July/August 2008
Star Spangled Season
May, June and July are patriotic months in Branchburg, as schools and organizations celebrate Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day within a five-week period. Memorial Day centers around the Neshanic Volunteer Fire Company’s parade in Neshanic Station. It’s a short parade, making a loop through the village, but a charming…
140 Branchburg Residents Graduate SHS
Somerville High School held its 120th Graduation Ceremony on Brooks Field on picture-perfect June 20th. Of 270 total graduating seniors listed in the program, 140 were from Branchburg. Leading their classmates onto the field were Valedictorian Christopher Torng, Salutatorian Kevin Lee, Senior Class President Will Haduch, all of Branchburg, and…
BCMS Graduates 220 Students
Branchburg Central Middle School held the 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony on June 17 at 7 p.m. in the school gym. Student Council officers Amanda McHenry, secretary; Cara Poole, treasurer; Kyle Adam, president; and Pat Burke, vice president, each had a role in the program, with Kyle Adam giving the class speech. The BCMS band played “Pomp and…
Upcoming Events
Pottery Sale—July 26, 27—Red Barn Artisans will host a Pottery Show & Sale from 10am to 4pm at 1125 Hwy #28 in North Branch. Come and meet the potters and enjoy throwing demonstrations, snacks and beverages while you shop. For details, contact Terry @ 908-963-7689 or…
Summer Recreation Happenings
This summer, the Branchburg Recreation Department will presenting a myriad of family events. Movies in the Park—Bring blankets and lawn chairs for free movies under the stars at White Oak Park. “Bee Movie” was already shown on June 28…
Questions Over History of RVCC House
A controversy is brewing over RVCC’s plan to sell a 3600-square foot house for removal from its property along Lamington Road. The problem? RVCC has advertised the house in the Star-Ledger as a circa-1900 residential building. The Branchburg Historic Preservation Commission says it dates back much further and may be one of the top three most…
Bouwman Wins Primary
Incumbent township committee man Bob Bouwman won the June 3 Republican primary and will face Democrat Roberto Fois in the November election. Bouwman bested Republican challenger Melissa Looby, a current member of the Branchburg Board of Education, 746–510. Fois ran unopposed on the Democrat slate…
State Champs Give It Up For the Challengers
Branchburg U-14 Bulldogs showed they have more than winning titles on their minds when the two time State Champs volunteered their time to the Challenger League players Saturday morning May 31. The Bulldogs arrived in uniform and buddied up with the Challenger League players, as base guides, pitchers, and batting assistants. Joyce and Rick Flood…
Glen Willow Condo Plan Is Kaput
The Glen Willow development application, that initially included a proposal for 168 high density residential housing units near the intersection of Route 202 and Holland Brook Road, was withdrawn from the township recently by the developer. According to Mayor John Sanford, “This development was a bad application in terms of density…
Branchburg Briefs
Studdiford BridgeTo Be Replaced—The Studdiford Bridge off South Branch Road will be closed July 7 through October for a complete replacement. Detours to and from Hillsborough will be posted. For info, call the County Engineering Dept. at 908-231-7000…
Million+ Pop-Tabs Collected for Ronald McDonald House
Fourth Annual Golf Tourney Memorializes Somerville Grad
A Tornado of Branchburg Talent & Caring Will Be On Stage July 11 & 12
Rotary Club Hosts Major Assembly in Mystic, Connecticut
Heartlands Hayride To Hit Town With Doerfel Family on July 19
Wind Symphony and Army Band at White Oak on July 22
Branchburg Musicians Excel In Region Band Auditions
Branchburg Men Recognized by Scouting
8th Grade Grads Had a Blast at Silver Saddle Bash, Formal Dance
Outstanding 8th Graders Receive Awards
Rotary Scholarships Go To Graduating Seniors
Balloon Fest Is Coming
Community Quilt Unveiled
Scouts Collecting Supplies for Animal Shelters
Authors’ Visits Spotlight Books, Writing
Heat was on for “Girls on the Run” Event
Zimliki Wins Hillsborough Hop
Rotary Helps Homeless Shelter, Food Bank
Youth Tennis Clinics Available
Branchburg Boys Contribute to Successful St. Joe’s Lacrosse Season
Students Serve As “Superintendent Of The Day”
Branchburg Wrestlers Wrap It Up
A Special Day at the Special Olympics
Branchburg Newsmakers
Margie Van Blarcom Retires From Banking
The SHS Scoop: In June, It All Came Down To Three P’s
Ignite! ChurchBegins Casual Worship & Children’s Bible Study
Rotary Presents “Student of the Month” Awards
Elks Celebrate Students of the Third Quarter
High School Students Receive Elks Awards
Haircut Mania!
The Horizontals in Battle of the Bands Semi-Finals July 20
Nominations Sought For spanersity Award
Storm Wins U15 spanision Championship
Storming Robots Holds “RoboCon”
A Celebration of Rank
Learning Express Slates Summer Fun
Affordable Housing Numbers Don’t Add Up For Branchburg
Education Foundation Presents Graduation Awards
Woman’s Club Welcomes New Members, Honors Students, Sets Craft Show
Spartan Notes: Branchburg Shines at Immaculata Commencement
“Cena To Go” Serves A Great Lunch
Planetarium Lists Laser Concerts, Kids Shows
Who is That Masked Bandit?
Pascual Singers Delight Seniors
Tutors Receive Thanks From Schools
Students Enjoy Salad (and growing it, too!)
Branchburg Naturally: The World’s Best Garden Tools?
Rotary’s Ecuador Efforts Expanded
Branchburg Girls Launch “Glamour Gals” Chapter
SHS Musicians Honored at Banquet
What They Went For
Branchburg Corn
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Branchburgblog
BULLDOGS ADVANCE IN WORLD SERIES
—The Branchburg Bulldogs won their first game in the 10-Year-Old Cal Ripken World Series in Abbeville, LA, on Aug. 8. They beat the Kenner, LA, team 5-1. Winning pitcher was Ethan Kornbrek. Austin Markowski homered. A complete description of the game can be found at www.baberuthleague.org/ scoreboard/scoreboard.html? gamenum=2008-90. Next game is Sunday at 4 pm (5 pm our time.)
BULLDOGS HEAD TO LOUISIANA FOR WORLD SERIES
—The Branchburg Bulldogs, winners of the Mid-Atlantic U-10 Cal Ripken Baseball Championship, left town for Abbeville, Louisiana, on Aug. 6 to compete in the 2008 Cal Ripken Baseball 10-Year-Old World Series. More than 100 of their friends, relatives and classmates, many holding colorful signs,lined Baird Road to cheer them on as their school bus left BCMS about 9 am for the Philadelphia Airport and their flight. Part of the Babe Ruth League World Series, the Cal Ripken tournament begins Aug. 8 in Abbeville, LA, about 150 miles west of New Orleans. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play Kenner, LA in a game at 5 pm central time (6 pm our time). The ongoing score will be posted by the inning at http://www.brlworldseries.com/default.php?do=Tournament&id=1. GO DAWGS!
BoE MEETING CANCELLED
—The July 24 regular meeting of the Branchburg Board of Education was cancelled "due to the lack of a confirmed quorum," reports the district website http://www.branchburg.k12.nj.us/. The meeting will be rescheduled at a date to be determined. The next scheduled meeting is a non-televised board retreat on July 28 at 6:30 pm at BCMS. A board retreat is like a workshop, in which a state education official typically comes and speaks to board members. Such meetings are open to the public, but no public participation is part of the schedule.
BOARD MEMBERS RESIGN
—Two BoE members resigned in the past few weeks. Russell Herzog, elected to the BoE in April 2007, resigned from the BoE,the Board of Adjustment and the Recreation Committee. According to a state consent order, Herzog had inappropriately used the title "certified public accountant." Zoltan Ambrus, elected to the BoE last April, also resigned.
HOT SUMMER FOR DISTRICT NEWS
—Since our July/August print edition came out the first week of July, there has been a lot of news coming out of the school district, with coverage in media far and wide. Here’s a synopsis: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR LET GO -- Donna Tolley, the district’s business administrator, hired in January, was let go as of June 30. The reason for her dismissal was characterized as a personnel matter by Superintendent Kenneth Knops and Board of Ed President Marie Annucci Caprio. PRINCIPAL NAMED INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR -- At a July 10 special meeting at Central Middle School, the BoE, in a split decision, named five-year Stony Brook School Principal Frank Altmire as interim business administrator. Though eligible to accept employment offers, Altmire is not yet fully certified to be a business administrator and still needs to complete 145 hours of mentoring. An interim principal for Stony Brook has not been named. PLAGARISM CHARGES GET MEDIA PLAY -- Charges of plagiarism were raised against Superintendent Knops by resident Margaret Millar during public comment at a June 12 BoE meeting. In the ensuing weeks, media outlets as diverse as Long Island Newsday and New Jersey 101.5 radio discussed the charges. Millar contends that some of Knops’ public messages contain unattributed passages copied almost word for word from messages by other public figures including President Bush. UPCOMING BoE MEETINGS -- July 24 (regular meeting at township building at 8 pm, cablecast on Comcast 14), July 28 (BoE retreat at BCMS at 6:30 pm, not televised), Aug. 14 and Aug. 28 (both regular meetings at township building at 8 pm, cablecast on Comcast 14).