Flemington

Clinton Township dog attack leaves woman and her two dogs injured

Walter O'Brien — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:05:00 +0000

CLINTON TOWNSHIP… A township woman and her two dogs were attacked and injured by a runaway Labrador Retriever.

At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday Sept. 1, Ptl. David Formalarie was called to Smoke Rise Lane for a report of a woman being attacked by a dog. The initial report came from a resident who heard the woman screaming. The victim, who was walking her dogs at the time, soon called police as well.

On his arrival, Formalarie found several citizens aiding the 41-year-old female victim, who had blood on her legs and chest and was holding a blood-soaked rag on her head. Her two dogs were bleeding heavily from their throats.

The victim said that a large tan Labrador Retriever was running loose on the street when it began to attack one of her dogs. When she attempted to free her dog, the attacking dog knocked her over, causing her to hit her head on the pavement.

Clinton First Aid & Rescue brought the victim to Hunterdon Medical Center for treatment. Clinton Township Animal Control Officer Doug Rohl brought the two victim dogs to Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital for treatment. Formalarie discovered that the attacking dog’s rabies shots are up to date. The matter has been turned over to Rohl. Charges are pending.

Are you worried or upset about Hunterdon property taxes?

Walter O'Brien — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:46:51 +0000

If you or a friend are upset or worried about YOUR property taxes in Hunterdon County, the Courier News would like your comment for a story. Please call Walter O’Brien TODAY at 908-243-6613 or e-mail wobrien@mycentraljersey.com! Thanks.

North Hunterdon High School student to be charged with making threats

Michael Deak — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:16:30 +0000

A 15-year-old Clinton Township boy, a student at North Hunterdon High School, will be charged with making terroristic threats and criminal mischief following a physical altercation at the school Wednesday morning.

During the 8 a.m. altercation, the Clinton Township boy threatened to kill and slit the throat of a Clinton Town boy, police said. In addition, the Clinton Township boy then punched a hole in a sheet rock wall, according to police. When School Resource Officer Detective Thomas Hash arrived, the Clinton Township boy repeated his threats, police said.

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Hunterdon Polytech to celebrate Health Sciences program open house

Loren Fisher — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000

The Hunterdon County Polytech Career Academy and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey cordially invite you to the Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 to celebrate the first enrolled high school class in the Polytech Career Academy of Health Sciences Program. The ceremony will be held at Hunterdon County Polytech Careers Caf, 10 Junction Road, Raritan Township. Light refreshments will be served immediately following the ribbon cutting. The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will be officiated by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about the open house or to register for the event, please contact the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce at 908-782-7115 or register online at: www.hunterdon-chamber.org.

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Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce to Hold Leads Exchange

Loren Fisher — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000

The Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce will be holding an September Leads Exchange on Wednesday, September 15th from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. at the Hampton Inn, 14 Royal Road in Flemington.

Continental Breakfast will be available compliments of the Flemington Hampton Inn.

The program is FREE for both Chamber members and non-members! Bring a friend! Non-members can attend twice before joining the Chamber. For more information call 908-782-7115 or visit www.hunterdon-chamber.org.

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Hunterdon Chamber of Commerce to Hold September After-Hours

Loren Fisher — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000

The Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce will be holding a September after-hours on Tuesday, September 14th from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Destinations Personal Fitness Coaching, 47 Maple Avenue, Flemington. This event is sponsored by Destinations Personal Fitness Coaching and Dcor & You.

Pre-Registration is required. Event is included in Chamber membership and $10 for general admission. For more information or to register call 908-782-7115 or visit www.hunterdon-chamber.org.

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Hunterdon parks director ascends to state position

Walter O'Brien — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:55:09 +0000

John Trontis will leave his position as director of the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation next week after 10 years to become assistant director for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry. Trontis, whose last day is Sept. 10, is especially proud of holding the county department's budget steady from his 2001 arrival until 2007 while greatly increasing the amount of parkland the department manages and the number of programs it offers. And despite a budget that has been shrinking each year since, the department continues to grow. Trontis noted the county's unique arrangement with the Hunterdon County 4-H for the South County Park in Ringoes, also known as the county fairgrounds, site of the recent 4-H & Agricultural Fair. "The county purchased the grounds, the 4-H raised money to construct the buildings but we can use the buildings," Trontis said. Trontis also points to success at Heron Glen, the county golf course in Raritan Township, which is paying off the land and the debt service on the course's development. Trontis was key in increasing volunteer efforts to maintain, clean and improve county parks, from the Student Conservation Association's 45,000 hours of volunteer work building miles of trails through county parks, to many Eagle Scout projects that improved the parks' public campgrounds. "Life has been very interesting," said Trontis, whose new salary will be $102,000. "I've had challenges to tackle but working for the state parks for me really is the top rung of the ladder. For me to be able to make a positive contribution there is important to me personally and professionally." Freeholder Ron Sworen said the board has received a number of applications for Trontis' job, which has been posted internally for county employees. "It's been a real pleasure working with John," Sworen said. "He's a great guy and he has done a lot for the parks. He's going to be some hard shoes to fill." For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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Hunterdon County to hold public hearing on psyciatric hospital policy changes

Walter O'Brien — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:23:37 +0000

The Hunterdon County Mental Health Board invites all interested persons to a public hearing from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Hunterdon County Complex, Building #1 Assembly Room, 314 Route 12 in Raritan Township regarding the plans for the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to redirect Hunterdon County Adults under 65 years to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital instead of Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital. State representatives will be available to present their plans and hear public comment.

It is the policy of Hunterdon County to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, with advance notification of need. Persons requiring accommodations must call Kay Strain at 908-788-1253 (Voice/TDD) five days prior to the meeting date. For more information call Cathy Zahn, Mental Health Planner, Hunterdon County Department of Human Services at 908-788-1372 or e-mail czahn@co.hunterdon.nj.us.

Hunterdon Medical Center wins tax appeal on Readington facility

Michael Deak — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:15:44 +0000

A state appellate court has sided with Hunterdon Medical Center in its challenge of the property tax status on the part of its Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center on Route 22 dedicated to physical therapy.

The medical center was appealing a tax court ruling that denied its property tax exemption as a hospital from 2000 to 2005 on the physical therapy facility at the center.

Tax Court Judge Harold Kuskin denied tax-exempt status to all parts of the facility except the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation service. The medical center also operates a fitness center and pediatric practice at the facility. The medical center did not appeal those parts of Kuskin's ruling.

That ruling made its way to the state Supreme Court, which then remanded the issue of the physical therapy facility to the tax court.

The Supreme Court wrote that the issue involved in the appeal was whether the physical therapy service met the definition of "hospital purposes" under state law.

After the Supreme Court defined the term, the case was remanded to Kuskin, who again ruled that part of the facility was not tax exempt. The medical center then appealed that ruling again.

Kuskin based his decision that clients of the physical therapy service did not have to be patients of the hospital to use the facility, even if they had a doctor's prescription.

But the appellate panel ruled that Kuskin "in some respects misconstrued the Supreme Court's directives."

The appellate panel said it disagreed with Kuskin's finding that the medical center had failed to demonstrate that the physical therapy service was a "core hospital purpose." The core ruled that Kuskin's ruling "unduly restricts the type of services falling within the hospital's core purposes."

The appellate court ruled that the physical therapy service is "sufficiently integrated into the medical center's delivery of its core hospital purposes to warrant a local property tax exemption."

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Lebanon Township committee and first aid squad sent to mediation

Walter O'Brien — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:38:52 +0000

The Township Committee will hear public comment on a bond for new ambulance after a judge ordered the panel and rescue squad to attend mediation about ownership of the old ambulances.

On Friday, Superior Court Judge Peter Buchsbaum in Somerville affirmed the transfer of first responder duties to the fire department, but has ordered the committee and squad into mediation with the state Office of Dispute Settlement over the ownership of two ambulances in the squad's possession. Buchsbaum set a Sept. 30 deadline before a lawsuit related to the matter can continue.

A back-and-forth dispute between the Township Committee and squad began when the committee adopted a resolution on April 7 handing first responder duties to the fire department and confiscated two ambulances and associated equipment from the squad.

The squad then filed a lawsuit that led to Buchsbaum's decision in June that rejected the transfer of the squad duties to the firefighters by resolution and ordered that the ambulances and equipment be returned to the squad.

The committee then adopted an ordinance transferring responder duties to the firefighters, but left the ambulance dispute unsettled.

The squad claims to have paid for all of one ambulance and about one third of the roughly $150,000 cost of the second.

The committee will hear public comment tonight on a bond ordinance for $840,000 that would include the purchase of a new ambulance and related equipment, according to municipal clerk Karen Sandorse.

For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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Mountainview inmate’s death likely connected to gang activity

Walter O'Brien — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:45:26 +0000

The beating death of an inmate at a local prison is likely gang-related, authorities said.

Five suspects were charged Friday with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal beating of an inmate on Aug. 22 at Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility. An investigation continues.

"Detectives do believe gangs had something to do with the death," said Dan Hurley, chief of detectives for the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office. "The exact incident or motivation that triggered the assault and subsequent homicide are still being pursued."

Charged with murder in the beating death of Carl Epps of Egg Harbor were Darryl M. Ford, 22, of Irvington; Fonrose Smith, 21, Bloomfield; Quacy April, 21, Newark; Devone C. Kirkland, 21, Englewood; and Jameel Jackson, 20, Newark. The defendants were charged and processed at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton where they had been recently transferred. Superior Court Judge Steven Rubin set bail for each suspect at $1 million.

The homicide occurred in a housing pod at the prison that housed about 60 inmates at the time of the attack. Autopsy results indicated that Epps, 20, died from head trauma.

Epps, incarcerated on July 16 for an Atlantic County robbery conviction, was scheduled for release on July 30, 2012.

Hurley and Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Dermott O'Grady both praised the work of detectives from the New Jersey State Police, Department of Corrections and Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office in identifying the inmates charged with killing Epps.

For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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Meditation Program at Hunterdon County Library

Hunterdon County Library — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:34:54 +0000

Join Jim Rose on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Hunterdon County Library on Route 12 to learn how meditation can help you deal with stress, anger and conflict in your life.

Stress, anger and conflict are part of life in today’s world, but you don’t have to live with them 24/7. In this interactive program, Jim will take you through a series of exercises designed to show how meditation is a powerful tool for dealing with stress, anger and conflict. Through several meditation periods, you will have a chance to see how meditation also is the key to a rich inner life.

Free, but reservations are requested. Please call (908) 788-1434 or visit the Library website’s Events Calendar at http://www.hclibrary.us/ blocked::http://www.hclibrary.us/ http://www.hclibrary.us/" href="https://webmail.co.hunterdon.nj.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.hclibrary.us/" target="_blank">http://www.hclibrary.us.

Garden Associates recognized for Fleming Castle garden revitalization

Walter O'Brien — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:03:42 +0000

L to R: Doug Miller, Michael Medea, Edna Pedrick and John Perehinys.

Michael Medea accepted an award of recognition on behalf of Garden Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc. in appreciation of dedicated services and efforts for revitalizing the grounds of the Samuel Fleming Castle Museum in 2009. The Award was presented on July 23 by the Fleming Castle Board of Trustees. Michael Medea headed the Garden Beautiful Charity Project, as Lead Landscape Architect. Medea designed the Master Site Landscape Plan and coordinated with the Fleming Castle Board of Trustees and Rob Ozimek, from the Borough of Flemington, to organize donations and provide project management support. The Fleming Castle Revitalization Project was successfully installed last spring.

The project was undertaken by the Garden Beautiful Charity and the Flemington Borough. Success of the Revitalization Project was made possible due to donations and labor provided by local community organizations and area businesses.

Other Donors include: Miller Landscape Services, Inc. of Neshanic Station, NJ along with Green Piece Landscaping of Pittstown for providing installation services; Garden Gate of Flemington, NJ for the donation of planting materials; Swing Town in Neshanic Station for presenting the castle with a gazebo at cost, and Sweet Valley Farms of Ringoes, NJ for generously donating planting materials.

The Garden Beautiful Charity was founded in 2006 by David Chewey, Present of Garden Associates Landscape Architecture Inc. and is dedicated to bringing beautiful gardens and sustainable landscapes to local communities in need by partnering with designated township officials, local community organizations and businesses to bring each design project to fruition.

After a project is selected, Garden Associates provides detailed master site design services and project management support throughout the length of the entire project. Each project implementation slightly varies, however the overall objective is to have the design installed in sections through various contributions and donations from local nurseries, landscape contractors, and various local volunteer communities. By involving the public and local businesses to participate in revitalizing community spaces, the charity presents the opportunity for public growth and knowledge of sustainable planting alternatives, such as rain gardens, and the importance of incorporating native plantings into the design process. The outcome is a greener environment that can be utilized and enjoyed by the local community.

Through this charity, Garden Associates has donated services and resources to numerous Eagle projects for Boy Scouts of America, renovations for local parks, therapeutic gardens for schools for children with disabilities, recreation areas for adult living facilities, and New Jersey adopt-a-highway program, to name a few. Visit http://www.gardenassoc.com to learn more about the charity organization and services.

Truck fire delays I-78 eastbound traffic near Exit 24 in Tewksbury

Walter O'Brien — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:35:18 +0000

TEWKSBURY — A truck fire has closed down two lane of traffic on I-78 eastbound in Tewksbury.

As of 1:21pm, a tractor trailer fire on I-78 eastbound approaching Exit 24 – CR 523/Oldwick oadd in Tewksbury Township has closed the two right lanes of three lanes, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation and eyewitness reports.

Delays of up to 20 minutes or more can be expected for the near future.

This is a developing story. Stay with MyCentralJersey.com for more details as they happen.

Sheep Breeders and Fiber Festival returns to Ringoes

Pamela MacKenzie — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:01:13 +0000

Knitters, crocheters, weavers and spinners from all over New Jersey are looking forward to the 16th annual Garden State Sheep Breeders & Fiber Festival, set for Sept. 11 and 12 at the Hunterdon County South County Park in the Ringoes section of West Amwell, on Route 179 South, just off of Route 202.

As the fiber arts have become increasingly popular in recent years, many crafters are choosing natural fibers from sheep, alpacas, rabbits and goats for their work. At the festival, farmers from three states, independent dyers and spinners come together to compete for prizes and display and sell their products to enthusiastic yarnaholics. The New Jersey show … located halfway between the East Coast’s two biggest shows, the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in May and the New York Rhinebeck festival in October … attracts a growing population of crafters who glory in locally grown, independently produced fibers for their art.

According to Eunice Bench, chairwoman of the Garden State Sheep Breeders Sheep & Fiber Festival, many activities and special attractions are planned for this year’s event, including an open sheep show running throughout most of Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12.

“An open sheep show is ‘open’ to anyone willing to show their best sheep in front of a judge,” Bench explained. “The animals are then judged in a group with other sheep, according to their breed, wool and body conformation, as well as age and gender. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded.”

Many different sheep breeds will be represented, including two breeds that are new to the festival this year: National Jacob and Navajo Churro.

Sheep shearing demonstrations will take place throughout the two days, with some willing and some not-so-willing “volunteers” … sheep whose owners have brought them to be shorn. Show attendees may touch the different varieties and see the differences there are among the breeds. Other animals will also be there, including alpacas, llamas, angora goats and angora rabbits. An information booth will have free information for those interested in learning more about sheep, llamas, alpacas and goats.

An array of vendors will be selling raw fibers, yarn and other related products. One of the vendors will be Kris Byrnes, who raises Coopworth sheep at Winter’s Past Farm in Allentown, Monmouth County. She chose this New Zealand breed of sheep for its high luster and long fiber. After showing at the festival for five years, she began selling raw fibers last year. She said her small but growing list of clients seek her out because they prize the Coopworth wool.

Bob Wolfe, owner of Spruce Lane Llamas in Stockton, Hunterdon County, has been raising llamas for more than 12 years with his wife, Carol. They will be displaying many quality llamas, a few of which the public may take for a walk.

“Cast your eyes out onto the fairground fields and you will see Border Collies hard at work,” Bench said.

Gene Sheninger of Wayside Farm in Boonton, Morris County, will be guiding his dogs, Jen, Jess and Dot, in sheep herding. Scheninger has been an expert dog handler for many years and has won numerous sheep herding contests on both local and national levels.

Children will be entertained with a small straw maze, a puppet show, a live clown on Saturday and much more. Food will be available, with a portion of the profits going to 4-H clubs.

The Garden State Sheep Breeders’ Sheep & Fiber Festival bills itself as the largest fleece show and sale in New Jersey. There also will be skein and photo contests at this year’s event. With almost 50 fleeces from sheep, llamas and alpacas entered at last year’s event, judges were kept busy sorting through the lot and finding that “Best of Show,” which was awarded to Woods Edge Alpaca Farm of Stockton. This year’s event promises to give judges even more to consider.

If you want to go

WHAT: 16th ANNUAL GARDEN STATE SHEEP & FIBER FESTIVAL

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12

WHERE: Hunterdon County Fair Grounds, Route 179 South, off Route 202, Ringoes section of West Amwell

ADMISSION: $5 per person; $10 per carload; $15 per carload for a two-day pass

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.njsheep.org

Sonic Drive-In comes to Flemington area

Lois Heyman, CN Staff Writer — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:28:37 +0000

Posted via The Food Chain » Flemington

The first Sonic Drive-in restaurant in Hunterdon County will begin sending car hops skating out to customers parked in individual drive-up stalls at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31. Sonic is known for its ice cream shakes, sundaes, tater tots and hot dogs known as coneys, and will celebrate the grand opening with specials on loaded burgers and half-price drinks from 2 to 4 p.m. tomorrow. Ice cream sundaes will be half price after 8 p.m. Sonic of Raritan Township is at 314 Route 31 North, next to HealthQuest.

UPDATE: Flemington couple charged with child abuse; man remains jailed

Walter O'Brien — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:33:15 +0000

BY WALTER O’BRIEN • STAFF WRITER • AUGUST 27, 2010

FLEMINGTON — Keith Inhoff, 22, and Starr Inhoff, 25, both of Brown Street, were charged Thursday with child abuse following an investigation by borough police and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.

Keith Inhoff was also charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree aggravated assault.

Starr Inhoff was charged with two counts of fourth-degree child abuse.

As a result of the victim seeking treatment at Hunterdon Medical Center, a joint investigation by the prosecutor’s office Special Victims Unit and the Flemington Police Department determined that Keith Inhoff allegedly struck a child under the age of 5 on various parts of the body, authorities said.

A dog collar was used to strike the child, authorities said.

Starr Inhoff was charged with witnessing the assaults and failing to stop them. She was released on her own recognizance.

Keith Inhoff was placed in the Hunterdon County Correctional Facility in default of $75,000 bail. He remained in custody Friday afternoon.

For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit http://www.flemington.injersey.com

Walter O’Brien: 908-243-6613; wobrien@MyCentralJersey.com

UPDATE: Hunterdon man taken into custody, sent to medical center

Michael Deak — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:09:45 +0000

The Hunterdon County SWAT team took a Clinton Township man, who had allegedly barricaded himself in his home with a gun, to a medical center. The man was reportedly intoxicated and had a loaded gun, was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. Authorities were called to the home on Westgate Drive in the Beaver Brook community about 6:30 p.m. Friday. First reports from neighbors said that the man, alone in the house, was despondent. No injuries have been reported. More details will be posted on MyCentralJersey.com as they become available.

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UPDATE: Five charged in Mountainview inmate beating murder had a variety of prior convictions

Walter O'Brien — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:10:42 +0000

Five inmates at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility have been charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of a fellow inmate on Sunday.

Charged with murder in the death of Carl Epps, of Egg Harbor, were Darryl M. Ford, 22, of Irvington; Fonrose Smith, 21, of Bloomfield; Quacy April, 21, of Newark; Devone C. Kirkland, 21, of Engelwood and Jameel Jackson, 20, of Newark. Epps was 20 years old.

Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Dermott O’Grady praised the work of detectives from the New Jersey State Police, Department of Corrections and Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, who worked “tirelessly” and were able to identify those inmates responsible for the murder of Epps. Autopsy results indicated he died from trauma to the head.

New Jersey Department of Correction Commissioner Gary Lanigan stated,

“The quick and thorough response to this incident from our Special Investigations Division in tandem with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office has helped to restore confidence in the criminal justice system by sending a clear, unmistakable message that violent crimes committed inside the prison walls will be handled the same way as crimes committed on the outside.”

The murder occurred in a housing pod at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility that housed approximately 60 inmates at the time of the attack.

Ford was admitted to Mountainview on July 7, 2010 on Essex County convictions for vehicle theft, assault, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, eluding police, distributing drugs on school property. He is scheduled for release on Jan. 8, 2011 with parole eligibility on Oct. 19, 2010. Ford was previously housed at Mountainview from June 2008 to Sept. 2009 and has no known aliases.

Smith was admitted on Oct. 30, 2009 on an Essex County conviction for handgun possession. He is scheduled for release on Feb. 20, 2012 with parole eligibility on Sept. 20, 2011. He has no known aliases.

April entered Mountainview on June 9, 2010 on Essex County convictions for receiving stolen property and handgun possession. He is scheduled for release on Nov. 19, 2011 with no earlier parole elibility. Aliases include Quacey April, Quacy Johnson, Marvin Schultz and Marvin Schulz.

Kirkland was admitted on July 2, 2010 on Bergen County convictions for possession of controlled dangerous substances and making terroristic threats. He is scheduled for release on May 14, 2012 with parole eligibility on Oct. 28, 2010. Only known alias is Christopher Kirkland.

Jackson was admitted on July 8, 2010 for Essex County convictions for receiving stolen property and handgun possession. He is scheduled for release on June 17, 2012 with no earlier parole eligibility. He has no known aliases.

Victim Epps had entered Mountainview on July 16, 2010 for an Atlantic County robbery conviction. He was scheduled for release on July 30, 2012. Aliases included Carl Sutton, Carl Sutton-Epps and Carl Suttonepps.

The defendants were charged and processed at the New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, New Jersey, where they had been recently transferred. Bail was set by Superior Court Judge Steven Rubin at $1,000,000.

North County Teen Idol Talent Show Results

Hunterdon County Library — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:34:32 +0000

Thirteen young people in grades six through eight competed in Teen Café’s Second Annual Teen Idol Talent Show on Wednesday evening, August 4 at the North County Library in Clinton. More than sixty family members and friends, as well as Teen Café participants, filled the library’s meeting room as twelve individual acts; including guitar and saxophone instrumental, vocal, piano, tap and hip-hop dance, impressions, and a variety of original dramatic readings, took to the floor in what was described as a fun-filled night. The emcee for the second year in a row was William Spear, founder and director of the Hunterdon Radio Theatre. The judges, also returning for a second time and all professional musicians, were Mark Titus, the director of the Hunterdon County Library system, Donna Kahlke, member of the library staff, and Kyle Burgess, former member of the acoustic rock band, Station 12.

First prize was awarded to Andy Kapetanakis for his piano/vocal rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin. Second prize went to tap dancer Dillon Spear, and the third place three-way tie went to Christopher Mead, piano, James Thrash, guitar, and Holly Hildenbrand, a dramatic reading of her original poem Shade. Honorable mention went to Olivia Adams, Rylee Boyd, Isabella Helriegel, Samantha Magda, Emily Murphy, Janine Rosales, Owen Steinbrech, and Erin Walsh.

Prizes were generously donated by well-known world folksinger Daria and the following local Clinton businesses: Citispot, Clinton Book Shop, Dimola’s Pizza, Extraordinary Beads, JJ Scoops, and Rita’s Italian Ice.

Virginia couple stopped for no seatbelt end up arrested on heroin charges

Walter O'Brien — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:45:06 +0000

A Virginia couple stopped for a traffic violation have been charged with hiding more than 200 bags of heroin. Andrea Hollinghead, 28, of Roanoke, Va. and Fahiem Naseem, 40, also of Roanoke, were taken to the Hunterdon County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail following their arrest on Route 31 at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said Patrolman Matthew Murphy stopped a vehicle driven by Laura A. Turpin, 25, of Roanoke, Va. on Route 31 near Route 513 because Hollinghead, a passenger, was not wearing her seatbelt. Murphy and backup officer Lawrence Anthes became suspicious after noticing needle marks on Hollinghead's arms and Turpin nearly fainting during the motor vehicle stop, police said. Turpin told police she did not know her backseat passenger, Naseem, whom she claimed to be taking back to Roanoke from Yonkers, N.Y, police said. But Naseem said he was getting a ride from Maplewood to Baltimore, and he later changed his destination to Hagerstown, Md., police said After being given written consent to search the vehicle, officers discovered blood-stained tissues typical of heroin use by injection, Q-Tips cotton swabs, several used heroin bags, broken rubber bands and cigar filler, police said. Naseem was then found to be in possession of 100 bags of heroin hidden in his sock, according to police. As Naseem was being arrested, Hollinghead attempted to discard 10 bags of heroin and a hypodermic syringe, police said. Hollinghead was also placed under arrest, although officers could not handcuff her due to an injury from a previous gunshot wound. Officer Margaret Hammond of the Raritan Township Police Department arrived at Clinton Township police headquarters to assist and soon discovered Hollinghead to be in possession of 100 additional bags of heroin, police said. Hollinghead then quickly attempted to snort some heroin that she had placed on the holding cell bench, police said. Naseem was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin and failure to wear a seatbelt. Hollinghead was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a hypodermic syringe, discarding a hypodermic syringe in public, failure to make lawful disposition of a controlled dangerous substance and failure to wear seatbelt. Turpin was not charged and was later released. Clinton Township Police Sergeant Mathew Wilson and Patrolman Christopher Heycock of the Readington Township Police Department assisted. For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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First day of school comes early at Voorhees High School, North Hunterdon

Walter O'Brien — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:35:32 +0000

Labor Day weekend typically has been the last fling before the new school year begins, but for the 3,000 students at Voorhees and North Hunterdon Regional high schools, summer became history on Thursday. School started Thursday at the two high schools, the only Hunterdon County public schools to begin in August. Hunterdon Central, South Hunterdon and Delaware Valley high schools don't get under way until Sept. 7, the day after Labor Day. But Voorhees and North will have already held its first back-to-school night for parents on Sept. 2. "We knew at the end of last year and you think you'd have more time, then you have to jam everything in," 17-year-old Kelley Johnson of Lebanon Township said. "We used to start after Labor Day, now all of a sudden, it's time for school." Johnson said she wasn't quite ready to abandon the beaches of Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant beaches for another year of school. Jill Martinko, 17, of Lebanon Township, said about the same. "I knew it was coming," Martinko said. "It just makes me mad because everybody else starts so much later. It feels like it doesn't equal up. But then we do get out earlier in June." Devon Grodkiewicz, 17, of Lebanon Township, spent his time closer to home at Camp Carr. He said he split his summer between swimming, sleeping and more swimming. But he wasn't any more prepared that Johnson and Martinko. "It kind of sprung up on me," Grodkiewicz said. "I spent this past week just getting ready." Voorhees principal David Steffan said that the district moved the calendar early about six years ago for a number of reasons. "Most of the students taking co-curriculum activities were already back here in the middle of August to start practicing," Steffan said. He said that the early start gives the students more time to prepare for AP exams, college entrance exams and state-mandated tests. "Some of our kids were missing their final exams because they conflicted with college orientation visits," Steffan said. Steffan also said the early start makes for less competition for Project Graduation venues each spring. Steffan said the early start to the school year start has been positive, and the students have adapted well to the change. "The only downside is, I now finish two weeks before my wife, who works at West Morris Central," Steffan said. "She's not too happy about that." For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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Hunterdon County 4-H Fair on Full Frame!

andrew — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:01:23 +0000

Come and check out a post I made on Full Frame from yesterday’s 4-H fair in Ringoes. Full Frame is the new home for our favorite pictures captured for the Courier News, Home News Tribune, and mycentraljersey.com.

http://fullframe.mycentraljersey.com/hunterdon-county-4h-fair-825/

Renovated Whitehouse Station Walmart celebrates re-opening today

Loren Fisher — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:28:55 +0000

The renovated Whitehouse Station Walmart on 3576 Route 22 west, will officially wrap up its three-month construction project and celebrate its grand re-opening at 9 a.m. today.

The renovation is part of a new design Walmart is implementing at 80 percent of its stores throughout the country. The redesign includes a new Walmart logo, as well as an effort to create a better shopping experience based on customer feedback. Among the many improvements are a new layout, wider aisles, low-profile shelving, bright interior paint scheme, enhanced lighting and easy-to-read signage to make the shopping experience more convenient. At the remodeled Whitehouse Station store, Walmart also aligned departments that customers shop most frequently, making it quicker to purchase everyday items, manager David Roche said. This includes a new department called Celebration Station, which offers party supplies, greeting cards, balloons and helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap. The grand re-opening will include the presentation of several grants by the Walmart Foundation to local organizations. For more information, visit www.walmart.com.

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Opening day photo gallery from Hunterdon 4-H & Agricultural Fair in Ringoes

Walter O'Brien — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:46:11 +0000

Ainsley Hart, 4, of Stirling, pets a young goat. Photo by Andrew Miller/Courier News

Check out the first day photo gallery from the Hunterdon County 4-H & Agricultural Fair in Ringoes by Courier News photographer Andrew Miller. Click here to see the gallery at MyCentralJersey.com!

Annual Hunterdon 4-H Fair & Agricultural Fair returns to Ringoes

Walter O'Brien — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:37:03 +0000

Doug Seeley and his wife Bonnie are two of the first people you may see when you walk through the main gate of the Hunterdon 4-H & Agricultural Fair.

The Seeleys are among the volunteers that keep the county fair running smoothly by answering questions on the fair’s information hot line.

“The top two question we get is, it’s raining where we are, are you going to cancel the fair,” Seeley said. “The top question – is the tractor pull still on.”

Despite threatening clouds and an occasional drizzle, the tractor pull Wednesday morning went off without a hitch.

Michele Krause of Readington’s family-owned Farview Farm was covering the Schaefer Farms booth because they’re neighbors and because Scheafer sells Farview’s lamb, beef, chickens and other meat products to the public.

“We love the fair, we come every year,” Krause said. “But I’m really here because my daughter works with the llamas right across the way. We use a llama to guard our lambs.”

Llamas are among the scores of animals on display at the fair. Young 4-H members show off their self-raised livestock, from cows, horses, sheep and dogs to turkeys, roosters, hens, rabbits and viper snakes.

The fair eveb has a glass incubator so you can watch eggs hatch into baby chicks.

During the morning of “Wacky Wednesday,” Dan “Doctor D” Torrone, the fair’s entertainment director, was playing Name That Tune, playing old rock and roll records and getting audience members to shout out song titles for prizes.

Today — “Terrific Thursday”— on the main stage will be the Beth Coleman Band bluegrass show t 6 p.m. with Dave Bond Real Country Show at 8 p.m.

But there will be entertainment throughout the day, including Wade Henry’s stunt comedy variety show, the Cowboy Larry Wild West Show and the Fearless Flores Thrill Show with the Motorcycle Madness Death-Defying Globe of Death.

For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit http://www.flemington.injersey.com

Additional Facts

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Hunterdon County 4-H & Agricultural Fair

WHO: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Sat.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun.

WHERE: South County Park, 1207 Route 179, Ringoes

HOW MUCH: Free admission, $10 per car parking

INFO: For a schedule call 908-782-6809 or visit http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/4hagfair.htm

Longtime musicians open Riverdog Recording Studio in Lambertville

Walter O'Brien — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:31:46 +0000

Hosey at the desk of Riverdog Recording Studio in Lambertville (STAFF PHOTO: ED PAGLIARINI)

With more than a half century between them, a trio of working musicians decided the best way to find a recording studio they could love was to build it themselves.

Joe Hosey, Jeff “J. B.” Kline and Kevin Joy have made their livings as musicians for years. But each wished they could find a recording studio that made them happy.

“I got tired of going to recording studios and never getting a recording I liked,” Hosey said. “Jim Ball, an engineer at the Record Plant in New York City, told me to buy the best stuff you can afford and to listen. Listening, that’s the whole thing.”

Hosey played bass in some of the best local power-pop and rock bands in the 1970s. He played with singer Carolyn Mas, opened for Nick Lowe on tour and even played a bunch of gigs at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park. The big break never came, so Hosey turned to cabinet-making and got very good at it.

That led to acoustic and soundproofing work at recording and broadcast facilities, such as the massive XM Radio studio complex in Washington, D.C., and New York’s Lincoln Center. But eventually the music bug came back to bite.

“I’d known Jeff for about 20 years,” Hosey said. “I always wanted to build a studio; Jeff had a building and always wanted a studio.”

Kline is has been playing live for more than 30 years, working with the likes of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, George Thorogood, the Beach Boys and more. He’s still one of the top roots and blues performers around.

Third partner, Kevin Joy, is a session bassist and ProTools digital engineer who is highly proficient at 2-inch, 24-track analog recording, Hosey said.

Riverdog is a complete digital studio loaded with gear from AKG, Neumann, Audio Technica, Shure, Fender, Ampeg, Vox, Gretsch and the rest. But their most prized possession is an Otari 24-track, 2-inch magnetic tape analog recording machine used by Britney Spears, Aretha Franklin and B. B. King in big city recording studios before it retired to the country.

“We’ve got a lot of people coming in to work here already,” Kline said. “We’re thinking about breaking down a wall and adding a fourth studio room.”

Kline also happens to own one of the area’s top acoustic guitar and vintage musical instrument shops, right upstairs from Riverdog. And on the ground floor is Buck’s Ice Cream, Espresso Bar and Art Gallery, which is perfect for those late-night studio caffeine breaks.

For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit http://www.flemington.injersey.com

AT A GLANCE

RIVERDOG RECORDING

Address of business: 25 Bridge St., Lambertville

Type of business: Recording studio

Principals: Joe Hosey, Kevin Joy, J.B. Kline

How long in business: Seven months

Number of employees: Four

Telephone number: 267-391-5671

Web site: http://www.riverdogrecording.com (coming soon)

Arrests could be imminent in Mountainview inmate’s beating death

Walter O'Brien — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:56:51 +0000

Arrests could be imminent in Sunday's fatal prison beating here, authorities said. Carl Epps, 20, of Egg Harbor, was discovered Sunday evening unconscious on the floor of a residential pod at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility. He was soon pronounced dead at Hunterdon Medical Center. "We are awaiting the formal autopsy results, but believe the cause of death was trauma to the head," Dan Hurley, chief of detectives for the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office, said Wednesday. "The joint agency investigation continues to take statements and we are close to identifying those responsible for this homicide." Hurley said Monday that a large number of inmates were present in the pod during the attack and that gang activity could not be ruled out. Epps was admitted to Mountainview on July 16 to serve two years on an Atlantic County robbery conviction. He would have been eligible for parole on July 30, 2012. For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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Motorcyclist who struck tree last week is recovering at home

Walter O'Brien — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:36:55 +0000

A 27-year-old township resident who a week ago crashed his motorcycle into a tree is back home and improving daily, according to his family. At 8:59 p.m. Aug. 16, just a few weeks after his 27th birthday, William "Billy" D. Witt was riding his Honda CBR 1000 motorcycle at a high speed along Featherbed Lane near Old Croton Road when he lost control, left the road and struck a tree, police said. Witt was flown by New Jersey State Police helicopter to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with a head injury. A day later, he was listed in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. But less than a week later, on Monday Aug. 23, Witt was back home, with no complications and recovering "splendidly" according to his sister, Jennifer Witt. She said he is still in considerable pain, with a swollen face and limited to a liquid diet, but concerns about paralysis or brain damage were put to rest after three separate CT scans came up negative. He has movement and sensation in all limbs, but is suffering from some amnesia. "He was able to sit up and talk, which was very exciting for all of us," Witt said. Witt has been keeping her brother's Facebook friends up to date as dozens have logged in to send well wishes and prayers for his recovery. She said her brother had two surgeries - one to repair a fractured ulna in his forearm and another to reconstruct his face, with titanium plates in his palate and cheekbones and to stitch together a nearly-severed tongue. Witt said the impact left no lacerations anywhere on her brother and that the plastic surgeon did his work without leaving visible incisions, so her brother should recover without disfigurement. She credits the fact that he was wearing a helmet for saving his life. "He's been driving tractors, dirt bikes and quads his whole life but only five years ago got into motorcycles," Witt said. "I hope he never rides a bike again but that will ultimately be his decision. He at least should be a poster boy for helmets. Without it, his accident would surely (have been) fatal." For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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Detectives awaiting autopsy in fatal prison beating

Walter O'Brien — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:22:37 +0000

Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy on a 20-year-old inmate beaten to death Sunday by fellow inmates at a youth correctional facility here. Carl Epps, 20, of Egg Harbor, was discovered Sunday evening unconscious on the floor of a residential pod at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility. He was transported to the Hunterdon Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. "Detectives from all agencies continue to obtain statements from the numerous inmates housed in the pod at the time of the attack," Dan Hurley, chief of detectives for the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office, said Tuesday. "We are awaiting the results of an autopsy and hope to develop enough evidence to charge those responsible with this homicide in the days to come." Hurley said Monday that a gang-related motive could not be ruled out. Epps was admitted to Mountainview on July 16 to serve a two-year sentence on a robbery conviction in Atlantic County. He would have been eligible for parole on July 30, 2012. For more local news or to share your own news, events and comments, visit www.flemington.injersey.com

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