What's Down, Doc?

Time to fold up the rabbit ears for good. As of June 12, 2009, over the air broadcast television is kaput!




I think I was about 12 years old when Mom and Dad bought me a small second-hand black and white T.V. It sat on my dresser all through my teen years. It looked a lot like the one in the picture above.

I spent hours - HOURS - adjusting the antennas - VHF and UHF. I especially enjoyed Monty Python on PBS, WWF wrestling, the classic Saturday Night Live, and all of the old re-runs. Ha - old re-runs! This was 1976! I guess they are ancient re-runs now.

"Living in Somerset County"

Over the years I have seen and studied many maps and plans depicting the proposed route(s) of the Somerset Freeway - the missing link of Interstate 95 through central New Jersey. None are as peculiar as the map I presented in yesterday's blog.

Peculiar because of the way the route of the proposed highway narrowly skirts the border of Montgomery Township, careful to stay completely within Hillsborough and Franklin townships as it bisects Somerset County.

The map appears on the back cover of "Living in Somerset County", a thirty-two page booklet published in 1974. The book contains descriptions of everything that makes living here great - today and thirty-five years ago - including profiles of all the municipalities. There is extensive information about all of the school districts. For example, Hillsborough's per pupil expenditure in 1974 was $824.99, and a teacher's starting salary was $8400!

Today, the book reads like a fascinating encyclopedia of an often overlooked period in Somerset County's history. In 1974 it probably read like what it really was - a sales pitch.

"Living in Somerset County" was published by Claudia Condo Pascale, Realtor - with research by Beverly L. Perkins, her Director of Public Relations.

Born in Raritan and living in Bridgewater since 1963, Ms. Pascale was one of Somerset County's most notable Realtors of the last fifty years. She was the first woman to be president of the Somerset County Board of Realtors, the chairman of the Arbitration Committee of the Hunterdon-Somerset Association of Realtors, and the first Realtor in New Jersey to receive a designation as a Certified Residential Realtor from the National Association of Realtors.

So what about the map? Is there a sales advantage to showing the proposed Interstate 95 as traversing only Hillsborough and Franklin - and avoiding Montgomery? And is this supposed to help sales in Hillsborough? Montgomery?
Sadly, Ms. Pascale passed away on December 3, 2008 at the age of 92, so we may never know the answer for sure.

The Bypass Is Coming

You didn't think I was talking about THAT bypass, did you?

This is a map of Somerset County showing one of the many proposed routes for Interstate 95 - the 1974 version.



Notice how the mapmakers have been very careful not to touch one square foot of Montgomery Township. Instead, the Somerset Freeway bisects Hillsborough quite neatly.

What's up with that?

Find out tomorrow!

879 Affordable Low Income Houses

Low income housing is coming to central New Jersey. Wait - did I just write that? Shouldn't I have written "affordable housing"?

Not this time. Now, thanks to the feds, we can call it what it really is. At least the announcement last week that $19.5 million was coming to the region in the form of federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Funds - with another $20.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding - allows us to drop the absurd "affordable housing" moniker.

In housing, like in every other product, you get what you pay for. The market expands to fill every niche. If you are making an "income" - even a "low income" - there is a home out there for you. Maybe not in your first choice city or neighborhood - but that's always something to aspire to.

I can't imagine anyone aspiring to live in low income housing - no matter how affordable it is.

$115,000 Saved

Have you noticed the signs taped to the doors at the municipal complex? The ones that read, "Thursday's meeting of the Hillsborough Planning Board has been canceled"?

The economic downturn has led to a severe decrease in the amount of construction in the township, and in the number of building applications - and in everything else that goes with that, including inspections.

Hillsborough has found a way to save money in that department by combining the responsibilities of two state-mandated positions - the Fire Subcode Official and the Building Subcode Official. The new position will be ably filled by Jack Daniels - the current Fire Subcode Official - at a modest salary increase of just $5000. Not replacing the current Building Subcode Official, who recently retired, will save Hillsborough $115,000 in salary and benefits.

And what if construction REALLY dries up?

Bound Brook combines four state-mandated positions - Construction Official / Building Subcode Official / Electrical Subcode Official / Fire Subcode Official - leaving only the Plumbing Subcode Official in a separate paid position.

The Traditional Second Anniversary Blog

If you are reading this in the print edition of the Courier News, congratulations! To you, dear reader, and the newspaper. Since I started writing "On Hillsborough" in June 2007, dozens of newspapers nationwide have shut down their presses - 120 just since January 2008.

Ad revenue for America's newspapers was 23% lower in 2008 than in 2007, mostly due to dwindling circulation. And I don't have to tell you who the culprit is. If you are NOT reading this in the newspaper, you already know.

What happens when newspapers fold? Big cities that were once home to two or more competing papers are now down to one. And some one-paper-towns, like San Francisco, may soon have no daily newspaper at all.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Gannett - the parent company of the Courier and the Home News Tribune - and its major competitor McClatchy will likely survive, but it has already been painful. Many local newspaper employees have been terminated or furloughed - while revenues continue to plummet.

So, is the newspaper dead? I don't think so. As people continue to turn to the internet to get their information, there is no reason newspapers can't incorporate what makes the 'net work into their print editions. The Courier News and Home News Tribune have already begun to do that by cross-promoting their special and general interest blogs, and there is so much more that can be done.

I am excited to begin my third year writing "Gillette on Hillsborough". As the traditional second anniversary gift is cotton, I think I may go out tomorrow and pick up some cotton paper, the archival stuff that lasts 200 years, and print out a couple of my blog posts for posterity. Because when it comes right down to it, it's the "ones and zeros" that are most ephemeral. It's the paper that lasts.

Let's hope that goes for newspaper too.

Let's Play Two

The ball field at the Woods Road Fire House - May 19, 2009.

[click on the pic to see the big picture]

Circus - Up Close

One of the cool things about the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Sovereign Bank Arena was that early-arriving patrons were encouraged to come right down onto the floor and meet the performers before the show.




The clowns and acrobats performed, and even signed programs for the kids.





And the actual show was pretty spectacular too.





Thank you to all of our friends and everyone who came to the show to help support autism research. A portion of the proceeds from tickets bought from us was donated to Autism Speaks through Central NJ Walk Now for Autism.



Join us at this year's Walk by clicking here. Form your own Walk Team...


or...


Join our Hillsborough's Hope team by clicking here.

Sourland Mountain Frog

Book 'em Kammo

The 19th century science of dactyloscopy took a big leap into the 21st century this month for the Hillsborough Township Police Department. One hundred seventeen years after a bloody fingerprint sealed the fate of an Argentinian woman who murdered her two small children - the first such use of fingerprint identification - Hillsborough is throwing away its paper and ink and going high-tech.



A $25,000 live-scan fingerprint system has been installed at the municipal complex, improving the speed and accuracy of positively identifying individuals in custody.

Let's face it, with nearly 7 billion of us running around the planet, it can be pretty tough to sort us all out. I'm for anything that helps us round up the perps. Book'em Kammo!

Who Will Knock Out Corzine?

There comes a time when pragmatism has to knock idealism on the head. And knock it right out. Next week's gubernatorial primary may be one of those times.

Steve Lonegan seems to be ALL idealism. I get it. He has done a great job communicating who he is, and I am sure he appeals to a lot of New Jersey voters. He is a pro-life, anti-environment, anti-immigrant crusader, and he is an extremist. In extreme times this kind of candidate can seem like an appealing choice. But Lonegan's not an appealing choice, he's a desperate choice - and these are not desperate times. Not yet!

Chris Christie on the other hand seems to be mostly about pragmatism. He has communicated conservative values in a practical context. Christie has the same pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family values as Lonegan, but Christie lets those values inform his other positions, not lead them. He has put forth a plan that ties together urban revitalization, elimination of COAH, and protection of the environment, while bringing business back to New Jersey.

And most importantly, for all of the pragmatists reading this, Christie will beat Jon Corzine in November.

In fact, he will knock him right out!

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• Corzine Trails Christie by 10 Points (politicalwire.com)

Hillsborough Remembers Those Who Served

The Hillsborough Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony is a great opportunity to take photographs.



For more great photos, go here and follow the links.

A Closer Look

Here's a closer look at what's changing the view from atop the Sourland Mountain. This is looking east towards Hillsborough.

Sourland Mountain View

The first photo was taken in 2005. The second is from 2009.

Discuss.

Ten Years Old(er)

Happy Birthday Amanda - 10 years old today!

Kramer Portrait

We finally received our framed family "renaissance portrait" from Kramer Portraits. I wrote about our experience at the Kramer Portraits studio in Hillsborough back in January.

We couldn't be more pleased with how the finished product came out. The portrait has the look of an oil painting with the detail of a photograph. The detail and quality can be appreciated even from across the room. The snapshot below doesn't begin to do justice to the actual item. And the best part? They were able to turn back the clock on my hair loss about five years!

To see one of these portraits for yourself, stop into their studio at Mountainview Plaza on Route 206 South. They have many examples of their work up on the walls of their showroom.

They are not responsible for this Kramer portrait, however.

Tickets Still Available

We still have tickets available for Autism Awareness Weekend at Trenton's Sovereign Bank Arena. Join us for a performance of Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus on Friday May 29 or Saturday May 30.

A portion of the proceeds from each ticket sale will benefit Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism research, awareness, and advocacy organization.




Click on the picture to view and print the flier - then call to reserve your tickets. Please mention the flier to ensure Autism Speaks receives their donation.


See you at the show!

Millstone Boro - 115 Years Young

I couldn't let another May 18 pass without acknowledging the anniversary of the formation of Millstone Boro, which officially seceded from Hillsborough Township on this day in 1894.

As one of the leading villages of Hillsborough, Millstone played a significant part in the township's, and Somerset County's, history for 150 years. As the county seat during the American Revolution and a center for commerce right up through the industrial revolution, Millstone's importance to the region has been estimable.

Yet - unlike the plentiful information regarding Manville's secession in 1929, an admittedly unsuccessful search of contemporary and historical accounts has turned up no clues regarding the reasons for Millstone's separation. Why split from Hillsborough? And why in 1894?

East Millstone, by comparison, broke away from Franklin Township in 1873. At that time, the Delaware and Raritan Canal had been well established for forty years, and was at the peak of its importance. There was also a thriving railroad and railroad works in the hamlet. Millstone benefited from the canal and railroad also, but by 1894 Millstone's railroad, the Mercer & Somerset, had been gone for 15 years, and the canal was already entering its decline.

So what was it?

I still don't know - but I know one thing. East Millstone was an independent borough for less than 75 years, rejoining Franklin in 1949. Millstone is at 115 and counting.

What do you think Hillsborough people? Is it time for Millstone to come home?

Still Looking

On March 31, I posted a picture of an historic Hillsborough home with the questions, "where is it, where was it?"



The answer to the first question is easy - the house is no longer standing. The second question is more difficult - but before I get into that question, I am hoping someone will recognize the building and let me know where it stood. I don't want to let discussion of its location prejudice anyone's memory.

Here's one more fact - it was one of the most historically significant houses in Hillsborough when this photograph was taken. In fact, this photo was part of a depression-era Works Progress Administration survey of historic structures. It was the only residence in Hillsborough included in the survey!

Tagged - You're It!

The Manville Borough Council is still considering a proposed ordinance that would make property owners responsible for cleaning graffiti from their buildings. Similar laws have been deliberated in towns and cities across the nation - from Wichita Falls, to Brockton, Massachusetts. What all of these laws have in common is that they end up punishing the victim, rather than the perpetrator.

Business owners and landlords who have had their buildings defaced with graffiti are victims of a crime. The goal should be to encourage the victims to come forward and report acts of vandalism - not drive them away with punitive fines and remediation timetables.

The logical conclusion to these types of laws is that graffiti vandalism will not be reported - necessitating a "graffiti task force" of police officers or code officials, or, perhaps, some type of vigilante "Keep Manville Clean" citizens' group to report on their neighbors.

The point is that all of this effort will go into finding and punishing the victims of graffiti - while the real vandals roam free.

Fourth Annual Art Exhibition

On the evening of May 14, the multipurpose room at the municipal complex was transformed into Hillsborough's public art gallery as the Cultural Arts Commission presented their Fourth Annual Art Exhibition.

This year's show was a transformation in itself - with entries limited to teens and adults, and works submitted not only by our own talented high school students, but also by students in our neighboring towns.

Cultural Arts Commission Chairman Bill Bochinski welcomed the participants and guests, many of whom were on hand to witness the unveiling of the first painting in the new Hillsborough Public Art Collection - an oil painting of Assemblyman Peter Biondi.

This fine near-life-size portrait was created by local artist Kevin Murphy, who conceived the idea for the transformed art show and the public art collection.

Artist Kevin Murphy and Assemblyman Biondi unveil the portrait as Hillsborough mayor Frank DelCore looks on.

Student award winners, who received gift certificates to art and photo supply stores, pose with the Biondi portrait.

Judges from the professional art world - seen here conferring with Chairman Bochinski - intended to award one student a $1000 commission to create the next painting for Hillsborough's art collection. As it turned out, there were so many deserving entries that it was decided more deliberation was necessary before choosing a winner from so many excellent candidates.

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For more great photos of the event, click here, and follow the link.

Keep Out the Filth

Hillsborough Township officials were right on this week with an entreaty and a proposal to keep the filth out of Hillsborough.

Following the NJ Supreme Court ruling May 7 forbidding municipalities from enforcing buffer-zone laws designed to keep convicted sex predators from residing near schools and playgrounds, Mayor Frank DelCore called on the state to enact legislation either allowing town-established buffer-zones, or mandating state-established zones.

In a uniquely related story, the township committee introduced an ordinance designed to keep contaminated soil out of Hillsborough. As reported in the Courier News, any large quantity of soil brought into the township will require registration with the engineering department and be subjected to testing if the source of the soil is unknown. This is an important measure considering Hillsborough's recently revised zoning ordinances allowing outside storage of materials at businesses in the vicinity of Roycefield Road and other locations.

Calling All Art Lovers

The Hillsborough Township Cultural and Arts Commission 4th annual Fine Art Exhibit will take place Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the Municipal Complex.

The highlight of the evening is sure to be the unveiling of the flagship piece of the township's new Public Art Collection - a near life-size oil painting of Assemblyman Peter Biondi.

Click on the image to view and print the flier.

Second Wind for Alternative Energy

Hillsborough's alternative energy advocates may be getting their second wind. The township committee recently introduced an amendment to last year's windmill ordinance that would allow the use of vertical-axis wind turbines in addition to traditional horizontal-blade windmills.



The main advantages of these systems are that they can be mounted on top of existing poles and other structures and don't interfere with bird migration.

Of course the disadvantage of wind-powered electricity is that it isn't always windy! Still, can you picture one of these egg-beater shaped devices at the top of every utility pole in Hillsborough? Quick, someone call Guiness!

Shared Service a Good Idea

Montgomery Township's recently announced municipal budget includes the transfer of its emergency dispatch operation to Somerset County - a move that is likely to save the town hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Hillsborough would do well to examine such a transfer of its own dispatch operation. With potential savings of $300,000 to $400,000, it might even be possible to ADD a police officer to the force as well as pass along savings to the taxpayer.

With a police force as lean as Hillsborough's, the addition of even one officer can make a huge difference - something I am sure Chief Kaminsky recognizes and would appreciate.

Wide Open Spaces

Where are Hillsborough's "wide open spaces"? West of Starview Drive? Up on the mountain?

How about right in the center of town.

The Hillsborough Township Committee is seeking a federal grant to help pay for its portion of the development rights to the 162 acre Van Nuys farm on Hillsborough and Willow Roads. The cost to preserve the property as farmland is $3.6 million, of which the township's obligation is about $1.8 million. But with a federal grant for $1 million, Hillsborough will need to use only $800,000 from its open space trust fund for the purchase.

The grant will come from the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program - a name that definitely conjures up visions of wide open spaces!