotted jewelweed transforms raindrops into rare, sparkling jewels; stinging nettle, covered with fine stinging hairs (don’t touch), offers food for the larva of the swift flying question mark butterfly; enchanters nightshade with its tiny white flowers, may still be used locally as an ingredient in enchantments and hexes; and green dragon and jack-in-the-pulpit own unusual wildflowers that look like they were designed by sorcerers themselves.
MIDSUMMER BOAT MAINTENANCE TIPS FROM BOATU.S.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, August 6, 2008 – Seaworthy, the newsletter from BoatU.S. that helps boaters and anglers prevent damage to their vessels, recently looked into some of the more common reasons for on-the-water boat troubles that occur mid-season.
“Preventive maintenance will help you avoid the headaches and keep your crew or fishing buddies comfortable and safe,” says Seaworthy Editor Bob Adriance. “So going over the boat’s systems in the spring is very important. But now after a couple months of use, it’s time to look at things again. A midsummer check-up will ensure you make it back to home port without a problem.”
Here are some midsummer maintenance tips for both power and sailboats:
* Through-hulls: Make a thorough check around any below-the-waterline hole or opening. Check all through-hulls for leaks and cycle seacocks to ensure they close properly. If it’s hard to move the handle, make a note to service it next time the boat is out of the water. Any hose clamps should be tight and hose ends secure. A bilge pump cycle counter is a simple upgrade and the best early warning system that unwanted water is coming aboard.
* Engine belts: For inboard engines, look in areas near the belts checking for evidence of black dust – a sure sign that engine pulleys need to be realigned and the belt replaced. Push on the longest run of the belt – it should not deflect more than one half inch.
* Engine hoses: Squeeze coolant and fuel hoses with your hands, looking for softness, cracks or bulges. Replace any that are suspect. Wiggle the ends to ensure they are secure and inspect for any possible chafing issues in the engine compartment.
* Sterndrives: Inspect the folds in the bellows and replace if they show signs of cracking.
* Sacrificial zincs and anodes: A wasted zinc is a sure sign of trouble, possibly stray current at the dock. Ensure all zincs are no less than half gone – and replace them now if they are.
* Control cables: Look for chafe, splits or swelling of the plastic jacket – a sure sign the cable needs replacement.
* Outboard engine mounts: Smaller engines can sometimes vibrate loose, so re-tighten clamps and ensure the cut-off switch is operable.
* Hydraulic steering system and trim tabs: Ensure reservoirs are full. If you have to add fluid, there is leak that must be fixed immediately.
* Batteries and electrical system: Dead batteries are often nothing more than corroded connections – sandpaper can easily clean them up. With conventional batteries check water levels and add if necessary. Inspect cables and wiring for chafe, especially wherever they may pass through a bulkhead.
* Shorepower cable: Look for burn marks on the plug ends and the connection to the boat. Replace both the plug and receptacle immediately if you find any.
* Head: If your boat has a flushing toilet and its handle is getting hard to operate, you’ve likely got calcium buildup. Pour a cup of vinegar into bowl pumping only once or twice. Let it sit for one night before flushing with one-fourth cup of mineral oil.
* On deck: Old, stiff, or chafed dock lines should be replaced. Also check anchor line and chain shackles and any splices.
* Sailboats only: Look for any broken strands on standing rigging. You can find them by running a loose rag up the rigging, which will snag on any broken ends. Cracked swages are an indicator for immediate replacement. Contact a rigger if you suspect a problem. Running rigging also needs to be looked at – especially the roller furling line.
* Trailers: Inspect bearings and ensure they are well packed with grease. Hydraulic brake reservoirs should be full. Lastly, check the tires for wear and ensure lugs are tight.
BoatU.S. – Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 650,000 members with a wide array of consumer services. For membership information visit http://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.
Township Deer Management Program Offers 10 Permits Four 4 Sites
Montgomery Township will offer ten restricted permits for hunting on four properties as part of the Deer Management Program. Hunting will be allowed during season from Monday through Saturday from one half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset, but not on Sundays or on Christmas Day.
Warnings will be posted along boundaries and entrances opf the properties, and all other State and local regulations will remain in effect.
Only those persons who have been issued special permits for these properties and who have taken a detailed hunter safety course, and who are familiar with those properties will be permitted to hunt on them.
The public should be aware and take precautions if they are near the special hunting sites during the season.
Those sites are:
1.The Bennett track on Provinceline Rd., , and no hunting when the ground is snow covered.
2. The Platz track on Dutchtown-Harlingen Rd (with bow only from designated tree stands, and hunting limited to the northern 31 acres. No ground hunting or stalking)
3. Montgomery Meadows on Brandywine Rd. (same as above)
4. and the Saxon Ridge track at the corner of Rt. 601 and Sunset Rd (as above, plus no hunting when ground is snow covered, and alternating day permits).
Rotary in Action - Helping Those in Extreme Need to Survive Natural Disasters
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief organization which is usually the first organization on the scene delivering aid to disaster victims. The Power of Rotary lies in our ability to get a quick distribution of the Shelter Boxes to disaster locations before other organizations have a chance to respond. Having 1,200,000 Rotarians in 168 countries is key to being empowered to get around political obstacles for the successful distribution of the boxes.
Each ShelterBox contains a 10 person 3 room tent, water purification for 10 people for 6 months, a cook stove, basic tools, a children's activity kit, and other essentials to help victims get back on their feet. Since it's founding in 2001 ShelterBox has responded to 72 disasters in 46 countries including, the 2007 cyclone in Bangladesh, Katrina in 2005 and the current disasters in China and Myanmar. As of the end of June, ShelterBox had sent 41,146 ShelterBoxes and a total of 50,574 tents providing housing for approximately 601,724 disaster victims.
ShelterBox has been the first line of relief for many of the victims, providing shelter and water which are so desperately needed in these disaster situations. ShelterBox has given the victims a renewed since of hope and the will to begin to rebuild their lives.
During the first part of July ShelterBox was continuing to distribute aid in both China and Myanmar. In Myanmar ShelterBox was the first disaster relief organization to actually distribute aid. Their response teams were on the ground with entry visas in a matter of days.
Additionally in July ShelterBox shipped 100 boxes to Sudan in as part of an ongoing effort to house 1 million homeless and displaced persons in Africa.
One of the keys to ShelterBox is their response teams which are specially selected and trained individuals who volunteer to accompany the ShelterBoxes to disaster sites. These response teams coordinate with the Rotary Clubs in 168 countries to provide an apolitical and in many cases local organization which can cut through a lot of red tape and get the aid on site fast - many time in as little as 72 hours after the disaster.
ShelterBox is truly Rotary in Action: Helping Those in Extreme Need to Survive Natural Disasters
Help support this effort through donating funds to the Montgomery-Rocky Hill Shelter Box Program. For every $1000 collected we will donate one ShelterBox to be used to send to the next natural disaster."
D&R Greenway and Partners Preserve Last Link in Princeton’s Stony Brook Trail
“Good Things Come in Small Parcels”
Picture: D&R Greenway’s Executive Director, Linda Mead and Director of Land Acquisition, William Rawlyk; Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand; Princeton Township Engineer Bob Kiser; D&R Greenway Trustee John Rassweiler
Princeton, NJ - July 31, 2008. D&R Greenway Land Trust announces the preservation of a 0.8-acre parcel of land, fronting 1,200 feet of the Stony Brook, in the heart of Princeton Township. This is the last link in a six-mile trail network that will run along the Stony Brook, then through adjacent preserved lands. Equally critical, the shape and situation of this parcel provides for handicap access to the trail. Wheelchairs will be able safely to approach a bridge to be constructed over the Stony Brook.
Along with D&R Greenway, funding partners for the purchase of this land included Mercer County, Princeton Township, Friends of Princeton Open Space and a local private foundation.
Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand commented, “We are very grateful to the landowners who have subdivided a piece of their property, allowing Princeton residents and visitors to enjoy our beautiful and historic landscape.”
The six-mile trail extends from Princeton Friends School, where hikers can easily access the trail networks of the Institute Woods. These 589 acres were preserved in 1997, thanks to the efforts of a coalition of partners led by D&R Greenway. This trail head is not far from the site where General Washington crossed the Stony Brook on his way to the Battle of Princeton in January 1777.
The six-mile trail follows the Stony Brook through Greenway Meadows (55 acres preserved by D&R Greenway in 2001). It then winds alongside The Great Road, past Coventry Farm and Farmview Fields (165 acres preserved by D&R Greenway and partners in 2001). The trail ends near the Woodfield Preserve.
According to D&R Greenway Executive Director Linda Mead, “The presence of safe and accessible trail networks provides people with beautiful places to walk and enjoy nature. Trails enhance a community and the quality of life of its residents. We are thrilled that the preservation of this last link will have such a significant and lasting impact on Princeton Township.”
The Stony Brook Trail is expected to be completed in the fall of 2009. For more information, please contact Princeton Township Engineering at 609-921-7077, or D&R Greenway Land Trust at 609-924-4646.
Cell Phones For Soldiers
More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. Cell Phones for Soldiers, and The Lyons Family are calling on all Americans to support for these brave men and women by donating your unused cell phones. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect over 50,000 cell phones this year to help keep troops connected with their families.
"Over the past few years, we have been amazed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue." says Brittany Bergquist, Cell Phones for Soldiers co-founder. "It is easy for Americans to make a small sacrifice of support by donating their unused cell phones, and providing families with a much-needed connection to their loved ones overseas."
Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at: 94 Mountain View Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
"We're proud to show our support for U.S. soldiers, and to contribute to a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soliders," says Tammy Lyons.. Montgomery students Kendra and Parker Lyons heard about Cell Phones for Soldiers and were excited to get involved and start collecting phones in Montgomery Township and Princeton.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
"We are continuously overwhelmed by the enthusiastic support of thousands of Americans who have helped our troops speak with their loved ones," says the teens' father, Bob Bergquist. "However, the need for support keeps growing as more soldiers are sent to the Middle East or are asked to serve extended tours of duty."
Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones and prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.
The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone - enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.
Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials, including: gold, silver and platinum from circuit boards;cCopper wiring from phone chargers; nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs; plastic from phone cases and accessories .
Historical Society of Princeton announces new exhibition
Princeton, NJ, August 18 -- The Historical Society of Princeton’s exhibition, Stand Up, Speak Out: Princeton’s Citizens Find Their Voice opens to the public on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. Stand Up, Speak Out examines the timely issues of political participation and voting rights, particularly through the experiences of women, African Americans, and university students. When denied the vote, how could individuals still be heard in a democracy? Once granted the vote, how could they make a difference?
In the course of Stand Up, Speak Out, visitors will learn about important episodes in our national history, and explore their intersection with Princeton events. They will see how the promise of the Declaration of Independence was realized through acts and actions: in the 15th, 19th and 26th amendments, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the work of individuals in the anti-slavery, suffrage, civil rights, and youth movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
A convention at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848 marked the first organized demand by women for the vote. The early 1900s saw new strategies emerge: direct lobbying and dramatic, public, nonviolent action. In 1920, the League of Women Voters was founded at the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention, held just six months before women gained the right to vote. The League’s aim was to help the 20 million women living in the United States to be responsible voters, and use their soon-to-be ratified power to vote and help shape public policy. On October 13, 1932, Princeton women formed a branch of the League of Women Voters. Since its founding, the group has held public forums featuring local candidates, mailed election information sheets to registered voters, and advocated for public housing, children’s rights, and a host of other issues.
African-American equality seemed a distant promise when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Neither it—nor the Revolutionary War—ended slavery. The enslaved were ineligible to vote. Most free African Americans could not meet property and taxpaying requirements for voting. Despite the abolition of slavery and the ratification of the 15th amendment, Jim Crow laws in the South shut the door to voting and political participation by African Americans throughout the late 19th and 20th century. Princeton’s African-American community experienced its own difficulties in participating in political life. By the 1960s, however, new citizen groups formed in Princeton to actively take up the struggle to give African-American citizens a political voice. In 1963, African-American citizens founded the Princeton Association for Human Rights (PAHR). Its goal was to have “full participation in the life of its community for all its citizens.” Other groups such as the John Witherspoon Civic Association and the Princeton Housing Group, along with churches, and faith-based leaders, worked to solve the issues of unemployment, poor housing, urban renewal, and inadequate education.
Twenty-one had been considered the age of political maturity since America’s founding. The age was based on English and colonial precedent, and it was hard to change. After every war, though, some argued that those who were old enough to fight should be able to vote. After World War II, the push to lower the voting age gathered steam. It took the Vietnam War in the 1960s, though, to bring about change. As the Vietnam War raged , young people on campuses across the country hoped to convince the American public and government of the hypocrisy of drafting 18-year olds to fight—and possibly die—when they had no political say. Princeton University students joined sit-ins and other actions against the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. In May 1970, reaction to President Nixon’s announcement that he was sending U.S. troops into Cambodia culminated in University’s largest protest to date. Debate and discussion among Princeton students, faculty, and administration led to a campus-wide strike against the war.
Throughout established democracies around the world, voter turnout has been declining over the past forty years. It is a trend in the United States (where average voter turnout is about 50%), in Western Europe, in Japan, and in Latin America. Some countries, though, have exceptionally high turnouts. In Ethiopia, for example, voter turnout can be 90% and higher. How does the rest of the world vote? How does United States voting turnout compare to other countries?
Stand Up, Speak Out encourages visitors of all ages to be counted, to speak out, to participate in the democratic process: whether voting in a national, state, or local election, or standing up for an issue in which they believe.
Stand Up, Speak Out: Princeton’s Citizens Find Their Voice is on view from September 3, 2008 through July 5, 2009. A special exhibition curator’s talk will be held on Sunday, October 5 at 2pm. The exhibition is assisted by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. Additional support for the exhibition and programming is provided by Horizon Foundation, Inc., PSE&G and Wilmington Trust.
The Historical Society of Princeton, located in Bainbridge House at 158 Nassau Street, is open Tuesday through Sunday, 12PM – 4PM. Admission is free. Donations are accepted. For more information, call (609) 921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.
Historical Society of Princeton announces new exhibition
Princeton, NJ, August 18 -- The Historical Society of Princeton’s exhibition, Stand Up, Speak Out: Princeton’s Citizens Find Their Voice opens to the public on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. Stand Up, Speak Out examines the timely issues of political participation and voting rights, particularly through the experiences of women, African Americans, and university students. When denied the vote, how could individuals still be heard in a democracy? Once granted the vote, how could they make a difference?
In the course of Stand Up, Speak Out, visitors will learn about important episodes in our national history, and explore their intersection with Princeton events. They will see how the promise of the Declaration of Independence was realized through acts and actions: in the 15th, 19th and 26th amendments, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the work of individuals in the anti-slavery, suffrage, civil rights, and youth movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
A convention at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848 marked the first organized demand by women for the vote. The early 1900s saw new strategies emerge: direct lobbying and dramatic, public, nonviolent action. In 1920, the League of Women Voters was founded at the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention, held just six months before women gained the right to vote. The League’s aim was to help the 20 million women living in the United States to be responsible voters, and use their soon-to-be ratified power to vote and help shape public policy. On October 13, 1932, Princeton women formed a branch of the League of Women Voters. Since its founding, the group has held public forums featuring local candidates, mailed election information sheets to registered voters, and advocated for public housing, children’s rights, and a host of other issues.
African-American equality seemed a distant promise when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Neither it—nor the Revolutionary War—ended slavery. The enslaved were ineligible to vote. Most free African Americans could not meet property and taxpaying requirements for voting. Despite the abolition of slavery and the ratification of the 15th amendment, Jim Crow laws in the South shut the door to voting and political participation by African Americans throughout the late 19th and 20th century. Princeton’s African-American community experienced its own difficulties in participating in political life. By the 1960s, however, new citizen groups formed in Princeton to actively take up the struggle to give African-American citizens a political voice. In 1963, African-American citizens founded the Princeton Association for Human Rights (PAHR). Its goal was to have “full participation in the life of its community for all its citizens.” Other groups such as the John Witherspoon Civic Association and the Princeton Housing Group, along with churches, and faith-based leaders, worked to solve the issues of unemployment, poor housing, urban renewal, and inadequate education.
Twenty-one had been considered the age of political maturity since America’s founding. The age was based on English and colonial precedent, and it was hard to change. After every war, though, some argued that those who were old enough to fight should be able to vote. After World War II, the push to lower the voting age gathered steam. It took the Vietnam War in the 1960s, though, to bring about change. As the Vietnam War raged , young people on campuses across the country hoped to convince the American public and government of the hypocrisy of drafting 18-year olds to fight—and possibly die—when they had no political say. Princeton University students joined sit-ins and other actions against the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. In May 1970, reaction to President Nixon’s announcement that he was sending U.S. troops into Cambodia culminated in University’s largest protest to date. Debate and discussion among Princeton students, faculty, and administration led to a campus-wide strike against the war.
Throughout established democracies around the world, voter turnout has been declining over the past forty years. It is a trend in the United States (where average voter turnout is about 50%), in Western Europe, in Japan, and in Latin America. Some countries, though, have exceptionally high turnouts. In Ethiopia, for example, voter turnout can be 90% and higher. How does the rest of the world vote? How does United States voting turnout compare to other countries?
Stand Up, Speak Out encourages visitors of all ages to be counted, to speak out, to participate in the democratic process: whether voting in a national, state, or local election, or standing up for an issue in which they believe.
Stand Up, Speak Out: Princeton’s Citizens Find Their Voice is on view from September 3, 2008 through July 5, 2009. A special exhibition curator’s talk will be held on Sunday, October 5 at 2pm. The exhibition is assisted by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. Additional support for the exhibition and programming is provided by Horizon Foundation, Inc., PSE&G and Wilmington Trust.
The Historical Society of Princeton, located in Bainbridge House at 158 Nassau Street, is open Tuesday through Sunday, 12PM – 4PM. Admission is free. Donations are accepted. For more information, call (609) 921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.
AUTISM SPEAKS’ HOSTS CENTRAL NEW JERSEY WALK NOW FOR AUTISM KICK-OFF DINNER
To Battle Growing Epidemic of Complex Brain Disorder
Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, will hold a kickoff dinner for the Autism Speaks’ Central New Jersey Walk Now for Autism on Friday, September 5 from 7pm to 9pm at the Hyatt in Princeton. The Kickoff is free to those attending but your RSVP is required.
Guest speaker: Megan Vega, Reporter, of the My9 News Team.
RSVP for the Kick-off at the Register tab at: www.walknowforautism.org/centralnewjersey
Besides providing more information about the walk, the kickoff events will be part of Autism Speaks’ efforts to educate the community about autism and the importance of supporting a national organization with a track record of funding local autism work.
The Central NJ Walk Now for Autism will take place on Sunday, October 19 at Mercer County Community College. The Walk Now for Autism events are the signature fundraising events for Autism Speaks, raising more than $26 million last year, alone, to support autism research. For more information about the Autism Speaks’ Central New Jersey Walk Now for Autism, visit www.walknowforautism.org/centralnewjersey.
ABOUT AUTISM
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
ABOUT AUTISM SPEAKS
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism, and to advocating for the needs of affected families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Vice Chairman, General Electric, and served as chief executive officer of NBC for more than twenty years. Autism Speaks has merged with both the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now (CAN), bringing together the nation's three leading autism advocacy organizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
Princeton HomeCare Services Hospice Program Offers 8-Week Volunteer Training Course
Princeton, NJ – Princeton HomeCare Services Hospice Program is offering an eight-week volunteer training course in East Windsor starting on Tuesday, September 23. The Hospice Program is seeking compassionate and caring people to visit Hospice patients who have chosen to die at home with peace and dignity and are being cared for by their families and the Hospice Program team.
The training course is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 23 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Subsequent training sessions will be held on October 7, 14, 21, 28 and November 4, 11 and 18. Sessions will be held at the University Medical Center at Princeton Breast Health Center, 300B Princeton-Hightstown Road, East Windsor Medical Commons 2, East Windsor.
The Hospice Program serves patients in Mercer and parts of Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Volunteers can choose the geographic areas where they prefer to visit patients. We are currently looking for volunteers for all of the areas we serve.
To learn more about supporting Hospice patients, their families or to register for the eight-week training course, please call Maureen Marchetta at 609.497.4959.
Pre-registration, application and interview are required.
Historical Society of Princeton announces new exhibition
Princeton, NJ, August 18 -- The Historical Society of Princeton’s exhibition, Stand Up, Speak Out: Princeton’s Citizens Find Their Voice opens to the public on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. Stand Up, Speak Out examines the timely issues of political participation and voting rights, particularly through the experiences of women, African Americans, and university students. When denied the vote, how could individuals still be heard in a democracy? Once granted the vote, how could they make a difference?
In the course of Stand Up, Speak Out, visitors will learn about important episodes in our national history, and explore their intersection with Princeton events. They will see how the promise of the Declaration of Independence was realized through acts and actions: in the 15th, 19th and 26th amendments, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the work of individuals in the anti-slavery, suffrage, civil rights, and youth movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
A convention at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848 marked the first organized demand by women for the vote. The early 1900s saw new strategies emerge: direct lobbying and dramatic, public, nonviolent action. In 1920, the League of Women Voters was founded at the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention, held just six months before women gained the right to vote. The League’s aim was to help the 20 million women living in the United States to be responsible voters, and use their soon-to-be ratified power to vote and help shape public policy. On October 13, 1932, Princeton women formed a branch of the League of Women Voters. Since its founding, the group has held public forums featuring local candidates, mailed election information sheets to registered voters, and advocated for public housing, children’s rights, and a host of other issues.
African-American equality seemed a distant promise when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Neither it—nor the Revolutionary War—ended slavery. The enslaved were ineligible to vote. Most free African Americans could not meet property and taxpaying requirements for voting. Despite the abolition of slavery and the ratification of the 15th amendment, Jim Crow laws in the South shut the door to voting and political participation by African Americans throughout the late 19th and 20th century. Princeton’s African-American community experienced its own difficulties in participating in political life. By the 1960s, however, new citizen groups formed in Princeton to actively take up the struggle to give African-American citizens a political voice. In 1963, African-American citizens founded the Princeton Association for Human Rights (PAHR). Its goal was to have “full participation in the life of its community for all its citizens.” Other groups such as the John Witherspoon Civic Association and the Princeton Housing Group, along with