RECREATION
Registration for new Virtual Winter Programs is open!
Murdock Madness has gone virtual! Former NBA player and hometown hero Eric Murdock is offering two virtual programs, Ball Handling and Form Shooting. These programs are open to boys and girls in grades 3-5 and 6-8 with several sessions to choose from.
Speed and Agility is a new virtual program offered by professional trainer, mindset coach, and basketball player Sterling Gibbs. There is one session available for participants in grades 3-5 and another for those in grades 6-8.
Have your moment of Zen with our Half Hour Health Break. This is a wonderful opportunity to combat mental and physical fatigue and re-energize through mindful stretching and breathing. You may remember our instructor, Shalini Rajamani, from her popular videos on our #ActiveBWT series last spring. Shalini has over 20 years of teaching experience and is also a teacher, mentor and wellness coach. Half Hour Health Break is open to participants all the way from age 12 to age 112! Shalini is also offering a virtual Yoga program that will help you maintain a healthy mind and body. Yoga is open to both adults and high school students. Both programs have two different session to choose from.
Also available are Virtual Pilates classes led by instructors from Club Pilates in Bridgewater. There are many options and participants may register individual classes.
New Virtual Art – Media Sampler Class for participants ages 16 through adult. Bridgewater Recreation has partnered with The Center for Contemporary Art to offer a virtual class that will introduce students to three popular art mediums - graphite, colored pencil, and ink.
⚽⚽⚽ In-Town Soccer Registration is now open ⚽⚽⚽
Registration for Jr. Panthers and Panther Soccer Academy will open mid-February.
Coming Soon!
Registration will open next week for Spring Tennis Lessons (youth and adult) with our instructor, Michael Watson, the General Manager for the Sports Think Tank (a USTA Member Organization).
Please keep your eyes open for emails from us with any updates or changes. You can also follow us on Twitter @bridgewaterrec. If you have any questions please call our office at (908)725-6373.
Continue to stay well, be active, and stay positive!
HEALTH
The Health Department continues to work with health officials to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, to keep the public as informed as possible, and to help residents to navigate their vaccination options. Routine inspections of retail food establishments are ongoing, and include review of Coronavirus- related compliance. If you encounter an issue that requires immediate attention, you can reach us by phone or email. Please click the button below for contact information.
SENIOR CENTER
Everyone interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is asked to pre-register in the state’s vaccination registration portal at: https://covidvaccine.nj.gov/
Registered individuals will receive a follow-up email when they can make an appointment at a vaccination center based on your priority group and eligibility to receive vaccine. After pre-registering for the vaccine, we urge individuals to remain patient as you wait for confirmation to begin the process of making an appointment at a vaccination center.
Somerset County residents are encouraged to visit the Somerset County Department of Health web page at www.co.somerset.nj.us/health for updated information about the COVID-19 vaccine. This web page includes the state's vaccination registration portal link.
On the Somerset County's Home page, select Residents-Vaccinations for additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine. It is important to note: As demand and supply of vaccine changes, the information on the Somerset County web page is subject to change.
Please check back often for the most up-to-date information.
Although Bridgewater Township Senior Center is closed for onsite operations until further notice, virtual activities and programs for Bridgewater residents of age 55 and above are offered via Zoom. Among the programs offered via Zoom are Dance Fitness, Weights Class, Strength Training, Yoga, and Brain Games. Clients can now participate in many of their favorite activities and classes in the comfort of their own home using Zoom. These virtual classes are a great way to stay active while reconnecting socially with others from the center. If you are interested in participating in Bridgewater Township’s Senior Center’s virtual classes, please contact Jennifer Osterberg at seniors@bridgewaternj.gov for more information. You may also call the senior center at 908-725-8020. Callers are asked to leave their name, phone number, and a brief message. Calls will be returned as soon as possible. You must be a Bridgewater resident senior to participate.
CLERK
The Township Clerk’s Office is up and running. We are here to assist with our daily functions via mail, email or fax. We are here assisting the governing body with upcoming meetings (via broadcast), available for licensing including but not limited to dogs, cats, raffles, bingo and other games of chance and other duties as imposed by statute, regulation or municipal ordinance.
TOWNSHIP COUNCIL
Bridgewater Township Council regular meetings are being held virtual via Ring Central access. Please check the website www.bridgewaternj.gov for the access link.
The 2021 Township Council Schedule of Meetings has been posted to the website. Please check the website for ring central access available the week prior.
DOG LICENSING
2021 DOG LICENSE RENEWAL NOTICE
Pursuant to Chapter 78 of the Bridgewater Township Code, all Dog Licenses are to be renewed annually during the month of January. New dogs that have reached the licensing age of seven (7) months or possess a set of permanent teeth must be licensed. Application Forms can be found at http://www.bridgewaternj.gov/twpclerk.html. If a dog already in our system an application is not needed.
DUE TO COVID-19, THE PREFERRED METHODS TO PROCESS DOG REGISTRATIONS ARE:
1. Drop off in the NEW Township Drop Box located at the municipal parking lot on the Police side of the complex.
2. Mail to 100 Commons Way – Bridgewater, NJ 08807 ATT: Dog Licensing
Enclose a check or money order (NO CASH) payable to “Bridgewater Township” and enclose a Self-Addressed STAMPED envelope for us to mail your license and tag back to you. Additional postage is required when mailing back more than one license. PLEASE ENSURE CORRECT POSTAGE.
COST: $15.00 Altered or $18.00 if NOT Altered.
Note: Late Fees are an additional $3.00 after February 1st and $10.00 after June 1st per license.
RABIES VACCINATION MUST be good for the licensing period which means your dog’s vaccination must be good until November 1, 2021. Proof of current rabies vaccination must be provided if new to the system, near expiration or expired. Proof of spaying/neutering is required unless previously provided.
Rabies is a SERIOUS concern of the Township Officials. By licensing, we know your pet has been properly vaccinated.
If you no longer have your dog, please note on the back of the post card you should receive if you dog has been registered with us and return to the address below or give us a call and we can update our database.
Township of Bridgewater Office of the Clerk 100 Commons Way – Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm 908-725-6300 ext. 5020
If you have a license issued by another municipality in New Jersey for the current licensing year Bridgewater Township will recognize it as a valid license.
Recycle your old dog tags with us; proceeds will go to the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter!
ELECTION BOARD WORKERS NEEDED
You can participate in the electoral process not only by voting, but by serving as an Election Board Worker at the polling places. The Somerset County Board of Elections is seeking qualified district board workers to staff the polls in Bridgewater Township and throughout the County during the June 8, 2021 Primary and November 2, 2021 General elections. The hours on Election Day are from 5:15 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. Board Workers are paid $200 for the day. A two-hour training class is required for new board workers.
If you are interested, please contact the Somerset County Board of Elections at 908-231-7086.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
SNOW PLOW OPERATIONS
We have entered snow season and the Public Works Division wants to remind residents that portable basketball hoops, street hockey goals, etc. must be removed from the roadways including cul-de-sacs for snow plow operations. They should be far enough away from the curb or edge of pavement so that they will not hang over the edge.
During snow events, we request that cars be placed in driveways and off the street. Trash cans and recycling containers should also be kept off the roadways as the plow driver may not see these obstacles or may go around those obstacles leaving these areas unplowed. The Township will not be responsible for any damage to trash cans, recycling containers, basketball hoops, street hockey goals, etc. damaged during snow plow or salting operations. It is the owner’s responsibility to have these items relocated or removed.
In general, the snow plow procedure during the storm is to clean the center of the roadway, to provide access to all roads in an area. Once the storm is over the driver will then proceed to clear the roadway curb to curb (edge to edge of pavement) on each street in the area. Depending on the rate of snowfall we may need to open the center of all the roadways in an area first, delaying the full width clearing to a later time in the snow event. If the roadway has not been cleaned curb to curb, be aware that the front of your driveway maybe covered with snow as the plows complete their work. Please be aware that major roads are plowed first before local residential streets and cul-de-sacs.
If you have any questions please call (908) 725-6300 ext. 6000.
SNOW REMOVAL (SIDEWALKS)
Owners or tenants of any land next to Township public streets must remove all snow and ice from sidewalks within 12 hours of daylight after snowfall has stopped. Snow should be kept on the owner’s property and not moved into the street so that traffic safety is not impacted. If the sidewalk is covered with ice that the owners or tenants cannot remove, the sidewalk must be thoroughly covered with sand, ashes or rock salt within 24 hours after the snowfall has stopped.
Snow that is not removed from sidewalks or ice that is not treated within the time provided above may be removed or treated by the Public Works Division at the
homeowner’s expense.
YARD WASTE
The Yard Waste facility will be closed from Saturday, January 16, 2021 through Sunday, March 14, 2021 and will reopen Monday, March 15, 2021.
PARKS
All of our Parks, trail systems and playgrounds are open for use. Governor Murphy has ordered that if you can’t safely social distance (6 feet or more) with people who are not in your household, you must wear a mask or a cloth covering when out in public.
Please do not visit playgrounds if you have signs or symptoms of COVID-19, recently tested positive for COVID-19, or were exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days. If you choose to visit a playground please adhere to the following guidelines:
- Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with. Avoid crowded playgrounds.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Adults and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer: Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and rub hands together until dry, if soap and water are not readily available.
- Wear a cloth face covering, if you can. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on:
o Children under age 2;
o Anyone who has medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask
Engineering, Code Enforcement, Planning, and Zoning offices are open to the public from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday as well as being available by phone and email. DPW is available by phone and email only. Please click the button below for contact information.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Child Safety Seat Inspections
Child safety seat inspections are done by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact the Traffic Safety Bureau at 908-526-1977 or email the
Traffic Safety Bureau at
traffic@bridgewaterpd.com . Please include your name, phone number and dates/times of availability
Beware of Scams
The Police have seen an uptick in scams targeting the elderly and families. Chief Paul Payne has provided the following links so residents can be informed.
Incident Reports
Anyone requesting a copy of an incident report can call our Records Bureau at 908-725-4044 or email Records@bridgewaterpd.com. A copy of the report can be emailed back to the requesting party. Make sure to provide your name, phone number, email address, and case number.
We will do our best to assist the public in any way we can. However we need the community to follow the recommendations of the CDC and limited their exposure risks.
Body Cams
Bridgewater Police are currently testing their updated Body Worn Cameras (BWC). The BWC, shown below, is attached to the officer’s chest area.
