UPDATE: Couple express thanks after fire destroys their Bernards home

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

A Bernards couple said they will stay with their adult children after they escaped a fire Thursday that destroyed their duplex in The Cedars town house development.

Ed and Lea Schmall said they were grateful to firefighters, rescue workers and neighbors who invited them indoors while dozens of firefighters battled the blaze at 2 Magnolia Path for more than three hours.

Township police Lt. Ted Reese said the fire appears to have started in a wood shop in a basement of the Schmall's two-story home. Reese said they called 9-1-1 at about 7:40 a.m. after a smoke detector sounded, alerting them to the fire.

Reese said the cause of the fire remained under investigation as of Thursday afternoon and did not appear to be suspicious.
The fire gutted the home, Reese said. The main floor of the house collapsed, and all of the home's windows, and a skylight, were either blown out by the heat of the fire, or broken by firefighters entering the building, he said.

Multiple fire departments and rescue squads responded to the scene along with police and the township office of emergency management, Reese said.

A neighbor, Ramona McColgan, said she saw flames coming from the basement when she came outside at about 8 a.m. to see the fire.
"It was huge,'' she said.

Lea Schmall said she was pleased that township police were able to remove a Cocker Spaniel, Abbey, who was in an attached duplex at 4 Magnolia Path. The owner of that house was not home when the fire started, according to Reese and the Schmalls.

Read more

Ball gets rolling for new Bedminster business association

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

Another meeting of the new Bedminster business association has been scheduled for April 9.

Township Committeeman Sally Rubin, who has been working to set up the fledgling association, said she is looking for more township businesses or local professionals to join the group, which aims to promote local shopping and cooperation among merchants.

About 14 representatives from local businesses attended a March 5 meeting at Kings Supermarket off Route 202/206, said Rubin, explaining that some sort of business association is necessary in a town without a chamber of commerce.

Read more

Far Hills police blotter: Burglary at Butlers Pantry

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

BURGLARY, 1 a.m. March 4. Police are investigating a burglary at the Butlers Pantry on Route 202.

The business was burglarized between 9 p.m. March 3 and 1 a.m. March 4. An unsuccessful attempt was made to steal an ATM inside the business, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Chief Kenneth Hartman by e-mail at FarHillsChief@aol.com or call 908-963-4006 or Detective Michael DeCarolis by e-mail at FHPDDeCarolis@aol.com or call 908-672-1067. All information will be kept confidential.

JEREMY’S HEROES TO HONOR CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD’S JEREMY NEUER

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

June Golf Classic in Memory of 9/11 Flight 93 Hero to Support Kids' Programming

BEDMINSTER, N.J., March 8, 2010 Jeremy's Heroes, a non-profit organization formed in memory of 9/11 Flight 93 hero Jeremy Glick, will honor Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.'s Jeremy Neuer of Whippany, N.J., during its 9th Anniversary Golf Classic on Thursday, June 10. A senior director in the commercial real estate services firm's Edison, N.J., office, Neuer will be recognized with the Jeremy's Heroes Sportsmanship Award during the event, which will raise funds for physical and character education programming.

The Golf Classic will be held at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, with accommodations for 132 golfers. The day will include a full lunch, 18 holes of golf, a cocktail reception, silent auction and awards dinner. Each year, Jeremy's Heroes presents its Sportsmanship Award to a community leader who demonstrates outstanding generosity, compassion and devotion to improving the lives of children.

Read more

PARK COMMISSION NATURALISTS OFFER FREE THREE-PART PROGRAM ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

The Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center Naturalists will continue to provide programs designed to educate children and adults on methods to protect our environment. The Environmental Education Center is located at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, NJ.

Our Earth is a three-part program for adults and children age 12 and older that will focus on the environment, addressing how people consume, the United States economy, and our ability to succeed in the new global economy.

The Naturalist-led series will show how we treat our environment and its finite resources. Participants will gain a better understanding of current environmental issues and how people can have a positive impact on the global environment by addressing issues in the home.

The sessions will run on Saturday afternoons from 3:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.. Participants may attend individual sessions or the entire series.

Saturday, March 20 - "Our Food Supply: GMO's & Other Concerns"

Saturday, April 24 "Vegetable Garden Basics"

Saturday, May 8 "Native Plants: Why Are They So Good?"

The program is free but pre-registration is required. Call 908-766-2489 or register online at www.somersetcountyparks.org

Information on this event and other Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org

Tickets still available for “Breakfast with the Easter Bunny” in Basking Ridge

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

The Junior Women's Club of Somerset Hills will be hosting "Breakfast with the Easter Bunny" on March 13th to benefit Foster and Adoptive Family Services. The event will take place 9 - 11 a.m., at the William Annin Middle School, 71 Quincy Drive, in Basking Ridge. There will be a continental breakfast, performance by the magician Tommy Knucklehead, a tricky tray,

face painting, and an opportunity to take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Tickets are $12 per person or $50 per family, and children under two are free. Prepaid reservations will receive complimentary Tricky Tray tickets. For more information or to get tickets, email the Junior Women's Club of Somerset Hills at jwcsomersethills@yahoo.com

Heart of New Jersey Girl Scout Awarded Girl Scouts USA National Young Women

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

Week of March 8 is National Girl Scout Week

Heart of New Jersey Girl Scout Awarded Girl Scouts USA National Young Women of Distinction Honor One of Ten Honorees Nationwide.

Sixteen year old Shannon McNamara of Basking Ridge has been named one of the Girl Scouts' 2009 National Young Women of Distinction. Girl Scouts USA honors only ten National Young Women of Distinction each year. The award is given for demonstrating extraordinary leadership in the completion of a community action project for the Girl Scout Gold Award. The Girl Scout Young Women of Distinction is earned by fewer than six percent of all Girl Scouts, ten Girl Scouts nationwide each year.

Shannon was recognized for her efforts to empower African girls through education. The award is given for "demonstrating extraordinary leadership in the completion of a community action project." Kathy Cloninger, CEO, Girl Scouts USA, presented Shannon with the award at a special awards ceremony on February 27 during the Girl Scout National Corporate Leadership Meeting in St. Louis. Shannon is a Senior Girl Scout (double check) member of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Council.

Read more

Central Jersey districts making up snow days during summer, spring break

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

Spring break in some Central Jersey school districts could be shorter, or the academic year could grow longer, as a result of the number of snow days taken in February.

In some cases, a number of districts have taken as many as five snow days this winter. Now, those districts are hoping for a mild March as administrators find a way to make sure their schools meet state requirements for number of days in session.

Read more

New Bedminster business association kickoff rescheduled for Friday morning

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

The kickoff meeting for a new township business association is rescheduled for 8:30 a.m., Friday, after heavy snows resulted in light attendance at two meetings in February.

The township does not have its own chamber of commerce. Township Committeewoman Sally Rubin said she is trying to bring together local businesses to launch a local business association. Whether that group evolves into a formal chamber of commerce will depend on the preferences of the businesses involved in the new association, she said.

The meeting will be in the cooking studio of Kings Supermarket in the township, with breakfast to be served, said Joyce Petriella, regional catering coordinator for Kings.

Read more

Fellowship Village director earns fund-raising title

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

Phylis Tranotti, director of development at Fellowship Village, has been named as a Certified Fund Raising Executive by CFRE International. Tranotti joins a select group of professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation.

Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards, including tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service. They have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights. The designation of a Certified Professional is then earned after passing a rigorous written examination.
Tranotti previously had been in the fundraising profession with an international organization but admits it was her move to Fellowship Village that prompted her to seek this certification.
Fellowship Village is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community in the Basking Ridge section, where Tranotti has served since 2007 as its first director of development. Call 908-580-3800 for more information.