A Message from Mayor Moench
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Dear Bridgewater Resident,
It's an exciting time to be in Bridgewater! I encourage you to read today's newsletter to see what's new. In addition to providing the services that you expect and deserve, we want to find new and exciting ways to bring our community together. Below and in the coming weeks you will hear more about these initiatives.
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VIRTUAL KITCHEN TABLE Q&A: NEW EPISODE
Over the past several weeks, we have been soliciting questions for the Mayor via our Virtual Kitchen Q&A initiative. We received so many great questions. Please watch the video below to see Mayor Moench (with some help from his wife, Stephanie) answer a few of your individual questions!
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT!
Bridgewater Township is Co-Sponsoring the Bridgewater Winter Carnival at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center on March 1st. We hope you and your families are able to attend this free event! Click below for more details!
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The Township Council took up a variety of interesting and important issues at the February 13th Meeting:
- There was a change to the position of Director of Municipal Services. In the past, the Director of Municipal Services, who oversees the Departments of; Planning, Zoning, Engineering, Survey Code and Public Works, also had to be the Township Engineer. That stipulation is now removed.
Of this action Mayor Moench said, "“During the transition process and in my first few weeks of my Administration, it became obvious to my staff and I that one person should not be managing the Engineering Department while, simultaneously, attempting to supervise a Department that, next to the Police Department, is by far the largest in the Township. We will still have a Township Engineer who will perform those tasks but we will take that burden away from the Municipal Services Director so he or she can more efficiency manage all of the employees under their purview. We will be continually analyzing the efficiency and product of not only this Department but all of the branches of our Township government. There is no confusion about who pays our bills and we need to make sure that we are spending all of our resources wisely to provide the best possible services to our residents.”
- The Council also started to process to create a Veterans Advisory Committee in Bridgewater. The goal of this newly proposed committee will be to support, recognize, honor and engage the servicemen and women who have served and are currently serving in our Armed Forces.
“Bridgewater has a rich and vibrant community of veterans and active service members,” said Mayor Matthew Moench. “I see this Committee serving at least a few unique functions. Firstly, it goes without saying that the Township needs to ensure that we are finding every opportunity we can to honor these individuals, as well as finding new and interesting ways to provide them with services. Additionally, we want to lean on their experiences, skill sets and exceptional commitment to civic duty so that they can help to continue to serve the residents and contribute to the betterment of our community. I, along with the Council and stakeholders, will provide additional information regarding the makeup and mission of the Committee in the coming weeks. This is just the first step in this long overdue process.”
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Bridgewater Township Council Meeting will be held on February 27th at 7:30PM. The agenda for that meeting will be posted
here
. As always, these meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend!
Looking ahead, on the Council Meeting on March 2nd, the Mayor and Council will be celebrating Women's History Month with a Proclamation that will be delivered to the Bridgewater Women's Club and the swearing in of Bridgewater Alternate Judge, Kathy Howes, who is the first woman to ever sit the bench in Bridgewater.
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SOMERSET COUNTY FOODSTOCK CHALLENGE
Bridgewater Township will be participating in the Somerset County Foodstock Challenge that will take place from this Spring! More details to follow in the coming weeks but we want to show how much Bridgewater residents care about their community. Below are some examples of some of the non-perishable items that we will be looking to collect. Stay tuned!
- Canned fruit (preferred items in light syrup or natural juice)
- Canned soups, vegetables & beans (prefer low sodium options)
- Tuna fish (prefer packed in water)
- Cereals (prefer items less than 12g of sugar per serving)
- Coffee, tea and sips
- Baked beans and other canned vegetables
- Any kind of pasta, rice, Macaroni and cheese
- Mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and vegetable cooking oil
- Napkins, toilet paper, paper towels and food storage bags
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, lemon pepper, basil, oregano, etc
- Small individual portions of apple sauce, pudding, snacks and juices
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RECREATION
Registration is now open for several of Bridgewater Recreation’s Spring and Summer programs. New for this year is Yoga and Mindfulness for High School Students, which will provide students in grades 9-12 with techniques to improve their overall well-being. Yoga for Adults is now being offered in the Spring,
providing
a unique combination of yoga poses, breathing techniques, and laughter yoga.
Returning favorite programs that are now open for registration include our Volleyball Clinic for grades 5-8 with BRHS Coach Romanak, Session 3 of Adult Volleyball, Bollywood Dance Fitness, Girls Empowerment through Mindfulness (G.E.M.), and Summer and Pee Wee Playgrounds. We also are accepting registrations for several soccer programs including, Junior Panthers, Panther Soccer Academy, High School Soccer and In Town Soccer. More information and registration can be found at
here
.
The Bridgewater YMCA and Soccer Centers offer the opportunity for Bridgewater Residents to sign up for lessons and programs at their facilities at a special discount rate. Please visit the Affiliated Recreation Partners page of our website for more information and registration forms. More info
here
!
HUMAN RESOURCES:
BRIDGEWATER IS HIRING:
If you or anyone you know is looking for full or part time employment, please check out the positions now open in Bridgewater
here
.
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7:00PM - Township Complex
7:30PM - Township Complex
1:00PM - 4:00PM - Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center
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Linda Doyle, Township Clerk
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Linda is Bridgewater's Township Clerk. The position of Township Clerk is part of the legislative branch of the Township Government and is the primary liaison between the Township Council and the Administration. Linda, along with her dedicated staff, produce the Council Agendas and Minutes as well as being the official record keeper of the Township. Her office also issues various licenses, including pet and marriage licenses.
Linda and her husband became Bridgewater residents in 1986 and have raised their two children here. She started her employment for Bridgewater in 1998 as a Secretary in the Clerk's Office. In 2003, she starting taking courses to become a Registered Municipal Clerk and in 2004 she was appointed to her current position.
"I wanted to work in the Clerk's Office because I knew that I would have the opportunity to interact with the public on a regular basis and I still love that aspect to this day," said Linda. "My staff and I work tirelessly to provide Bridgewater with the service and resources that they deserve. I encourage all residents to reach out to us or stop by the office if you ever think we can be of service."
Linda and her staff can be reached at BWTClerk@BridgewaterNJ.gov
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AN INTERESTING BRIDGEWATER RESIDENT
When we think of high ranking military officers who spent time in Bridgewater, the first one we think of is General George Washington. But, how many of us think of Rear Admiral George Washington Kline?
Admiral Kline served on several ships and saw combat aboard the gunboat USS Annapolis during the Spanish-American War. He later commanded the USS Idaho in 1913, and the USS Vermont from 1913-1915. But, he earned the Navy Cross for distinguished service as the President of the Board of Inspection and Survey during World War I. In total he served twenty-one years of sea service and seventeen years of shore duty during his career in an era when the Navy transitioned from early steamships that still had sails to more modern vessels.
Admiral Kline passed away at his home, which still exists near the intersection of Route 22 and Thompson Avenue, in 1922. His forty-four acre farm was sold by Elizabeth Kline, his widow, to Joseph Schindelar shortly after his death.
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The USS Annapolis circa 1898
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