VOL. XXXII NO. II ROCKY HILL, NEW JERSEY APRIL 2001

The Rocky Hill Gazette welcomes your comments and will publish items of social, civic and governmental interest to our readers. News articles and letters may be sent to The Rocky Hill Gazette, 29 Toth Lane, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553. We will endeavor to print all items as received, however, limitations of space on occasion may require some editing on our part. The deadline for the May issue is Monday, May 14, 2001. Since it is our policy that The Rocky Hill Gazette be non-profit, we are happy to accept your sponsorship of $50.00 or contribution in any amount up to the limit of our printing costs. Individuals living outside of Rocky Hill who wish a copy may send us a supply of stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelopes, and we will be happy to mail the paper to them.

This month’s issue is sponsored by

WILLIAM B. MEGILL, D.D.S., N.D.

EMERGENCY - POLICE * FIRE * MEDICAL 911

Police Non-Emergency - (609) 882-7999

Borough Hall 924-7445 Thursday 9-11 am - Animal Control (732) 329-4000 Day; (732) 329-4646 Night/Weekend

GAZETTE CALENDAR

APRIL

23 Monday Al-Anon Family Groups - First Reformed Church, 10 AM (every Monday)

Story, Craft & Movement (ages 4 & 5) - Library, 10:30 AM (also Apr. 30, May 7, 14, 21) *

Rabies Clinic - Firehouse, 4 - 6 PM

24 Tuesday Alcoholics Anonymous - First Reformed Church, 12 Noon (every Tuesday)

Adult Book Discussion Group - Library, 7:30 PM *

Toddler Story (ages 2 - 4) - Library, 10:30 AM (also May 1, 15, 22) *

Balloon Twisting (ages 6 - 12) - Library, 4 PM

25 Wednesday School Board - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM (also May 23)

Toddler Sing (ages 1 - 3 ) - Library, 10:30 AM (also May 2, 9, 16, 23) *

Stories (ages 4 & 5) - Library, 1:30 PM (also May 2, 9, 23) *

School Board - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM (also May 23)

26 Thursday Toddler Sing (ages 1 - 3 ) - Library, 10:30 AM (also May 3, 10, 17, 24) *

Book Discussion (grades 5 - 8) - Library, 4 PM *

Municipal Court - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM (also May 24)

Al-Anon Family Groups - First Reformed Church, 8 PM (every Thursday)

27 Friday Alcoholics Anonymous - First Reformed Church, 8:30 PM (every Friday)

“Afraid of Clowns?” (ages 3 - 5) - Library, 10:30 AM

28 Saturday “Tire drop-off” - See Borough Council Report (also May 5)

29 Sunday Alcoholics Anonymous - First Reformed Church, 7:30 PM (every Sunday)

MAY

1 Tuesday Kids Only (grades K - 2) - Library, 4 PM (also, May 8, 15, 22) *

2 Wednesday 76’ers Senior Citizens - Trinity Church, 11 AM

4 Friday Recycling - curbside 7 AM (also May 18)

7 Monday Borough Council - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM - Traffic calming to be discussed.

8 Tuesday Toddler Crafts (ages 1 - 3) - Library, 10:30 AM *

Planning Board - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

10 Thursday Rocky Hill Plant Sale - Community House - 12 Noon - 6 PM

11 Friday Rocky Hill Plant Sale - Community House - 10 AM - 6 PM

LaLeche League of Montgomery - Library, 10 AM

12 Saturday Rocky Hill Plant Sale - Community House - 9 AM - 3:30 PM

Rummage Sale - First Reformed Church, 9 AM - 3 PM

13 Sunday Mother’s Day

Pancake Breakfast - Firehouse, 8 AM - 1 PM

14 Monday Brush and Tree Removal - Curbside, 7 AM

15 Tuesday Gazette Editorial Meeting - Library, 7:30 PM

17 Thursday Community Group - Community House, Annual Meeting, 7:30 PM

18 Friday Rummage Sale - Trinity Church, 4 - 7 PM

19 Saturday Rummage Sale - Trinity Church, 8:30 AM - 3 PM

Clean-Up - Curbside, 7 AM

21 Monday Borough Council - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

23 Wednesday Chess (grades 2 - 4) - Library, 4 PM *

24 Thursday Book Discussion (grades 5 - 8) - Library, 5 PM *

* PLEASE REGISTER

GAZETTE

THE ROCKY HILL GAZETTE HAS GONE HI-TECH!

www.RockyHillGazette.com

Thanks to Bob Gorman and OfficeLinks.com

BOROUGH COUNCIL 4/2/01

Dave Staph, Borough Engineer, said the sewer agreement with Stonebridge was approved. Two grants totaling $252,000 were received for road improvement. Toth and Mer-ritt will be repaved. The sewer line on Merritt from Lemore to Montgomery will be replaced before this is done.

The State Police are aware of the problem with the house at 90 Princeton Avenue and are working with the Health Offi-cer to see if there are too many families and if health codes are being violated.

The Borough Budget was read (title only) fulfilling the public notice. No action was taken and passage was post-poned, as there may still be a chance to receive grant money from the State.

Council member Pihokken presented the preliminary traffic calming plans from the County. (A copy is in the Library.) He will discuss the placement of Pedestrian Crossing signs with the County representative.

Larry Raffaelli, Building Inspector, said there have been 39 permits issued since 1/1/01 and $8800 has been collected in fees.

Mayor Nolan reported that the Montgomery Administra-tor said the type of police coverage the Borough wants is not allowed by law.

Rabies Clinic: Monday, April 23 at the Firehouse from 4 - 6 PM.

Clean-Up Days: Saturday 5/19 and Saturday 10/20.

The Council went into executive session to discuss the applications for Constable.

Note! May 7th Meeting to cover traffic calming.

Tire Drop-Offs: On April 28 and May 5, tires will be accepted at the North County Public Works Garage at 5 Hol-land Avenue, Peapack and at the South County Public Works Garage at 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough. They may be dropped off the first Saturday of every month from 8 AM to Noon at the County Recycling Center at 40 Polhemus Lane in Bridgewater.

BOROUGH COUNCIL 4/16/01

Absent: C. Pihokken

There have been complaints about unregistered cars, an unregistered trailer and excessive noise at a Princeton Avenue house. Lawrence Raffaelli and a State Police representative arranged to have the cars towed and they will be enforcing the ordinance prohibiting trailers that are connected to electricity and water.

Mayor Brian Nolan announced appointments for a special subcommittee on municipal grant programs. Members are William O’Brien, Tony Bianculli, Peggy Harris and one other person who has not yet been named.

Council voted to appoint Robert Crowe of Montgomery Avenue as Constable.

Rocky Hill’s tercentennial will be celebrated on Oct. 6. Mayor Nolan, Jeanette Muser and Richard Batchelder are forming committees and working on plans.

Peggy Harris of the Shade Tree Committee reported that volunteers cleaned and raked in Crescent Point Park. Six trees have been planted and mulching has been completed at Bor-ough Hall. Ms. Harris discussed needed improvements at Panicaro Park, including a picnic table, mulch and additional playground equipment. Council agreed to arrange for mulch and will consider the other items.

Brush and tree limb removal will be May 14. Brush that is two inches in diameter or less is to be tied in bun-dles with rope or twine and the bundles must be four feet or less in length. Tree limbs must be no larger than four inches in diameter and should be cut in four foot lengths. Trunks and roots will not be picked up

PLANNING BOARD - 4/10/01

Absent: C. Pihokken

The Board approved a sign for the 1860 House to be put at Route 518 and Montgomery Ave.

Plans for the house at 32 Princeton Avenue were approved but the door must be changed.

Mayor Nolan will send a “letter of support” to the Mill-stone Valley Preservation Coalition for the Millstone Valley Scenic Byways nomination with the recommendation that the route include River Road between Rocky Hill and Route 27 in Kingston.

The Board approved a revised Village Center Designation draft and a map.

By 2002, a revised Master Plan must be prepared.

Mayor Nolan reported that the Montgomery Township Planning Board is considering approval of a traffic light at Rt. 206 and the south entrance to Princeton North Shopping Cen-ter. The Mayor also announced that committees have been formed to plan tercentennial activities for this Fall.

A new fence ordinance was approved as amended. Viola-tions could result in fines of up to $1000 a day.

On May 8, the Land Use Plan for the Borough will be discussed. This includes Village Center Designation, future development and accessory apartments and zoning.

ROCKY HILL COMMUNITY GROUP

http://community.nj.com/cc/rhcg

The Plant Sale will be at the Community House on May 10, 11 , and 12 (see calendar for times). Call Janet Raffaelli at 924-0373 to volunteer your help or to ask questions

The Heritage Project has received a $350 mini-grant award from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Com-mission. Jeanette Muser plans to create an exhibit as part of the tercentennial celebration. The exhibit will open on October 6th .

There will be an annual meeting on Thursday, May 17 at 7:30 PM at the Community House. Topics to be covered will be recipients of 2001 donations, maintenance or possible sale of the Community House.

ROCKY HILL TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Kevin Cann, President of the RHTA, Mayor Nolan, Rec-reation Committee Councilman Brad Merritt and the Construc-tion Official Larry Raffaelli will call an initial meeting to dis-cuss the cost of renovating the Borough tennis courts. A pub-lic meeting will be held later.

FILE OF LIFE

The Rocky Hill First Aid Squad in partnership with the Rocky Hill Board of Health is sponsoring a new health promo-tion program for the residents of Rocky Hill. This File of Life is a small red vinyl file with a refrigerator magnet. A wallet size is also available. The File of Life will be distributed FREE to Rocky Hill residents at the Fire Company’s Pancake Break-fast on May 13, 2001. Additional distribution will be an-nounced. For further information call Peggy Querec at 924-8718.

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH

RUMMAGE SALE - Saturday, May 12th from 9 AM to 3 PM.

“Get On Board, Children” - Sunday School Singers pro-gram on Sunday, May 20th at the 10 AM Church service.

TRINITY CHURCH

RUMMAGE SALE - Friday May 8th from 4 - 7 PM and on Saturday, May 19th from 8:30 AM - 3 PM. Donations to

the sale may be dropped off at the Parish Hall Monday through Wednesday, May 14th - 16th from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon. If you have any questions call the Parish Hall at 921-8971 or call 924-2482. (No shoes, winter clothes or very heavy items please.)

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

Karl Rosen, a Freshman at Susquehanna University, is playing second singles for the men’s tennis team. Karl is the son of Carol and David Rosen of Toth Lane.

Welcome to new neighbors, Janet and Jeff Cooper and son, Nicholas, who have moved into the house at 11 Toth Lane. Carol and Mark Pollard have moved to their new home in Princeton Township

Diane and Sean Dineen of Crescent Avenue became par-ents of a baby boy, Evan, on April 5th.

Sandi Danielson and John Quirinale became parents of a baby boy, Eric Ian, on April 2nd . Happy Grandparents are Lenore Danielson and Don McLeod of Toth Lane.

MARY JACOBS LIBRARY

A model of the proposed expansion is on view in the Li-brary. Fund raising continues. Any questions call the Library

at 924-7073