Hunterdon County Library Knitters Unite would like to thank all the knitters and crocheters for donating handmade hats, scarves, socks, and mittens to the Veteran's Haven North.

By Cheryl Grotrian and Linda Zdepski

Hunterdon County Library Knitters Unite

Flemington

To the editor:

Hunterdon County Library Knitters Unite would like to thank all the knitters and crocheters for donating handmade hats, scarves, socks, and mittens to the Veteran's Haven North, a 100-bed facility operated by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs located in Hunterdon County, which provides assistance for housing, employment, and counseling to all veterans in need within the State of New Jersey.

The Knitters Unite final count of donations was 317 Hats, 157 scarves, three pair of mittens and two pair of socks for a total of 479 items. The craftsmanship, styles, and colors of the donations were stunning and gave the vets opportunity to choose their favorite type.

Knitters Unite, the first of this kind of event hosted by the library, started Dec. 17 with 30 keenly-motivated participants. The end date was Jan. 31 and was a total success because of the dedication and care from the Knitters Unite group.

Lambertville Police arrested six people in January and February for various drugs, alcohol and disorderly conduct charges.

LAMBERTVILLE -- Lambertville Police announced the arrests of six people in separate incidents in January and February.

Police reported seeing a vehicle parked and running in the public library parking lot on Monday, Jan. 11, at 3:15 a.m. An investigation allegedly revealed that Heber M. Hernandez of Lambertville was in possession of an open container of alcohol and had an active warrant out of New Hope, Pa., police said.

Hernandez was charged with possession of an alcoholic beverage in a public place and consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a public place.

He was later released with a pending court date.

On Thursday, Jan. 14, police allegedly found Patricia A. Nelson, 62, of Ringoes had a suspended driver's license and an active $500 warrant from Hillsborough Township during a motor-vehicle stop.

Nelson also had an active $139 warrant from Lumberton. Nelson was later taken into custody by Hillsborough Police, police said.

Hunterdon's Most Wanted: Mohamadsa Bekalsaegh

On Sunday, Jan. 31, Riley E. Griffith, 19, of Sewell was seen traveling in the area of Route 165 and Route 29 in the left lane at 1:27 a.m.

During a traffic stop for failure to keep right, Griffith was allegedly found to be in possession of a silver metal grinder containing suspected marijuana, police said.

Griffith was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance, possession of paraphernalia, and controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. He was later released with a pending court date.

On Wednesday, Feb. 3, Raymond W. Chick, 54, of Lambertville, and Chester Tayvinsky III, 58, of Dorothy, were allegedly fighting at the Hamilton Grill at 8:52 p.m., police reported.

Chick and Tayvinsky were each charged with disorderly conduct and released with a pending court date.

Hells Angels under constant surveillance, N.J. prosecutor says

On Saturday, Feb. 6, Katherine S. Kelly, 37, of Trenton, was seen driving on Route 29 with a license plate light out at 1:05 a.m. Kelly was allegedly found to be in possession of a hypodermic needle, glassine bags and several rocks of suspected crack cocaine, police said.

In addition, Kelly was found to have multiple warrants for her arrest. Kelly was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle and issued a motor-vehicle summons for driving while suspended, police said.

On Saturday, Feb. 6, a motorist was seen driving a high rate of speed on Route 202 south at 10:11 p.m. The front seat passenger, Kristy R. Capote, 26, of Hatfield, Pa. was allegedly found to be in possession of suspected marijuana and paraphernalia, police said.

Capote was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. She was later released with a pending court date.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.

While rumble strips may be annoying to those who live near roads with them, they do save lives. Watch video

We feel abundant sympathy for Rebecca Gelman and Michael Ehrenreich, who have had it up to here with the level of noise outside their West Amwell home.

The couple moved in with their family last February, acclimating to the constant thrum of traffic on busy Route 29. But in April, the situation quickly deteriorated from inconvenient to intolerable when the New Jersey Department of Transportation installed rumble strips on the roadway as part of a resurfacing project.

The noise is jarring and disruptive, the homeowners say, comparing it to the sound of a jackhammer in intensity.

"It's constant and hard to ignore," Gelman says of the clamor. "You just don't enjoy the peace and quiet we bought the house for."

While we certainly don't dismiss her pain, we also believe that in this case, NJDOT's efforts to make Hunterdon County's roads safer for drivers and pedestrians take precedence over her family's discomfort.

N.J. family fighting rumble strips

The strips, also known as audible lines, serve an important purpose. Traffic engineers consider them an effective, low-cost measure to let inattentive drivers know when they're straying across a road's center line, or coming too close to the shoulder.

Stephen Schapiro, spokesman for the department, cites statistics compiled by the Federal Highway Administration showing center-line rumble strips reduce head-on collisions and other accidents on rural two-lane roads by up to 50 percent.

And the more noise they make when a driver drifts off course, the more they demonstrate their worth, Schapiro adds.

"Since the installation, motorists have been observed driving on the rumble strips, proving they are serving their purpose and are a necessary and beneficial feature of the project," he says.

This is not a new debate, this issue of who or what wins out when public good collides with private rights. Nor is there a simple fix in cases like these.

States have addressed the issue of noise pollution from the strips in varying ways. In Missouri, transportation officials ban their use where the posted speed is less than 50 miles per hour. In Pennsylvania, PennDot recommends not installing them on the inside of moderate to sharp curves in the immediate vicinity of any residence.

The FHA acknowledges that safety may be compromised with any of these modifications, but that research has not yet determined the specific extent of the trade-offs.

As much as we regret the nuisance the Ehrenreich-Gelman family is living with every day, we're not willing to take that gamble. Not when lives and limb are at stake, as they clearly are on Route 29 in West Amwell. 

A fine-tuned draft plan is expected to be presented to the Freeholders this month.

FLEMINGTON -- A draft plan for Hunterdon County's Open Space Trust Fund has been tweaked following recent criticisms, and the revised plan is likely to be introduced by the Freeholders this month.

Several residents spoke out about the need for clarity and guidance at a public hearing of the proposed plan on Jan. 19.

"Here's this ambiguous document that's filled with screaming generalizations," said Beatrice Muir, a longtime committeewoman from Readington. "You should be specific. If you're not specific, the public is not going to trust you." 

The new version, which can be viewed online, adds some details.

The word "stewardship" caused some worry, and the revised draft plan adds a lengthy definition: "as both the ecological management of natural ecosystems to maintain environmental quality, and the care of any improvement to land acquired for recreation and conservation purposes designed to expand and enhance its utilization for those purposes." It goes on to enumerate those recreation and conservation purposes.

The percentages of the trust fund used for different purposes also caused some concern.

Use of the trust fund is restricted by the language of the ballot questions that created the open space tax, county officials said at the January meeting. Nick Corcodilos of Clinton Township said the plan should include that fact. "I urge you to make this document a reminder to the Freeholders of what the law is," he said.

The new draft references the ballot question language and also specifies: "Any change to the annual percent allocation would require at least one public hearing identifying the distribution of monies governing the County Open Space Trust Fund."

Freeholders keep open space tax unchanged

"Eighty percent of the trust fund is dedicated to open space and farmland preservation acquisition grant programs, with an additional 3.5 percent available for municipalities and nonprofits to use for historic preservation," the county Planning Department stated in a release about changes to the trust fund plan.

"The percent allocations are decided annually by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, although they have remained unchanged since February 2010." 

Discussion of the county's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy was the focus of much criticism, and the revised draft softens those references as well.

Language previously called the Open Space Trust Fund "a perfect avenue for funding the initiatives described in the CEDS that will draw people to Hunterdon County." It now reads: "The Open Space Trust Fund can aid in funding open space purchases and improvement initiatives that will draw people to Hunterdon County..."

In addition, the revised plan's recommendations have changed from "Support and implement the action items discussed and outlined in the CEDS" to: "Support the open space and recreation action items discussed and outlined in the CEDS."

The county is continuing to accept comments and they may be reflected in a newly revised final draft of the Trust Fund Plan which is expected to be introduced by the Board of Chosen Freeholders soon.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook. 

A new website links residents to the Department of Public Works.

RARITAN TWP. -- A new website can help residents report issues like potholes to the township's Department of Public Works.

The website, raritanmobile311.com, is designed to handle non-emergency requests and concerns. Residents can access the site from a computer, smartphone, or tablet. If using a smartphone or tablet, people can save the site as an icon on their device, essentially making it an app.

To use the site, residents create an account and log in. They can then report issues. Those reports are automatically converted to work requests and routed to the Department of Public Works.

Residents and township employees can attach photos and notes to their requests, track the status of their requests and view comments entered by the Department of Public Works.

Issues that can be reported using the site include: potholes, inlet damage, street light outages, damaged signs, trees that need trimming, mowing issues, and deer carcasses.

The site is not intended for leaf collection or snow removal problems. Residents can call the DPW at 908-782-1695 to report those issues.

The application is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but the Public Works department's hours are limited to Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Reports received after hours will be viewed the next business day.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

Frenchtown, without admitting liability, agreed to pay former Officer Harold Johnson $92,500.

FRENCHTOWN -- A former police officer who sued the borough and Police Chief Al Kurylka over his firing in August 2012 has settled the suit for $92,500, according to documents provided through an Open Public Records Act request.

Police Officer Harold T. Johnson lost his job after the Borough Council voted unanimously Aug. 1, 2012, to fire him. He was a probationary officer at the time of his firing.

Johnson challenged that firing in a lawsuit, claiming he was subjected to a hostile work environment because he is African-American, his probationary status was unlawfully extended and he was ultimately fired because of his race.

In an agreement over the suit's settlement signed in March 2015, borough officials denied all the allegations. Johnson agreed not to disclose the agreement or its terms, and borough officials agreed as well, unless a request was submitted through the Open Public Records Act.

Probationary policeman fired in Frenchtown

John Paff of the Somerset section of Franklin Township in Somerset County submitted a request and shared a copy of the lawsuit and settlement agreement with New Jersey Advance Media.

The suit claims Johnson was subjected to verbal abuse, harassment, disrespect, and threats of job loss on more than 100 different occasions, and was called offensive and racist names by Kurylka. It claims Kurylka said Johnson "needed to get Defendant Kurylka an ebonics book so that Chief Kurylka would be up to date on Officer Johnson's slang." 

The suit also claims that Johnson's personal property was searched illegally in May 2012, and that after he complained, he was served a preliminary notice of disciplinary action in connection with something that allegedly happened eight months earlier. "This discipline was a pretext," the suit states.

When the borough was considering Johnson's firing in August 2012, Borough Attorney Albert Cruz told council members that a borough ordinance gives the governing body the authority to terminate the employment of a police employee on probationary status either with, or without, cause.

Johnson's suit claimed the borough "unlawfully, without the consent of Officer Johnson, and on the basis of the repeated pretextual discipline of Officer Johnson extended the duration of Officer Johnson's probationary status."

Johnson's suit was dismissed in July 2013 because of a lack of information requested relevant to the suit. It was reinstated in October 2013.

In the settlement agreement that accompanies the lawsuit, both sides agreed to the compromise to avoid further litigation. It also notes: "Nothing contained herein shall be construed as an admission of liability."

Police Chief Kurylka said Tuesday, "I wish I could make a comment, but I've been told by counsel to refer questions to them."

Mayor Brad Myhre wasn't mayor at the time of the firing or the settlement, though he sat on the council at the time of Johnson's termination. When contacted for comment Monday, he said he'd been advised to refer calls to Borough Attorney Albert Cruz. Cruz referred questions to the attorney who represented the borough's insurance company in the lawsuit, Deborah Rosenthal. Rosenthal couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Johnson's attorney, Stuart J. Alterman, also has not responded to a request for comment.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg has been named to Victory Media's 2016 Military Friendly Schools list.

Victory Media has named Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg to its 2016 Military Friendly Schools list.

"Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly School award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses," said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Victory Media and Navy Reserve veteran. "Our Military Friendly Schools are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation."

According to the company's website, Victory Media provides information to those serving in the Armed Forces about post-service careers and education opportunities. 

Some 115 military and veteran students currently receive benefits at Raritan Valley Community College, according to a news release. The college offers military members and veterans a streamlined admissions process with an on-site dedicated veteran adviser available throughout the admissions, testing and registration processes.

Games created during Game Jam

The college offers an orientation program for new students with an additional orientation to discuss veteran benefits and resources and participates in TA, MYCAA, NJ National Guard Waiver and GI Bill educational benefit programs, according to the news release.

Now in its seventh year, the Military Friendly Schools designation provides service members and their families with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities. The college also was named to the list in 2012.

The designation is given to colleges, universities, community colleges and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation, according to the news release.

It was stated in the release that the methodology used for making the Military Friendly Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more transparent, and has played a significant role over the past seven years in capturing and advancing best practices to support military students across the country.

Institutions competed for the title by completing a survey of over 100 questions covering 10 categories, including military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes, and military spouse policies. Survey responses were scored against benchmarks across these key indicators of success.

In addition, data was independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media with guidance from an independent Advisory Board of higher education and recruiting professionals.

Raritan Valley Community College will in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools, special education issues of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse Magazine and on www.militaryfriendly.com.

Victory Media, based in Pittsburgh, is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects classrooms to careers for the nation's next generation of professionals. Its data-driven ratings are published in G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur and STEM Jobs media and featured in national media.

Raritan Valley Community College's main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg and the college serves residents of Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

The average Hunterdon County tax bill has jumped 22.5 percent since 2000. Watch video

Residents in Tewksbury Township paid the highest average property tax bill of $13,251 in Hunterdon County for 2015, according to the latest statewide data.

The statewide average property tax bill rose to $8,353 in 2015, a 2.4 percent increase from the previous year. That was the fastest rate of increase since 2011.

The average Hunterdon County tax bill has jumped 22.5 percent since 2000.

Which N.J. towns have the highest property tax bills?

The lowest average tax bill in Hunterdon County was the borough of Glen Gardner with $5,425.

Town-by-town tax data for Hunterdon County is below.

A pair of Flemington residents have been charged with shoplifting after attempting to leave a Walmart with a 50-inch Vizio television.

RARITAN TWP. - Two Flemington residents have been arrested and charged with shoplifting after they allegedly attempted to walk out of Walmart with a 50-inch Vizio television, police reported Tuesday.

The alleged theft took place at 5 p.m. on Jan. 18 when store security attempted to stop two people from leaving the Walmart located off Route 31 with the television worth $578.98. Both ran off, leaving the television behind, police said.

Police were given a description of the pair, as well as a copy of the surveillance camera footage.

5 things about the Flemington Circle roadwork

Following an investigation, police charged Danielle Houser, 31, of Flemington, with shoplifting on Feb. 1. On Feb. 2, police charged Dani Linton, 45, of Flemington, with shoplifting. Both were released pending a court appearance.

The attempted theft was initially investigated by Officer Adam Swiatek and the follow up investigation and arrests were by Det. Scott Iglay.

The firm's bill has reportedly risen to $2.6 million

Employees of a Newark-based law firm defending state officials in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former Hunterdon County assistant prosecutor have been contributing to Gov. Chris Christie's presidential campaign, according to Federal Election Commission filings

Ben Barlyn (2007 Star-Ledger file photo)

The filings show employees of Gibbons PC contributed $7,400 to Christie's campaign between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. They contributed $46,400 between July 1 and Sept. 30, more than any other source, the filings show.

The firm has also reportedly billed more than $2 million in expenses in defending Christie administration officials in a suit filed by former Hunterdon Assistant Prosecutor Bennet Barlyn.

Bill Palatucci, a longtime Christie aide and confidant and a member of the New Jersey Republican National Committee, is a key supporter of Christie's presidential campaign and serves as special counsel with Gibbons PC.

Barlyn claims he was fired for objecting to the dismissal of indictments against supporters of Christie -- former Hunterdon Sheriff Deborah Trout and two colleagues, former Undersheriff Michael Russo and former Sheriff's Investigator John Falat, Jr.

By July, Gibbons PC had billed New Jersey $1.7 million for work on the Barlyn case, according to records obtained by the Associated Press.

That figure has since risen to $2.6 million, Barlyn stated in an email sent to New Jersey Advance Media.

Trout, Falat and Russo were indicted on 43 counts of misconduct in 2010, but those indictments were dropped in August 2010 after a deputy attorney general told a judge that she had found "legal and factual deficiencies" in the indictments.

Barlyn objected to dismissal of the charges, and his suit claims that was the cause of his firing.

Trout, Falat and Russo sued Hunterdon County officials after the indictments were dropped, alleging civil rights breaches. That case was dismissed in January.

"Notably, Superior Court Judge Robert Maenza rejected as unfounded allegations that the prosecution against former Hunterdon County Sheriff Deborah Trout and two colleagues was legally flawed or influenced by improper political considerations," Barlyn said this week.

His case continues. A state Superior Court judge ruled in July that the state must provide Barlyn access to sealed grand jury transcripts related to the Trout, Russo and Falat indictments. 

"Discovery is ongoing in Barlyn v. Dow in accordance with a case management order," Barlyn stated.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

Acting union president said the college has a $1.2 million surplus in its budget.

BRANCHBURG -- Negotiations for a new contract between professors at Raritan Valley Community College and school representatives have reached an impasse over healthcare costs and talks are entering mediation, according to a news release from the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey.

More than 100 faculty members and students staged a rally Tuesday afternoon at the college. They also plan to attend a Feb. 16 board of trustees meeting to voice their displeasure with negotiations, according to the release.

Full-time and adjunct faculty have been working without a contract since July, said acting union president Bick Treut, a communication studies professor.

"We're hurting," said Treut. "And, we're sad. This is a fantastic institution. We launch our students into bright futures. We are educated, dedicated, and effective. We deserve a fair contract. We have seen our take home pay shrink every year since 2011."

3D printers replicate fossils at RVCC

Treut said in the release that the administration has been unwilling to factor in the growing cost of health care over the past five years. He's asking for a decrease in insurance costs and an increase in pay. He said the college has a $1.2 million budget surplus.

"We are here for the students and need reasonable working conditions to retain the faculty we have and recruit new colleagues so that RVCC students continue to have great professors for their studies," said Treut.

Donna Stolzer, the college's director of media relations, stated: "Raritan Valley Community College deeply values the work of its faculty and staff and understands the challenges of the current financial climate. However, the college cannot comment on current contract negotiations."

Actor Gary Busey was enlisted to impersonate Unity Bank's CEO in a new TV ad campaign. Watch video

Actor Gary Busey doesn't seem to have much in common with Unity Bank President and Chief Executive Offcer James A. Hughes. One can be found spouting zany Buseyisms while the other can be found helping a small business with its financial plan.

But that didn't stop the community bank's marketing team from enlisting the Oscar-nominated actor for its latest television ad campaign, according to a press release. Busey paid a recent visit to Unity's corporate headquarters in Clinton Township to impersonate the affable CEO, eagerly approving loans for spaceships and answering the telephone with a stapler.

When last seen, Busey was mumbling gibberish, scowling at Hughes and making a mad dash for the exits of bucolic Hunterdon County. The commercials are on Comcast and can be seen on the bank's YouTube page.

"We try to step out of the banking box with our television ads and show that bankers have a sense of humor, we are real people," said Rosemary Fellner, Unity's chief marketing officer. "The approach is in character with our brand as a community bank because we want to be recognized as the bank where customers have access to the decision makers.

Helping families achieve financial goals

"On most days, Jim Hughes will answer his own phone if he's not in a meeting, which is rare executive access in today's market."

Unity introduced its tongue in cheek look at the banking business last year with a television commercial featuring comedian Joe Piscopo, a New Jersey native who moved to Hunterdon County some 20 years ago. The Piscopo spot received a Telly Award in 2015. In both the Busey and Piscopo ads, Hughes is introduced as the impersonator gets caught in the executive's chair.

"We believe in community involvement at every level of the bank and support the organizations in our service area that are important to local residents," said Hughes, who has camped out overnight in a box to bring attention to the needs of the homeless through Family Promise. "The ad campaign is a fun way to illustrate that it's easy to get in touch with your banker at Unity - hopefully Gary Busey or Joe Piscopo is not in my chair when the phone rings."

Unity has received several honors for its community involvement, the latest being the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce Good Neighbor Award. The bank recently pledged to donate $250,000 to Hunterdon Healthcare over the next five years to support the healthcare needs of the community and aid future development projects.

For many years, Unity has been a consistent supporter of Family Promise and other organizations throughout its service area, according to the news release.

Busey was nominated for an Academy Award in 1978 for Best Actor for his role in The Buddy Holly Story. Film credits include Leather Weapon, Point Break, The Firm and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He has also appeared on television shows including Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, Scrubs and Entourage.

 

One cannot go on the streets without hearing the vilest of words, and the younger portions of the community are most proficient.

1876

It is Leap Year and the girl who counts all the gray horses she sees up to 100 will marry the first gentleman she shakes hands with after that. Every girl is keeping a record. If somebody would bring a drove of gray horses into town, what a shaking of hands there would take place!

We are emphatically in the age of profanity. One cannot go on the streets without hearing the vilest of words, and the younger portions of the community are most proficient.

1901

Our enterprising machinist John Scott is building an automobile. He does look lonesome on his bicycle and will cut a much better figure guiding a steaming auto over our hills to Quakertown, carrying a fair companion.

As a track walker for the Pennsylvania Railroad, John Roach of Raven Rock has paced off miles equaling thrice around the globe in 12 years time.

1926

We hope Hunterdon County school boards heartily concur with the New Jersey school superintendents, who oppose any increase in holidays and also all campaigns conducted in schools such as essay contests, special week observances and the like.

Prospectors have been over some farms to the north of us taking samples of rocks to determine the copper content and whether it warrants sinking shafts.

1951

School children on their way to the Pattenburg school Tuesday morning got a thrill when their bus was discovered afire at the Hickory Corner above Pattenburg. Some 25 or 30 on the bus quickly bailed out when smoke began coming from under the hood. The extinguisher on the bus wouldn't work but Mrs. John Bartik, who lives on the corner, produced an extinguisher and put out the flames.

Railroad service in Hunterdon County was restored to normal yesterday after a hectic weekend when travelers were forced to use other means of transportation. Cause of the tie-up was an unofficial nation-wide strike of members of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, who were joined in some instances by members of the Switchman's Union.

All of Hunterdon County's 280 school teachers are expected to attend a day-long conference tomorrow at Flemington High School when the most advanced materials that can be used in teaching will be on display.

Two buck deer carcasses which a Franklin Township youth and 2 friends pleaded guilty to stealing from the Swider Farm cost the youngsters $150 in Hunterdon County Court Monday.

Men and women in all parts of the world will tomorrow unite in seeking divine wisdom and guidance to the end that war may be averted and mankind may live in peace and use its energies for the mutual improvement of all races, creeds and stations of men. Day of Prayer Service will take place at the Flemington Jewish Community Center on East Main Street. Mayor J. Barton Young requested all businesses be closed from 3 to 4 p.m. so all may participate.

John Krauss, supervisor of music in the local schools, announced that Shirley Bush of Grant Avenue in Flemington and Robert Herder of Three Bridges were picked for membership in the New Jersey All-State High School Band. They competed for membership in the 115-piece symphonic band with 600 musicians from high schools thruout the state.

Two members of the most recent group of draftees from Hunterdon County, Jerry Thackaberry of Clinton and Paul R. Kuhl of rural Flemington, will train together in the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Dix. They were assigned to the same group -- B Battery, 34th A Battalion 60th infantry Regiment.

1976

There is no such thing as a ''bargain fuel. '' And Hunterdon County residents, schools, businesses and industries are discovering that natural gas and electric heat, several years ago considered bargains, are turning out to be more than they bargained for. Just as oil prices skyrocketed two years ago following the Arab oil embargo, natural gas prices have also jumped considerably.

Orders will be taken starting April 1.

RARITAN TWP. -- The township is offering residents home delivery of wood mulch for a fee.

"The recycling center has always allowed residents to come and pick up wood mulch and leaf compost," said Mayor Karen Gilbert. "We are now adding the convenience of having mulch delivered to residents' homes for a fee."

Deliveries will start April 15. Orders will be accepted starting April 1.

The delivery of leaf compost and wood mulch is for township residents only. People can order a truckload (8 cubic yards) or half a truckload (4 cubic yards). Orders are limited to four truckloads per resident a year.

The cost for mulch is $150 a truckload or $75 for half a truckload. The cost for leaf compost is $50 a truckload, or $25 for half a truckload.

Orders for mulch delivery can be made in person or by mail. Payment is required at the time of order. Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as materials are available.

People can place an order in person at the Public Works Department, 204 Pennsylvania Ave., on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

By mail, send a check made out to the Township of Raritan to the Public Works Department,  204 Pennsylvania Ave., Flemington, 08822. Include your address, telephone number, the type of mulch and number of truckloads. 

Residents are responsible for marking the location of drop-off on their driveway. Deliveries can only be deposited on the driveway surface, and will be made on Fridays. Delivery will be confirmed by telephone the day before.

Call 908-782-1695 with any questions.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

What's the secret to a long life? A 106-year-old woman shares her story from early life in Portugal to immigrating to the United States in 1966.

READINGTON TWP. -- Celebrating her 106th birthday Tuesday, Maria Piedade Do Alvaro reminisced with her daughter and granddaughters about when she immigrated to the United States in 1966 and 1967.

Do Alvaro came over with her husband Agostinho when she was 56, moved to the Ironbound district of Newark, and was joined by her children and their families a year later.

Born in 1910 in Portugal, Do Alvaro lived through both world wars, as well as revolution and failed monarchy in her own country. 

She was one of 10 children who reached adulthood, as some infants had not survived, and started work at a young age, never learning to read or write.

"It was difficult to leave. You're leaving everything you know, but within one or two years everyone came here, and in Newark it was an entirely Portugese community," Do Alvaro said, speaking through her granddaughter Maria Vieira, who acted as a translator when she spoke to New Jersey Advance Media. "She always says she loves Portugal, and that is her country, but she's grateful for this country and would never want to go back."

Describing how she worked in Portugal from dawn until dusk, granddaughter Rosa Rinaldi said life there was difficult. "You're coming to the states for a better opportunity and to me there's no better country than this one."

Rinaldi said her grandmother took a full-time job in bakery in Newark making Crema di Portogallo and pasteis de nata for less than $1 an hour. She also took on three part-time cleaning jobs.

"Even though she never learned to read or write, she was always very intelligent and handled all of her own finances," Rinaldi said, adding that Do Alvaro would often share spoken word poetry with her family. 

When Do Alvaro was 70 her husband passed away, and she worked at the bakery until she was 77, later helping the families of her three daughters, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren who later moved to Hunterdon County.

With a sharp and active mind, Do Alvaro was crocheting everything from large afghans to small soap holders until she was 90, and up until four years ago when she broke her hip, she was walking on her own, but now uses a wheelchair or walker around the homes of Rinaldi, Vieira and daughter Maria Isilda Malhado who care for her.

Now family life is her focus, and on Saturday she will be joined by her close friends and relatives to celebrate her birthday.

Stating that her grandmother takes no medicine other than a baby aspirin, and has never even had surgery, Rinaldi said that part of her good health is due to living at home with constant care from her family.

As for the secret to long life? Do Alvaro says it simply. "I have God,' and she still prays every night.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.

The average tax bill in New Jersey has gone up 41.78 percent from 2000 to 2015.

Given the Garden State's reputation as one of the most taxed states in the country, few residents will be surprised to learn that the tax bills New Jerseyans have been paying over the past 15 years have been going up. How high, and by how much the bills are increasing, however, are matters of geography.

The state Department of Community Affairs released data Thursday indicating the average tax bills for every municipality in the state, and how those rates have changed over the years.

Statewide, the average residential tax bill jumped 2.4 percent from 2014 to 2015. On average, New Jersey residents shelled out $8,353 in taxes last year.

With rates adjusted for inflation, the average tax bill in New Jersey has gone up 41.78 percent from 2000 to 2015.

Which counties have the highest, lowest property taxes?

A small town in Camden County recorded the highest average tax bill last year, at $30,723. See the average tax bill, and average increase over the past 15 years, in your town via the links below:

• Atlantic County
• Bergen County
• Burlington County
• Camden County
• Cape May County
• Cumberland County
• Essex County
• Gloucester County
• Hudson County
• Hunterdon County
• Mercer County
• Middlesex County
• Monmouth County
• Morris County
• Ocean County
• Passaic County
• Salem County
• Somerset County
• Sussex County
• Union County
• Warren County

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

They were stopped on I-78 in Clinton Township.

CLINTON TWP. -- Two women face cocaine charges after their car was stopped on Interstate 78 early Sunday morning. A 2-year-old was in the car with them, police said.

A 2007 Ford Fusion was stopped on I-78 east at 3:40 a.m. after a computer check showed that the car's owner had a suspended driver's license, police said.

The driver, Taria King, 30, of Hagerstown, Md., was extremely nervous and her passenger, later determined to be Isharay Rucker, 23, of Harlem, N.Y., provided two aliases, police said.

A search of the car turned up 110 grams of cocaine and two vials of an unknown liquid, police said.

Both women were arrested and the 2-year-old in the car was also taken to police headquarters. A representative of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families responded to assist.

Both women were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy. King was also charged with endangering the welfare of children. Rucker was also charged with hindering apprehension. They were both taken to the Hunterdon County Jail with bail set at $75,000.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook. 

The driver was found to have 6 bag of heroin, police said.

CLINTON TWP. -- A driver stopped for motor-vehicle violations Sunday afternoon was found to have six bags of heroin, police said.

Mario Iannoccone, 48, of Lawrence Harbor was driving a 2005 Chevrolet on Route 31 north when he was stopped at 2:25 p.m.

During the stop, an officer found that Iannoccone had a $2,500 warrant for his arrest and that he was driving with a suspended license, police said.

He was allegedly found to have six bags of heroin and a glass pipe containing residue or a controlled dangerous substance, police said.

Iannoccone was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and issued motor-vehicle summonses for driving while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, driving while his license was suspended and failure to maintain a lane.

Iannoccone was later turned over directly to the North Brunswick Police Department as a result of the warrant.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

Jack Cust, Jr. will present his development plan for the area of the Union Hotel to Borough Council on Monday, Feb. 22.

FLEMINGTON -- Mayor Phil Greiner announced on Facebook Tuesday that a development plan for the Union Hotel and property around it will be unveiled at the Feb. 22 Borough Council meeting.

The hotel, built in 1878, closed in 2008. It earned national attention during the trial of Richard Hauptmann, who was convicted in the kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh's son, Charles. Press, prosecutor's, witnesses and the curious flocked to the hotel during the trail held in Flemington.

The borough designated the Union Hotel as an area of redevelopment 2010, and since then two developers have tried to come up with plans for the property.

Union Hotel liquor license sold for $1.2M

Greiner explained that while two attempts were made to redevelop the Union Hotel, which is currently owned by Matt McPherson and Liam Burns, the council has never designated a developer for the entire area, which includes adjacent buildings to the south.

John J. Cust, Jr., who bought the liquor license intended for the Union Hotel in October, is expected to present his plans to the council on Feb. 22, Greiner said, whose members will determine if it meets the borough's goals for the property.

What we know about the proposal to reboot BID board

Cust, a former Major League baseball player, co-founded nearby Diamond Nation along with his father.

Cust was not immediately available for more information, and Greiner said the meeting will be moved to the Historic Flemington Courthouse and held at 7:30 p.m. A public hearing and council vote on an ordinance that would lead to the creation of a new board overseeing the borough's Business Improvement District is also expected to take place that evening.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.

With nearly 12 reported cases in Hunterdon County each year, and additional unreported cases, entomologist Gary Donato says education and prevention are of the utmost importance.

FLEMINGTON -- Bed bugs are a pain. They're small, reproduce in large numbers and inflict itchy bites. Up until a few years ago, they also pretty much unheard of in the United States.

But these little critters have developed a resistance to pesticides and that, combined with an increase in international travel, means more people are coming into contact with them.

News of bed bugs, even just a few popping up in a public place, such as the discovery of three bed bugs at Francis A. Desmares School, brings with it concern, and, at times, overreaction. The school was proactive in letting parents and the community know the three bugs were so quickly eradicated that no additional extermination efforts were needed.

Offering his expertise, County Entomologist Gary Donato of the Hunterdon County Department of Public Safety's Division of Health shared these bed bug tips.

Philly bed bugs: City among top 10 pest-filled cities

Don't jump to conclusions

Just because there are bug bites on you, don't assume there are beg bugs around.

"If you're misidentifying the problem of bites from some type of insect, you won't be able to control it, so evidence is key," he said.

Set some traps

Bed bugs survive by consuming blood, so Donato suggests checking bedrooms first by looking inside the box spring and under mattresses, but if you don't spot the bugs, set up a trap.

Pitfall traps are sold at hardware store and prevent bed bugs from climbing up the legs of a bed. Donato also suggests using dry ice to draw the bugs out. "The carbon dioxide mimics mammals, so you can set up a little trap and see if you can collect them that way," he said.

Don't try to solve the problem yourself

Another mistake Donato often sees are people trying to deal with an infestation on their own. "The pesticides that are often available to folks are labeled to sell, and you can find a ton at Lowe's or Home Depot right on the shelf, but they're often used incorrectly and that's a problem," he said. "You shouldn't be doing this on your own."

Bed bugs have become resistant to bombs and sprays, and Donato said that commercial products will typically drive the bugs into an adjacent dwelling, which won't solve the problem.

Donato said the county health program offers assistance and information on how to deal with an infestation, and tells residents or landlords what local professionals to seek out for extermination and pest control.

Property owners have the legal responsibility to address the issue, and state healthy inspectors can be brought in to provide help or enforce remediation.

What is treatment like? 

When a home or apartment is treated for bed bugs, the process can take anywhere from several weeks to months with multiple sprays and cleanings to completely eradicate the dwelling of bugs.

Clothing items, fabrics and pillows must be washed and sealed, and larger furniture items are sometimes bagged to trap bugs.

With nearly 12 reported cases in Hunterdon County each year, and additional unreported cases, Donato says education and prevention are of the utmost importance. "No one is exempt from this," he said.

Bed bugs like to travel

Bed bugs spread from place to place by hitching a ride on someone or something. Jackets and backpacks are an easy way for bed bugs to hitchhike their way into your home.

Donato says you should keep an eye on items that are brought home from school, and wash any possibly exposed items in high heat with a 10 percent bleach solution. He also recommends clothing-safe insect repellent such as the flame resistant product offered by CRC.

Keep your home clean

Donato says because bed bugs are thin and small and like to hide out in cracks and crevices. He recommends keeping your home clean, steam-cleaning as often as possible, as well as emptying vacuum cleaners after each use.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.