A Message from Mayor Moench
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Dear Bridgewater Resident,
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter! The feedback has been positive so far but we are always looking to improve and refine the information that is most helpful and interesting to our residents. If you have any thoughts please hit the feedback button on the bottom of the email. Happy Spring!
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COVID-19 is a flu-like illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It is mainly spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing, and close contact.
How can I protect myself?
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick (within 6 feet).
· Wash your hands often with soap and water. If they are not available, use hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
· Clean frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, switches, cabinet handles, remotes, tables, counters, sinks, toilets, etc.
What should I do if I am sick?
· Stay home. Avoid close contact with other people (within 6 feet), including family members.
· Cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue or your sleeve, not your hands.
· Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse or if you have trouble breathing.
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VIRTUAL KITCHEN TABLE Q&A: NEW EPISODES
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 videos below to see Mayor Moench (with some help from his wife, Stephanie) answer a few of your individual questions!
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CENSUS 2020
Mayor Moench and members of the Bridgewater Council will be encouraging members of the public to participate in the 2020 Census process through a public awareness campaign that will start by the Mayor proclaiming March as “Census Awareness Month.”
“We need to make sure that every Bridgewater resident is counted,” said Mayor Matthew Moench. “The Census will not only determine our Congressional and State representation, but it will have a monumental impact on the data that will determine impactful community funding for the next decade. It is incumbent on us, as government officials, as well as the community at large to encourage people to participate. You will start to see increased information on our website and the use of specific hash tags on our social media to encourage the community spread the word.”
#BridgewaterCounts #NJ2020Census
Please click below for more information!
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The Township Council took up a variety of interesting and important issues at the February 27th and March 2nd Meetings:
- At the February 27th meeting, the D&R Greenway Land Trust presented a video to mark the completion of the Wemple Estate preservation project on Steele Gap Road. This project was a dream fulfilled for Bridgewater resident and 101 year old World War II veteran, Bob Vaucher. D&R Greenway also presented the Township with an original painting to mark the occasion. Learn more.
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- At the March 2nd meeting, Mayor Moench and the Township Council celebrated March as Women’s History Month by presenting a proclamation to the Bridgewater Woman’s Club for all their work and dedication to the community. The Council also approved and Township Attorney, Chris Corsini, swore in Judge Kathy Howes as our Alternate Judge. This appointment marks the first time that a woman has sat the bench in Bridgewater Township! After the swearing-in, Judge Howes told the Council that in 1976, when she was a Student at Bridgewater-Raritan High School West, the Woman’s Club awarded her with a scholarship to the Girls Citizenship Institute. This is emblematic of the reach and impact the Club has had over the years. And what a small world!
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UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Bridgewater Township Council Meeting will be held on March 16th 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!
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HEALTH
The Health Department continues to monitor the spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) please
click here
for more information.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
YARD WASTE
The Bridgewater Township Yard Waste Site opened yesterday,
March 9th
, for the season. Please note that the Yard Waste Site is for disposal of Brush, Leaves, Grass, and Logs ONLY. Please bring proof of Bridgewater residency.
In order to reduce costs and continue to offer drop off service to residents of Bridgewater, this site is being operated by Reliable Wood Products. It is important to note that this continues to be FREE DROP OFF SERVICE to all Bridgewater residents.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping the Township continue to offer this service in the most efficient manner with the lowest cost possible.
Hours of operation are as follows:
136 Foothill Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Monday-Friday: 7:30 am – 3:45 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am – 1:30 pm
Sunday: Closed
SENIOR BRUSH PICK UP
As a courtesy to the Senior residents of Bridgewater the Division of Public Works will operate our Senior Brush Pickup Program beginning on
Thursday, March 19, 2020
. Residents must be at least 65 years old and call (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are made on a first come first serve basis.
- Brush must be no longer than 5 feet in length
- Piles must be stacked neatly in one direction
- Brush must be placed at curb line
If the above conditions are not performed, they cannot be picked up. If you have any questions please contact the Division of Public Works at (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Bridgewater Police Department has received several reports regarding a possible scam. Several residents of Bridgewater and surrounding towns have received calls from a male subject identifying himself as Lt. Packwood from the Bridgewater Police Department. “Lt. Packwood" leaves a voice mail regarding “legal paperwork and requesting a return telephone call and a telephone number which is not the non- emergency telephone number for the Bridgewater Police. The real Lt. Packwood retired from our department earlier this year and is enjoying his retirement and therefore not making any calls on behalf of the department.
The Bridgewater Police Department is currently investigating these telephone calls as a possible scam. If you are contacted by anyone claiming to be from the Bridgewater Police Department, please contact our non-emergency phone number, 908-722-4111, to verify that an Officer is attempting to contact you.
RECREATION
Don’t miss the In Town Soccer Deadline, which is
Monday, March 16, 2020.
You may register for In Town Soccer.
Click here!
Registration is
also
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, offering 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
here
.
Our Game Squad program participants are continuing to enjoy a variety of board, card, and role-playing games including Chess, Checkers, Battleship, Life Monopoly, Uno, Trouble, Scattergories, Apples to Apples, Dungeons and Dragons, and many more. No cell phones or other electronic devices are permitted! This program is funded by a grant through the Bridgewater-Raritan Youth Services Commission.
The Recreation Department will also be offering our popular Post Season Basketball Clinic, Basketball Offensive Skills Clinic, Basketball Shooting Clinic, Basketball Summer Mini Camps, Summer Volleyball Clinic, and Panther Baseball Camp. Registration for these programs will open in the near future.
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7:00PM - Township Complex
7:30PM - Township Complex
*Call DPW at (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 to schedule an appointment
Co-sponsored by Somerset County and the US Census Bureau
11:00AM - Van Derveer Elementary (Somerville)
7:30PM - Township Complex
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Christine Madrid, Director of Human Services
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Christine became Director of Human Services of Bridgewater in January of this year. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing Health, Recreation, the Senior Center and several other programs that promote community betterment.
Before joining the Bridgewater family, Christine was the Director, Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance for the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. She served on the Township Committee for 7 years in her home town of Montgomery, with 2 years as Mayor. Additionally, Christine currently serves on the Board of Somerset Treatment Services and is a Commissioner Somerset County Library Board of Commissioners.
"I am passionate about public service," said Christine. "I look forward to working with my colleagues and members of this community to help enhance the quality of life of our residents by leading engaging community events, recreational activities and social services. Bridgewater is a wonderful and unique place and it is important for us to foster a sense of community, civic involvement and sustainability in order to keep it that way."
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THE ROUTE TO WINTER QUARTERS
As most of us know, George Washington’s Army crossed the Delaware River to attack the Hessians at Trenton on Christmas night 1776 and handed them a shocking defeat. They then crossed back to the safety of the Pennsylvania side of the river. But fewer recall that they returned to Trenton and rebuffed the British Army three times on January 2, 1777 in what is known as the Second Battle of Trenton or the Battle of Assunpink Creek. Rather than hang around to give Cornwallis a fourth chance, the American stealthily moved by night to attack the British rear guard at Princeton before heading for their winter quarters at Morristown.
So why are we mentioning this in an article on the history of Bridgewater? Well, it is because the route they took passed through the center of Bridgewater. They used what are now: Finderne Avenue, Main Street, North Bridge Street, Foothill Road, and Route 202/206. There are several route markers set by the Daughters of the American Revolution in and near Bridgewater. Do you know where they are?
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Route marker at the corner of Foothill Road and Allen Road
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What other information would you like to see? Please click the link below and give us feedback on items that you think should be included.
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