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.

The connected duplex at 4 Magnolia Path sustained some smoke damage and water in the basement, but was protected from burning by a firewall between the two units, said Marc Friedman, former chief of the Liberty Corner Fire Company, who was at the scene.

Ed Schmall said he had gone into the basement shortly after 7:30 a.m. in response to the sound of the smoke detector alarm and saw smoke billowing from the area of the wood shop. He said he and his wife immediately left the house and reported the fire.

Once police arrived, Lea Schmall said her main concern was the dog next door. She said police were given the security code to enter 4 Magnolia Path through the garage.

"They did everything right,'' Laurie Kedersha of Branchburg said about the Schmalls, her parents.

"We have three willing children who are fighting over us,'' Ed Schmall said when asked if he and his wife had a place to go after the fire. He said the couple have two adult children living in the township, in addition to Kedersha.

Lea Schmall said she and her husband, both retirees, are thankful for the support shown them after the fire.

"Everything material can be replaced,'' said Ed Schmall.

Reese said responding fire departments came from Liberty Corner and Basking Ridge within the township, and from Bernardsville, the Veterans Administration Hospital in Lyons and the Millington section of Long Hill. Rescue squads came from Liberty Corner and Basking Ridge, he said. The American Red Cross also responded, he said.

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.

Rubin said participants have not decided whether the group will evolve into a formal chamber.

The group's first goal, according to Rubin, is to have by the next meeting at least one proposed event on the calendar for the new association. The April meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. at Luna Rossa Ristorante, 318 Route 202/206 in the township's Pluckemin section.

John Graf Jr., another participant, said he is part of a subcommittee that will review options for creating an official chamber, long-range goals and possible activities.

Graf is finance chairman for the Bedminster Democratic Committee, which held a "community pizza party" in September for local merchants. Now, he said that he will encourage any businesses he has contacted to join the new business association. Both Graf and Rubin said the new group has no political affiliation.

Rubin said she intends to eventually pull away from the business association once it is established.

For more information, call Rubin at 908-672-5067 or e-mail sally@sallyrubin.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.

General seating admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at Bernardsville Hardware and Equipment Rental, 139 Morristown Road in Bernardsville; at the front desk at Bernards High School or by emailing bhsdramatickets@yahoo.com.

"Anything Goes," a Cole Porter classic, harkens back to movie musicals of the 1930s. The production involves more than 125 Somerset Hills School District students -- a cast of 70, 15 technicians, 20 members of the high school orchestra, 5 Bernardsville Middle School students and a cameo chorus of 30 Bedwell elementary school students; which are all the schools in the district.

Laura Blair and Steven John Jastrabek of Express Yourself Salon and Spa in Far Hills created hairstyles for the show's leading ladies. The PAC parents donated their time and expertise to help create a two-story ship on stage. Please visit their website at pacparents.org to learn how to get involved in this exciting Performing Arts Center parent support group.

For show information, call 908-204-1930. Bon Voyage!

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.

Neuer has been a supporter of the Jeremy's Heroes Golf Classic for the past three years. He also is actively involved in the NephCure Foundation, which is the only organization solely committed to seeking a cause and cure for FSGS, and runs an annual event for the group in New Jersey.

He contributes to the MS Society, the Morristown Memorial Hospital camp program and the Community Food Bank, and he is an active member of his temple. Within the commercial real estate industry, he serves on the board of CoreNet Global and on the board of its New Jersey Chapter as secretary. In the past, he has volunteered as the chair of CoreNet's charity golf outing.

"We are dedicated to teaching our Jeremy's Heroes children to be leaders in their communities and always demonstrate compassion to others through service," said Jennifer Glick, executive director of Jeremy's Heroes. "Jeremy is the perfect role model for this, which is why we are thrilled to present to him the JH Sportsmanship Award for his dedication to helping those in need."

The Jeremy's Heroes organization benefits children through sports and community service projects. Its namesake, Jeremy Logan Glick, was one of the heroic passengers aboard Flight 93. On September 11th, 2001, he sacrificed his life to prevent terrorists from flying into its intended Washington D.C. target, saving countless lives. Jeremy is an American hero.

Jeremy's Heroes provides funding for: sports camp tuition, tournament and travel scholarships, training and coaching, equipment and uniforms, facility refurbishment, opening new program sites, establishing after-school programs, and even entire physical education and after-school programs in schools.

"Jeremy's Heroes is making a real difference for children," Neuer said. "I am pleased to support its mission and am both honored and humbled to have been chosen to receive its Sportsmanship Award. I encourage people to learn more about this outstanding organization and come out for the Golf Classic, which always is a fun and inspiring event.

For more information about the event, sponsorships, dinner tickets or general information about Jeremy's Heroes, please call (877) 654-6773 or visit www.jeremysheroes.org.

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Photographs by students from Bernards High School in Bernardsville will be on display through the remainder of March, which is Youth Art Month, in the community room at Bernardsville Public Library, 1 Anderson Hill Road, Bernardsville.

"This Is The World We Live IN" will display the talents of the young photographers at Bernards High, who have photographed a wide variety of subject matters. The photos have captured images from scenes in the mountains of Peru to the farmlands of New Jersey, according to a news release from the library. "I am very excited to see the final outcome of the fruits of the students' hard labor,'' said Dennis Babicke, photography teacher at the high school, which is attended by students from Bernardsville, Peapack-Gladstone, Far Hills and Bedminster Township. "Everyone has been working diligently selecting and framing some of their best images for this exhibition."

The photographs will be on display during regular library hours unless a meeting is being held in the community room. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118. Information on the library is also available at WWW.bernardsvillelibrary.org.
_ Linda Sadlouskos

Dancing will be to the live band, "Hoi Polloi." Complimentary drinks, and a variety of western-themed entertainment -- including Black Jack, a cow toss, horseshoes, "Ye Olde Photo Booth," and the popular Quick Draw "Vealtown Jesse" -- will round out the event.

The Somerset Hills Education Foundation (SHEF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of educational programming and technology in The Somerset Hills School District. Over the past 13 years, SHEF has donated more than $550,000 the district for such initiatives as fall and spring mini grant cycles for teachers, and the GET SMART! and Computers on Wheels (COW’s) technology programs. The Chili Cook-Off is SHEF's largest fundraiser and each year proves to be a popular event.

For tickets and more information, visit the SHEF website at www.shefnj.org, or contact co-chairs Ellen Clark at eclark@shsd.org or Laura Ruggeri at larrug@aol.com.
_ Linda Sadlouskos

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

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

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.

Each honoree spent one to two years on a community action project that had far-reaching effects in her community and beyond. Among the honorees this year are authors, advocates, and environmentalists with projects based in a wide range of locations--from India, Africa, and China to neighborhoods in Louisiana and California. Shannon was the only honoree from the Northeast.

Shannon's After-school Reading Exchange (SHARE, www.shareinafrica.org)--was founded out of a desire to empower girls in East Africa to reach their highest potential through reading. Shannon noted that "collecting book donations and renovating the SHARE classroom was relatively easy; the challenge was convincing the mothers to allow their daughters to stay and read afterschool--and not being immediately available to do the household chores of collecting water, farming, and caring for siblings." She partnered with Community Solutions for Africa's Development (COSAD), an international nonprofit, and in 2008, Shannon created the first SHARE room in the Kiteyagwa Primary School in Bukoba, a rural village in Tanzania. To date, SHARE, whose slogan is, "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader," has expanded to three Tanzanian schools, helping approximately 150 girls improve their reading and English language skills.

Shannon's work has earned her numerous awards, media attention, and even recognition by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Miley Cyrus. For more information, plus photos and videos for press use, visit SHARE's website, www.shareinafrica.org. She was also recently named one of New Jersey's top two youth volunteers for 2010 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This nationwide program honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Please direct inquiries about joining Girl Scouts to GSHNJ Membership Department (908) 973-746-8200 or www.gshnj.org

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