VOL. XXXIII NO. XI ROCKY HILL, NEW JERSEY JANUARY 2003

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 February issue is Monday, February 17, 2003. 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 might send us a supply of stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelopes, and we will be happy to mail the paper to them. Visit The Rocky Hill Gazette online at: www.rockyhillgazette.com

This month’s issue is sponsored by

AMBOY NATIONAL BANK.

EMERGENCY - POLICE * FIRE * MEDICAL 911

Police Non-Emergency - (609) 882-7999

Borough Hall 924-7445 Wednesday 3:30 -6 PM - Animal Control (732) 329-4000 Day; (732) 329-4646 Night/Weekend

GAZETTE CALENDAR

JANUARY

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

Story & Craft (ages 4 & 5) - Library, 10:30 AM (also Feb. 3, 10, 24) *

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

Adult Book Discussion Group - Library, 7:30 PM (also Feb. 25) *

Toddler Story (ages 2 & 3) - Library, 10:30 AM (also Feb. 4, 18, 25) *

Kids Only (grades 5 - 7) - Library, 4 PM (also Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25) *

29 Wednesday Toddler Sing (ages 1 - 3) - Library, 10:30 AM (also Feb. 5, 19, 26) *

Chess Tournament (grades 2 - 8) - Library, 4 PM (also Feb. 19) *

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

Toddler Sing (ages 1 - 3) - Library, 10:30 AM (also Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27) *

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

FEBRUARY

1 Saturday Origami (ages 7 & up) - Library, 10:30 AM *

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

3 Monday Teen Advisory (grades 6 & up) - Library, 5 PM

Borough Council - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

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

Chess (grades 2 - 8) - Library, 4 PM (also Feb. 26) *

7 Friday Recycling - curbside 7 AM (also Feb. 21)

9 Sunday “Coffee With the Council” - Community House, 4 - 6 PM

11 Tuesday Toddler Craft (ages 2 & 3) - Library, 10:30 AM, 11 AM *

Planning Board - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

12 Wednesday Lincoln’s Birthday - Library closed

14 Friday Montgomery Schools closed (also Feb. 17)

LaLeche League of Montgomery - Library, 10 AM

15 Saturday Saturday Stories (ages 4 - 6) - Library, 10:30 AM *

16 Sunday Valentine Party - Community House, 4 PM (see flyer)

17 Monday Presidents Day - Library & Montgomery Schools closed

18 Tuesday Borough Council - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

Gazette Editorial Meeting - Library, 7:30 PM

22 Saturday Washington’s Birthday

Saturday Sing (ages 1 - 4) - Library, 10:30 AM *

26 Wednesday School Board - Schoolhouse, 7 PM

27 Thursday Municipal Court - Schoolhouse, 7:30 PM

28 Friday Teen Game Night (grades 6 &up) - Library, 6:45 PM *

* PLEASE REGISTER

ROCKY HILL GAZETTE

NEEDS: - SUBSTITUTE CIRCULATION PERSON(S) - IF NO ONE VOLUNTEERS, THEN, WHEN GRACE ENGEL-BRECHT IS UNAVAILABLE THE GAZETTE WILL NOT BE PRINTED. CALL D. HARTMANN-921-9217 OR G. ENGLE-BRECHT-921-6602. Also, substitute reporters to cover Boards, sub-stitute deliverers of the Gazette and a Secretary. Call D. Hartmann-921-9217 or Gloria Mack-921-7929.

POLICY - If your organization wishes to include a flyer with an issue of the Gazette call Doris Hartmann (921-9217) for OK and then you must notify Grace Engelbrecht (921-6602) prior to deadline for that issue. You should also offer to assist in collating that issue of the Gazette.

The Gazette will print no anonymous letters sent to it. Your letter must be signed and include your telephone number. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters where necessary and prints only advertisements from children and senior citi-zens.

FIRE HYDRANTS - Please dig out when necessary so that the Fire Department will not have to hunt for them.

SIDEWALKS - As per Rocky Hill Ordinance snow cov-ered sidewalks should be shoveled for safe walking.

LIST OF ROCKY HILL OFFICIALS - Please save at-tached list for reference during 2003.

BOROUGH COUNCIL 1/6/03

The Borough Council concluded the December 16th, 2002 meeting and closed the books for 2002, including approving budget cancellations of $34K. Mayor Nolan reviewed the rec-ommendation to improve the playgrounds in Rocky Hill. Council voted to move forward with replacing all swings using $11,000 from the 2002 budget.

At the reorganization meeting for 2003, Brian Nolan was sworn in as the Mayor; Connie Hallman and Peggy Harris were sworn in as Council members. George Morren was elected Council President. In his Annual Address, Mayor Nolan rec-ognized Mr. Robotti and Mr. Merritt for their years of service to Rocky Hill. The Council announced and approved the new appointments for 2003 (a complete list is attached).

At the completion of the reorganization meeting, the Council conducted the first regular meeting for 2003. Robert Dempsey, Assistant Station Commander, provided an update on the “hit and run” crime scene investigation that involved Rocky Hill resident Brad Alexander on December 16th, 2003. He indicated that the search had been narrowed to 6,000 Buick Century cars between model years 1992 and 1996 - 700 of these cars use the 518 corridor. As of this date the color of the vehicle had not been determined.

Mayor Nolan has been receiving menacing anonymous let-ters concerning the speed bumps that have been installed on Merritt Lane. Also, Mayor Nolan indicated that there was no new information about the mailbox explosions that occurred on January 4, 2003.

Dave Staph, Borough Engineer, reported that installation of speed bump delineators on Merritt Lane had been delayed due to snow and that the drainage work on Young Drive had been completed.

Larry Raffaelli retired as the Borough Construction Offi-cial after 26 years of service; he will remain as the Borough Zoning Official.

PLANNING BOARD 1/14/03

Elections: Chairperson - Susan Bristol; Vice-Chair-person John Yuchmow; and Secretary - Jeanette Muser. Ge-rald Muller was retained as Board Attorney and Susan Kimball as Planner.

Mayor Nolan thanked outgoing members Constance Greiff and Mark Blasch for their service. He announced that he had met with David Shafer about proposed rezoning for his land. Mr. Nolan also urged that the process for applications be streamlined and that community informational outreach be im-proved.

George White’s plan to create an apartment for his father in an accessory building at 49 Washington Street was approved pending submission of a plan for an outside exit.

SCHOOL BOARD 11/20/02

Absent: S. Boisnier

Many residents spoke out against the placement of 18 kin-dergartners in an undersized classroom.

Ms. Romano of the Montgomery School Board sent a let-ter asking for support in bringing a bus issue to the Rocky Hill Council. She says the traffic calming measures have added hazard and time to the bus routes. The Board proposed a dis-cussion with Montgomery’s Transportation Director. Connie Hallman added that her calls to Montgomery complaining of speeding buses on Montgomery Avenue have had no effect.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

There will be a “Coffee With the Council at the Commu-nity Center” on February 9th from 4 - 6 PM.

Any resident who did not receive a 2003 Rocky Hill Tele-phone Book should call 924-2998. Extra copies are available for a $5 donation.

The Hallman’s correct telephone number is 430-0783

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

Jim and Colleen Rodewald became parents of a baby boy, Liam Quinn, on December 13th, 2002. Very happy grand-parents are Adrienne and Paul Rodewald of Merritt Lane.

We were very saddened at the death of Mildred Talerick Cranstoun on December 20th. She had been a resident of Rocky Hill for her entire life. She was a member of the Mont-gomery Township Senior Citizens and the Rocky Hill 76’ers. She will begreatly missed. Our sympathy is extended to her husband and to all of her family.

MARY JACOBS LIBRARY

Tax forms are available at the Library, either printed or for those obscure forms, on the Internet.

If you lost something in the past year, please check out our display cases to see if it is in the Lost and Found Display.

We are still hoping for a Spring ground-breaking for the new addition.