Excursion trains return to Pumpkin Junction

Passengers on the Black River & Western Railroad can ride the train to the pumpkin patch and corn maze at Pumpkin Junction in rural Hunterdon County. The pumpkin patch and corn maze at Pumpkin Junction will operate weather permitting every weekend, until Oct. 31.

Visitors may ride in antique passenger coaches, a unique open air hayride car, or a classic bay-window caboose. The trains depart Ringoes Station for Pumpkin Junction every 20 to 30 minutes. The maze and pumpkin patch operate on Saturdays from 1 to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. The last train departs Ringoes Station to Pumpkin Junction one hour before closing. Passengers desiring to take the train from Flemington Station to Pumpkin Junction may board the 1 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. departure. Operating schedules vary on Oct. 31; for details,  visit www.brrht.org.

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New Jersey School Of Music Faculty Concert and Dinner

In support of its new Scholarship Program, the New Jersey School of Music is proud to announce its first annual Faculty Concert and Dinner to be held on Sunday October 18^th, from 5:30 until 8:00 PM, at the Firehouse Café in Mount Holly, NJ (www.thefirehousecafe.net).

The school, with campuses in Medford and Cherry Hill, supports 26 music teachers adding a great deal to the economy and culture of South Jersey. Teachers will be performing a variety of works in musical styles ranging from Classical, Jazz, Flamenco and Pop through Modern Progressive Contemporary music.

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Clinton Township police blotter

DRUNKEN DRIVING, 10:35 p.m. Sept. 23. Patrolman Jeffery Glennon stopped a vehicle driven by Ruth Desmond, 55, of Lebanon Borough, on Route 618 because her vehicle matched a reported erratic driver in the area, police said. During the stop, Glennon detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage and soon determined that Desmond was intoxicated, according to police. Desmond was charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to observe a traffic signal, improper backing and failure To produce documents.

DRUNKEN DRIVING, 12:15 a.m. Sept. 25. Glennon was dispatched to the Exxon On The Run gas station at Route 31 and Payne Road on a report of an intoxicated woman dancing in the parking lot. The caller also provided a description of the woman’s vehicle. But Glennon was unable to find the woman. While patrolling the area a short time later, however, Glennon saw the woman’s vehicle speeding along Route 623. After stopping the vehicle, Glennon detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the breath of the driver, Allison Wojcik, 22, of Clinton Township. Wojcik was also charged with speeding.
COCAINE, 12:40 a.m. Sept. 22. Patrolman David Formalarie stopped a vehicle driven by Christy Kurtain, 31, of Ewing Township, on Center Street near Route 173 because Kurtain was talking on the cell phone while driving, police said. During the stop, Formalarie detected the odor of burnt marijuana, observed evidence of marijuana use, and learned Kurtain was wanted on an $156 motor vehicle warrant from Hopewell Township. A search produced a marijuana pipe with residue in the vehicle’s center console and approximately 1.5 ounces of cocaine in Kurtain’s purse, police said Kurtain was charged with possession with intent To distribute, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and talking on cell phone while driving.
Source: Central Jersey police departments

Chamber Announces Food Network Star Christina Pirello at EXPO Luncheon

BUY LOCAL, BUY HUNTERDON THEMES THIS YEARS EXPO

Buy Local, Buy Hunterdon don’t miss this year’s Business EXPO! It will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at HealthQuest in Flemington from 11:00am-6:00pm. This is the only Trade Show of its kind in Hunterdon County and there will be a variety of industries represented. There will be two floors of exhibitors!

There are a number of exciting, new activities happening at the EXPO this year. A NEW FOR 2009 LUNCHEON with guest speaker CHRISTINA PIRELLO, FOOD NETWORK STAR & NPR PERSONALITY, has been planed. Discover the importance of buying local! Join us at the Business EXPO to hear Christina Pirello, speak about “The Politics of Food.” Christina has made it her purpose in life to show Americans that they can look their best and feel great too, by learning to eat natural, organic food. She is a big supporter of buying local. Tickets are $25 and includes a lunch buffet. Christina will also be available afterwards for a book signing. Lunch will be provided by ShopRite of Hunterdon. This luncheon is sponsored by: Basil Bandwagon Natural Market and Helping Hand Concierge, LLC. Tickets are limited to 100 attendees so sign up today!

There will also be local restaurant showcases, chef demonstrations, and door prizes planned throughout the day. There is a seminar at 3:00pm being presented by Wendi Caplan-Carroll of Constant Contact entitled, The Power of Email Marketing. Visit www.HunterdonExpo.com for up-to-date details!

Free document shredding will be available, so the EXPO is a good chance to do some fall cleaning! Free document shredding courtesy of Assure Shred. (up to 50lbs max)

Parking is easy! There will be continuous shuttle service to the EXPO from the Diamond Nation parking lot courtesy of Stout’s Charter Service.

Attention Hunterdon County Businesses! There is still time to get a booth! Contact the Chamber office at 908-782-7115 to reserve your space today!

Presenting Sponsor: TeamCapital Bank. Supporting Sponsors: TD Bank, Flemington Granite & Architectural Supply, and Investors Savings Bank. Media Sponsors: House & Home Magazine and the Courier News. Food Sponsor: ShopRite of Hunterdon. Luncheon Sponsors: Basil Bandwagon Natural Market and Helping Hand Concierge. Shuttle Transportation provided by Stout’s Charter Service.

New charter to open next year

By PAMELA SROKA-HOLZMANN

Staff Writer

The Trillium Foundation for Education and Sustainability Founding Committee has announced the new Trillium Charter School is gearing up to open by September 2010.

The school, which will be the first Hunterdon County-based charter school, will enroll students in grades kindergarten to four. However, there are plans for the school to grow each year by a grade to ultimately serve pupils in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

On Sept. 22, the New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Lucille Davis announced that Gov. Jon Corzine approved the application presented by the Trillium Charter School Founding Committee – a group of nine parents and educators who spent over two years envisioning and planning the school.
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The Things They Made: Hunterdon County Artisans

From October 3-15, the Readington Museums will be hosting an exhibit of objects made by the early settlers of Hunterdon County.  The objects on display come from the collections of three Hunterdon Museums: the Readington Museums, The Red Mill Village, and the Holcombe Jimison Farmstead as well as from the private collections of local history enthusiasts.

The exhibit will highlight an eclectic array including the pottery of Flemington, work by 18th century clockmaker, Benjamin Guild, tools made by Hiram Deats, fancy chairs from Croton, peach baskets from Pittstown and Califon, milk bottles and cans from an assortment of dairies,  as well as the Readington Museum’s own collection of local Native American stone points.  For those interested in the art of making stone points, we will be having a flint knapping demonstration by Jack Cresson on Sunday October 4 as a part of the exhibit.

The exhibit will be on display from October 3-15 from 1-4 pm (closed Friday the 9th) at the Bouman Stickney Farmstead located at 114 Dreahook Road near the village of Stanton.  For directions or for more information please call the Museum at (908) 236-2327.

Contact Information
The Readington Museums
Amy Hollander
P.O. Box 216
Stanton, NJ 08885

Mediums talk to afterworld in fundraiser this Friday

Trish Woods, Psychic and Medium, will be holding a Spirit Gallery with two other mediums to benefit NORWESCAP’s Career & Life Transitions Center for Women on Friday evening at 8 pm, October 2^nd at the Little Theater at Hunterdon Central High School.   Please view www.trishwoods.com or call 908-722-2439 for further details about this Medium Gallery event.  For details on the Career & Life Transitions Center’s 6^th Annual Holistic & Psychic Fair scheduled for October 24^th, call 908 788 1453 or contact careerlife@norwescap.org.

NORWESCAP is a non-profit community action agency established in 1965 that creates opportunities for over 30,000 low-income people in northwest New Jersey by providing a large portfolio of self-sufficiency and emergency services. The mission of NORWESCAP is “Fighting Poverty. Creating Opportunities. Changing Lives.”

Anthony Frank recieves award from State Police training

After a week of intensive police training at the 81^ST Trooper Youth Training in Seagirt this summer, Anthony Frank received the ‘Commandants Award’ for Best Trooper Youth in all aspects of character as voted by the state police staff.  He received his award at the closing commencement ceremony held in July.

Anthony is a senior at Del Val high school and applied for entrance into this program while a Law Enforcement student with Polytech.   He was accepted with over 100 students from the state to attend this educational program that exposes candidates to the training necessary to become a state trooper.

Mrs. Frank, Anthony’s mother, commends his Polytech training and sent a note to instructor Sgt. Blanke stating, “Thank you for running a wonderful program and giving our son the tools he needed to complete Trooper Youth Week so successfully.”

Sgt. Blanke, who teaches law enforcement & criminal investigation, encourages his students to apply for this opportunity.   “Students gain a true sense of academy life and really begin to understand the rigorous training that is part of becoming a law enforcement officer,” he explained.  “Teamwork, discipline, care for equipment along with drills and routine inspections are all part of the week’s activities.”

Anthony is a volunteer at the Kingwood Fire Station and Rescue Squad.  He plans on attending RVCC upon graduation and then entering the Coast Guard to be a rescue diver.

Dog grooming services back at Polytech

Students in the Polytech small animal Pre-Veterinary Science High School program, working toward a certification from the American Boarding Kennel Association, are offering dog grooming services and related products.

The services help the students sharpen their skills and gain practical experience. All monies earned will go toward a student activities fund that will support extracurricular activities and a new scholarship fund available for a deserving 2009 school year pre-vet student.

Grooming is available by appointment on Tuesday – Friday, when school is in session. Bath and nails are offered for $8 (small dogs) and $10 (medium to large sized dogs). Nails and ear cleaning are $4 each and clipping/haircut is $10 for all sizes.

New this year are canine health-related products for sale including Greenies dental treats, reusable toothbrushes, disposable toothbrushes with toothpaste, and flea combs.

For additional information about the grooming services, pricing, etc. please access www.hcpolytech.org or call 284-1444, X 22.

Food Network Star Christina Pirello to speak in Flemington

Food Network Star, Christina Pirello, will speak about the “Politics of Food” at the Hunterdon Chamber of Commerce Business Expo on October 15.

Christina has made it her purpose in life to show Americans that they can look their best and feel great too, by learning to eat natural, seasonal and organic food. Most importantly, she is a big supporter of buying local.

Since 1988, Christina has been teaching whole foods cooking classes, conducting lifestyle seminars and lecturing all over the United States about the powerful role food plays in our lives. She has shared her deep and clear knowledge in a variety of settings – from natural food stores to corporate boardrooms – and not one life is left unchanged when she leaves the room.

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Psychic and Holistic Fair set

The sixth annual Psychic and Holistic Fair to benefit NORWESCAP’s Career & Life Transitions Center for Women (CLTC) will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Hampton Inn, 14 Royal Road, Flemington.

Psychic and Holistic Fair attendees will be able to sign up for private psychic readings, using Egyptian tarot and soul cards, palmistry, numerology, astrology, psychic numerology, angel and mermaid cards along with chakra balancing and Reiki healing. Also planned are 15 holistic crafters and vendors.
Admission is $5 or free with a $30 pre-paid 15-minute private reading which can be purchased in advance or at the door. Register now by calling 908-788-1453.
The Psychic and Holistic Fair is this crucial community program’s key fundraising event. The CLTC assists women from Hunterdon, Somerset or Mercer counties who are returning to the workforce after the death or disability of a spouse or following a divorce or separation.
Sponsorship advertisement and vendor applications for the 2009 Fair are available. For more information, contact the Career & Life Center at careerlife@norwescap.org or call 908-788-1453.

Rotary Club donates to CEA

CEA received $1,000 from the Flemington Rotary Club this past June. CEA is a not-for-profit organization that educates, empowers and employs people with special needs residing in the community.

This donation will be used to support the Packaging & Assembly Programs, which are offered to youth and adults age 14 to 76. The Packaging & Products Group at CEA provides packaging services to the community in their FDA approved facility.
In September, CEA will be celebrating 40 years of service to the disabled population. Rotary Clubs consist of volunteers who fundraise yearly and contribute to their individual communities to help charitable organizations. There are 38,000 Rotary Clubs in 200 countries.
For more information, or to take a tour, contact Rose Holden, director of Development & Public Relations, at 908-782-1480, ext 263 or e-mail rholden@ceaemployment.com.

Holistic Fair set for Oct. 24

Mark your calendars for the sixth annual Psychic and Holistic Fair to benefit NORWESCAP’s Career & Life Transitions Center for Women (CLTC) on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, 14 Royal Road, Flemington.

Psychic and Holistic Fair attendees will be able to sign up for private psychic readings, palmistry, numerology, astrology, psychic numerology, angel and mermaid cards along with chakra balancing and Reiki healing. Also planned are 15 holistic crafters and vendors.
Admission is $5 or free with a $30 pre-paid 15-minute private reading which can be purchased in advance or at the door. Register now by calling 908-788-1453.
The Psychic and Holistic Fair is this crucial community program’s key fundraising event. The CLTC assists women from Hunterdon, Somerset or Mercer counties who are returning to the workforce after the death or disability of a spouse or following a divorce or separation.
Sponsorship advertisement and vendor applications for the 2009 Fair are available. For more information, contact the Career & Life Center at careerlife@norwescap.org or call 908-788-1453.

Home School Association collecting used clothing

The Readington Home School Association, Inc. is collecting used clothing as part of its Clothing Drive. Donations of unwanted clothing, including shoes, boots, belts, purses, bedding, linens and stuffed animals will be accepted.

All donations must be placed in plastic bags and tied or sealed closed. Donations may be dropped off at Three Bridges, Whitehouse, Holland Brook and Readington Middle School during Back to School nights.
The Home School Association will receive a minimum of 10 cents per pound for all donations.

Affordable dental care offered to residents

Uninsured county residents have moved one step closer to affordable dental care thanks to Congress.

Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J announced on Aug. 17 that the House of Representatives recently passed legislation that includes Lance’s request for $225,000 to create a new affordable dental center for the uninsured and underinsured residents of Hunterdon County.
The federal investment would allow the Zufall Health Center to renovate, furnish and purchase equipment for a new dental center in Flemington. Hunterdon is the only county in New Jersey that does not provide safety-net dental services for the uninsured or underinsured.
Once established, the Hunterdon Family Dental center would provide affordable dental services to approximately 2,000 Hunterdon County residents. The center would operate on a “break-even” basis, based upon Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance reimbursements.
Lance made the announcement with Hunterdon County elected officials, community leaders and representatives from the Zufall Health Center.
Zufall Health Center currently provides affordable medical services to Hunterdon County residents through a state-of-the-art mobile van. However, the van does not have the resources or equipment to provide residents with dental care.

SAFE in Hunterdon celebrates a special anniversary

SAFE in Hunterdon has announced that its transitional housing facility reached an important milestone this month. On Aug. 18, 1999, the Transitional House officially opened its doors as a safe, long-term housing facility for survivors of domestic abuse and their families.

The Transitional House opening was the result of years of hard work on behalf of the staff, board and volunteers of the agency formerly known as Women’s Crisis Services. The new home boasted accommodations for up to 15 people. Not all the rooms were furnished at the time, but they were soon filled, in part through the agency’s Adopt-A-Room program, which encouraged donors to purchase items for the bedrooms.
The Transitional House is the second of SAFE in Hunterdon’s two-part residential program. First, the Safe House provides emergency shelter for women and their families for up to 60 days. Then, since there is a limit on the length of stay at the Safe House, the Transitional House meets an important need for women who require further support.
Case management is still offered, and weekly meetings are conducted at the Transitional House, very much like the services available at the Safe House. Women staying there are expected to actively work toward healing and independent living, securing jobs or obtaining schooling as their situations allow.
Program fees for Transitional House residents are based on a sliding scale. These requirements are established as a means to ease women into the responsibilities of life on their own.
Since there are often many families staying at the home, clients develop strong ties because of their common experiences. They work together in the upkeep and daily chores at the house, and support each other during their journeys to independent, violence-free living.

Trial Of The Century re-enactment heads back to Flemington court Oct. 3

It’s been more than 75 years since a carpenter from the Bronx was captured in connection with one of the world’s most sensational murders and was brought to trial in the now-historic Hunterdon County courthouse.

The annual re-enactment of Bruno Hauptmann’s 1935 trial for the murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s infant son kicks off on Oct. 3, with weekend performances scheduled throughout the month in the same courtroom where the original trial — dubbed The Trial Of The Century by the media of the time — was held.

The two and one-half hour production uses original transcripts from the real trial and features, in character, some of the most famous witnesses who appeared at the trial.

The world’s attention came to Flemington in the early 1930s when, five years after Lindbergh made his historic flight across the Atlantic, his son was taken from their East Amwell home on March 1, 1932.

Hauptmann was arrested more than two years later and brought to trial in the now-famous courthouse that was built in 1828. Hauptmann was convicted of murder and executed on April 3, 1936 in Trenton. Hauptmann never stopped proclaiming his innocence, and his widow tried until her death at age 94 to have her husband’s verdict overturned.

Sept. 19 marked the 75th anniversary of Hauptmann’s capture in the Bronx. Published theories claim that Hauptmann was framed, while other theories speculated that Lindbergh was responsible for the baby’s death.

Opening day of “Lindbergh & Hauptmann, The Trial of the Century” will feature a parade of antique cars bringing the characters to the courthouse for a dramatic confrontation between the characters of Lindbergh and Hauptmann.

“Our audiences stand outside the courtroom after the show and debate the verdict,” author and producer Harry Kazman said in a news release about the upcoming performances.

The attention on Lindbergh and the interest in the trial brought thousands of reporters, celebrities and curious people to Flemington to try to get a seat in the courthouse during the trial, and many people who couldn’t get tickets attempted to climb in through windows to watch the trial.

Newsreels and photos of the courthouse and its visitors were broadcast worldwide.

The annual event is part of the History Comes Alive in Flemington celebrations sponsored by the Flemington Partnership For Progress and the borough.

Children sought with learning difficulties

The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District is sponsoring the “Project Child Find” program, which seeks to locate resident children, ages 3 to 21 years old, who might have significant physical, cognitive, neurological, speech and language or medical needs or other developmental delays of varying degrees of severity, who are not currently receiving services.

Proof of residency is required.
The district offers free evaluation and programs that provide eligible children with the services they need. Programs also are available to qualified children ages 3 to 5 to meet these needs and are staffed by caring professionals.
For more information, call Special Services at 908-284-7680.

‘Swoon,’ by Austrlia’s Strange Fruit, coming to Liberty Village

The Theater at Raritan Valley Community College will be presenting free outdoor performances of Swoon! by “Strange Fruit” a performing group from Australia. On Wednesday, September 30 two (2) performances will be held at Liberty Village Premium Outlets in the courtyard near Cole Haan.

Swoon! is a vital, spirited performance with spectacular image-making and comedy, the timeless romantic story of boy meets girl is retold as a comic aerial spectacle. Four daredevils dance and flirt their way through a lighthearted look at love, loss, jealousy and joy. Set to a soundtrack ranging from Mozart to Swing, this piece is a lively and spirited treat for all ages.

Strange Fruit:a Melbourne-based performing arts company that produces and performs a remarkable style of work that fuses theatre, dance and circus, using a unique elevated medium.

Perched atop 35 foot high flexible poles of original design, the troupe delivers a sublime performance, bending and swaying in the air, captivating and engaging the audience in absolute fascination.

For more information please visit our webiste at www.premiumoutlets.com/libertyvillage or call (908) 782-8550.

Jonathan Kalafer successfully following in father’s footsteps as a filmmaker

Steve Kalafer has been nominated for three Academy Awards.

He owns a champion minor-league baseball team and a chain of profitable auto dealerships.

But none of those successes bring Kalafer as much joy as seeing his son Jonathan, 34, succeed as both a teacher and a filmmaker.

“I have been in his classroom,” Kalafer said. “To watch the way these students look at their teacher, who happens to be our son, the experience was surreal and one of the most fulfilling in my life … I had tears of joy.”

About filmmaking, he added, “Jonathan obviously knows me very well, so he knows what I expect. That makes our processes run a lot more smoothly. It also makes any success that we have together that much sweeter. The real benefit is enjoying it with my son.”

An English teacher at Dickinson High School in Jersey City, Jonathan Kalafer considers filmmaking an extension of teaching.
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