FLEMINGTON, NJ - Francis A. Desmares Elementary School is working to build students' reading and writing skills through new programs and initiatives.
Vice Principal Mary Jane Custy said that when teachers and administrators looked at assessments and academic data in the fall, they noticed that writing was an area they needed to work on.
According to a 2023 presentation on building goals, Desmares plans to have 52% of third and fourth-grade students meet or exceed their growth projection by June as measured by their NWEA Spring Reading assessment.
Instead of focusing on high or low achievement, Desmares — along with Barley Sheaf, Robert Hunter and Reading Fleming Intermediate School — is focusing on student growth through the NWEA MAP Growth assessments, specifically the growth goals and progress of Hispanic/Latinx students who are struggling the most.
The 2023 assessment results showed that third and fourth-grade students at Desmares scored below the state average in English language arts (ELA). In math, third-grade Desmares students scored only 2% higher than the state and fourth graders scored the lowest compared to other schools in the district.
To improve their literacy skills, students assess their writing against a rubric with their peers and give each other feedback. They attend book clubs in classrooms under the supervision of their teachers, and write to a pen pal through the Dolphin Pony Express, an initiative where students from different classrooms write each other letters, giving students authentic opportunities to write.
Students also practice fluency and public speaking skills by reading books and their stories to one of the school's three therapy dogs.
"The dogs are incredible," said Custy, calling them patient listeners as students practice volume, expression and fluency.
A fourth-grade class hosted a Starbucks-themed writing event called “Starbooks café,” where they served beverages and refreshments while reading and sharing their writing with family members. This was one of many events the Desmares PTO helped facilitate.
Between January and June in 2023, the PTO orchestrated around 50 events and fundraisers, and about 15 annual recognition events.
Desmares third graders developed informational texts in their literacy lessons for all the students in the school to read.
“Those books are posted in the library for students to be able to go in, read, they can check them out, they can bring them back,” said principal Mark Masessa, adding that Desmares students are readers and writers.
A third-grade Desmares student won the Hunterdon County Library Enthusiastic Reader Award for exhibiting an enthusiasm for reading and sharing books.
Desmares is one of the most diverse schools in the district, with 42.3% of students economically disadvantaged, 24.9% multilingual learners and 12.7% special education.
“I feel like our students emulate the Flemington community as a whole,” said Masessa. “When your children come to school at Desmares school, they are learning another language right next to them, they're learning about another culture, they're learning to interact and play with students from all different backgrounds, we feel like that's helping us set them up for success when they leave our school and enter into society as a whole.”
Custy said many students can speak another language.
"We tell them all the time, 'Wow, that's a superpower, it's so cool that you can do that,'" she said. "And one of the things that's unique about our Desmares dolphins is that we have two bilingual classrooms."
There's a bilingual kindergarten and a bilingual first grade. Although all instruction is in English, and a bilingual certified teacher can speak a student's native language when the student needs assistance in language acquisition or learning content.
Custy said there’s even a program for incoming kindergarteners called VAMOS Kindergarten, where they identify students who might benefit from a kindergarten readiness program because they didn’t attend preschool.
“They have about seven days in the summer where they come in for the mornings, so we ride the bus together,” Custy said. “And they come in and have the experience to get them set up for success as kindergarteners.”
Desmares also offers a Project Enrich after-school program for first and second-grade learners and Academic Parent-Teacher Team nights.
Three nights throughout the year, the school brings teachers, parents and students together – providing dinner and resources – to review each student's data and set student goals. Parents are taught strategies collaboratively with students to strengthen their child's skills.
"And we're thankful to [Prinicipal Anthony] DeMarco for letting us go over to Reading Fleming Intermediate School to hold this because it's centrally located, and a lot of our families could walk," said Masessa. "And I think that the collaboration of the parents understanding that data by having it explained to them in a small group, kids come in with their Chromebooks and they are going through what they need to do, it's truly a great way to have parents know and understand how to help their children at home."
For math, Masessa said they love the Bridges in Mathematics Program, the number-corners and math workplaces. The Bridges in Mathematics curriculum features relevant, open-ended tasks and visual models to help students develop conceptual understanding, procedural fluency and problem-solving abilities.
“It truly develops deeper thinking and comprehension of different math concepts," he said. "It's very rich in vocabulary. And it is applicable to everything that the students do in their life. Math is everywhere."
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - After receiving Preschool Expansion Funding from the state, the Flemington-Raritan School District (FRSD) plans to expand its new preschool program for the 2024–2025 school year, allowing more families selected through the district’s lottery system to enroll their 3- and 4-year-old children for free, and giving preference to 4-year-olds and at-risk preschool students.
Superintendent Dr. Kari McGann introduced a presentation on Preschool Expansion Funding at the Raritan Township Committee meeting Mar. 5.
“This is not only helping our young students, our teachers and school district, but also helping our community,” said McGann. “This is affording parents in our area to have free, high-quality preschool, at no cost to the parents.”
The district requested funds from the New Jersey Department of Education to serve 86 full-day general education students for the current 2023–2024 school year. This will provide education for both general education students, as well as those with disabilities, at 3- and 4-years-old, as long as their birthdays make the Oct. 1 deadline.
Preschool services are being provided in what is referred to as a “mix delivery.” This means students with Individual Education Plans (IEP) will be combined with general education students in the same classroom.
“As a parent, think about how much money you probably spent on your own child in daycare,” McGann said to the committee.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has been funding high-quality preschools throughout New Jersey. Statistics from the 2019 New Jersey State Survey show that, in Hunterdon County, the average median price for infant care came to between $1,420 and $1,443 a month, and toddler care ranged from $1,443 to $1,482 a month.
McGann said she was pleased to announce that with the funding now passed, parents received a tuition kickback of nearly $2,000 from the months of September to December 2023.
“This is great for families,” said McGann. “This check back from the school district can now be spent here on the local economy.”
For 2023–2024, the district is partnering with First Friends, a private preschool provider, and Norwescap, a Head Start preschool provider program. The district is also adding two preschool classrooms at Robert Hunter, one for preschool expansion and the other for preschoolers with disabilities, which is not part of the preschool expansion program.
Each classroom will serve 15 students with one preschool teacher, and either one to two classroom aides required by state code.
Tuition acceptance is currently based on a randomized lottery system since at this moment in time, the district is incapable of providing high-quality care to every single applicant. If a student is accepted at age 3, they will automatically be enrolled the following year.
“What are the numbers of those looking to get in?” asked Mayor Scott Sipos.
“We are aggressively trying to reach our hardest to reach areas,” added McGann, who explained that those families are often low-income, teen parents and immigrant families new to the community.
“I had over 250 parents who wanted to get in for this year,” McGann noted, adding that only 45 seats were available.
By 2028, the district plans to enroll 90% of eligible preschoolers by broadening outreach to families, increasing awareness of the program and educating the community on the values of the preschool program, which will help build children's foundational skills and lend to the district's strategic goal on academic excellence.
McGann explained that Flemington-Raritan seeks to provide high-quality preschool to approximately 592 students.
The number of students is based on a formula. By looking at the current number of first grade students, the formula breaks it down to 296 preschoolers aged 3-years-old, and 296 aged 4-years-old.
While FRSD is new to the scene, school districts around New Jersey have received preschool expansion funding since 2018. During the 2022–2023 school year, before the district joined the list, the state distributed over $26 million across 27 districts, including two Hunterdon County districts.
This year, the state allocated $25 million, with $1.2 million going to FRSD. This money goes to teacher salary, teacher assistance, support services, clerical employees, additional education resource specialists, nurses, health benefits, curriculums and supplies.
This state-funded program will receive money every year going forward.
]]>Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard is celebrating the first day of spring by giving away free Italian ice and debuting a new flavor.
You can pick up a 6-ounce Italian ice for free at any Rita’s location on Tuesday, March 19. Guests can choose any of Rita’s ice flavors, including their newest flavor: SOUR PATCH KIDS Watermelon ice. Rita’s will be debuting this sour-then-sweet flavor during the giveaway. SOUR PATCH KIDS Watermelon ice will be available for a limited time and can be made into any of Rita’s crafted frozen treats.
“Our first day of spring giveaway has become a cherished tradition with our guests, and this year, we’re elevating the celebration with the exclusive launch of SOUR PATCH KIDS Watermelon Ice,” said Linda Chadwick, President and CEO of Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard. “We hope to see everyone at Rita’s on March 19 to enjoy a free cup of Ice on us.”
Rita’s has more than 550 locations across the U.S., with most of them being located on the East Coast. The franchise expects to give away about 1 million cups of Italian ice during its first day of spring giveaway.
]]>LAMBERTVILLE, NJ - Lambertville has been nominated as one of 20 finalists for the "Best Small Town in the Northeast" by USA Today.
The publication is publishing its Readers' Choice contests, and has announced the nominees as of March 4.
Each of the towns in the small town category have a population of fewer than 25,000, and have been chosen because of scenery, historic charm, local cuisine and cultural attractions.
"We are very excited to be nominated as a finalist," Lambertville Mayor Andrew Nowick said in a release. "From its beginnings in 1734 as the principal ferry crossing between New York and Philadelphia to the present day, Lambertville has thrived. Lambertvillians love being here and we think you will too."
Voting is open to the public, and will end April 1. Guests can vote once per day per category, by clicking here.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - The Hunterdon Central Regional School District has announced that they have chosen Dr. Charles Michael Shaddow to serve as interim superintendent of the district.
Shaddow is expected to be appointed at the March 18 Hunterdon Central Regional School Board meeting, and will begin in his role April 1.
Current superintendent Jeffrey Moore has resigned from his position as of the end of March.
Shaddow, according to a release, served as the superintendent of North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District for 17 years, and interim superintendent of South Hunterdon Regional High School District in 2020.
Shaddow has a doctorate in educational administration from Kent State University, a master's degree in teaching from John Carroll University and a bachelor's degree in history from Rider College. He is a former teacher and principal.
In a letter to the community from the board of education, they said Shaddow will be visiting the high school campus and meeting with various groups in the coming weeks to learn more about the strengths and needs of the school.
"Dr. Shaddow is looking forward to working with the students, staff, parents and stakeholders of Hunterdon Central to continue the tradition of excellence and innovation that has made our district one of the best in the state and the nation," the board said in the letter.
The board will now be moving on to a thorough search for a permanent superintendent while Shaddow serves as the interim.
"We would like to express our gratitude for everyone's patience while we identified Dr. Shaddow as our interim superintendent," the board said.
The letter also thanked Moore for his service to the community over the last seven years.
"Dr. Moore has led our district through many challenges and achievements, and he has always put the best interests of our students and staff first," the board said. "We wish him all the best in his future endeavors."
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - The Flemington-Raritan School District welcomed new board member, Jeffrey Cain, representing Flemington Borough through Dec. 31, as well as the district’s new assistant superintendent, Dr. Clifford Burns.
“The board was involved in the process,” said board president Michelle Hurley of the hiring process for the new assistant superintendent. “There were parents involved in the process. There were administrators involved in the process. There were multiple rounds of candidates for the assistant superintendent. So I think everybody's very excited to have you here and have you in the role.”
Burns has a master's and Doctor of Education in educational leadership, management and policy; a master's in inclusive education with gifted extension; and a bachelor's in elementary education.
“To go through this process, you put such a positive first impression [on me], I appreciate it,” said Burns. “The board members that I’ve already met — of course tonight, being able to meet the remaining — and every staff member that we come across has been just friendly and approachable and professional.”
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - The Hunterdon Central FIRST Robotics Team 3637, known as the Daleks, showed camaraderie and teamwork at FIRST Mid-Atlantic's District Event at Hatboro Horsham High School, in Pennsylvania, recently.
The event was attended by 36 teams from the Mid-Atlantic region.
The competition is a prestigious international event where high school teams design, construct and program robots for dynamic challenges. It aims to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through hands-on robotics experience.
The Hunterdon Central team placed 13th prior to the playoffs and were the first pick of the 6th alliance, which included Team 427, LANCE-A-LOT from Philadelphia, and Team 5401, Fightin' Robotic Owls, from Bensalem, PA. The alliance competed in a double elimination tournament against seven others, placing fourth in the event.
Outside the competition, the 58 members of the team enjoy promoting robotics and STEM, with a mission to foster STEM locally and make a difference globally.
In the community, they host events like Gingerbreadgineering with the Harvest Family Success Center; building and coding robots at the Hunterdon County Library Makerspace and mentoring five First Lego League teams at Flemington Presbyterian Church. In addition, they showcase the robot at events like the 4-H Fair or Community Day, and have partnered with Tech4Teens, a local non-profit started by two team members to help public schools in Brazil who have no access to a technology curriculum.
The organization worked to ship hardware to Brazil and develop lessons, while also creating videos that support the lessons with step-by-step instructions in Portugese.
The next competition will be held at Montgomery High School March 16 and March 17.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - A Flemington man has been arrested on charges of possession of child sexual abuse material, according to a release from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office.
Francisco Berrones-Galicia, 31, was charged Thursday with one count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renee M. Robeson, a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to an investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office's Forensic Services Unit, the Raritan Township Police Department and the Flemington Borough Police Department, which led to the arrest of Berrones-Galicia.
He was taken to Warren County Jail and later released onto conditional pretrial monitoring.
The charges may result in penalties including a term of imprisonment between three and five years, and a fine not to exceed $15,000.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ – The theater company at Hunterdon Central Regional High School performed "Something Rotten" March 7 through March 9.
Performing in the play were Max Keller, Tyler Ippolito, Doug Vail, Piper Berkowitz, Kaci Schengrund, Arianna Bellotti, Quinn Mazzeo, Duncan Schengrund, Jaidyn Arcurio and Milo Deminski.
In the acting troupe were Caleigh Cullaton, Aiden Goodman, Joshua Fisher, Samuel Gauvin, Logan Mausert, Blake Niva, Dan Ryder, Conner Symons and Shane Yerramilli.
The Bard Boys and Chefs were Katie Gilliland, Cullaton, Ryder, Megan Wash, Samantha Whiteman and Yerramilli.
In the ensemble were Siena Albanese, Mia Aquino, Callie Aversano, Ryan Basedow, Charlotte Byne, Elizabeth Bruhn, Madeline Carvalho, Francesca Edgar, Madison Fisher, Talia Gentles, Emily Ippolito, Sarah King, Natalia Martinez, Evelyn Mencia, Cadence Murphy, Kaitlyn Osborne, Carly Perrine, Sydney Quick, Leah-Faith Rosa, Alexa Sanchez, Laci Sava, Cadence Szewc, Reena Verma and Whiteman.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - Over the past five years, the Flemington-Raritan School District (FRSD) had lost a total of $1,208,093 in state aid, but for fiscal year 2025, the district is finally seeing gains — a 9.9% increase in state aid, or $549,000 more in funding than in 2024.
Not only is there an increase in general funding, but the district is also receiving more funds for preschool — over $990,000 more for a total of $2.2 million in 2025 — that will allow the district to increase its preschool program by five classrooms next school year.
Business administrator Tanya Dawson said it's a positive sign, but doesn't mean the district is fully funded. Annual state aid notices always say the district is fully funded, "even the years that we saw the reductions were being fully funded,” she said.
“I would respectfully disagree, we're not being fully funded," she added. "Even with the increase that we're getting this year, I would say it's a step in the right direction. I truly don't feel, even then, that we're fully funded."
Dawson said with the amount of support and resources the district must put into the budget to support district programs, it's clear they need to be fully funded by the state instead of leaving it to taxpayers.
"Even when they give us mandates coming in from the state to do certain things, I don't feel those mandates are fully funded,” she said. “They're constantly left to the taxpayers to have to fund.”
The cost of special education and educating multilingual students in the district continues to rise as students continue to face learning loss and mental health challenges that require additional spending as well.
There are 3,223 students in FRSD and 609 staff members. The cost of staff benefits is rising at a rate exceeding 2%.
In addition, there’s been an 18.1% increase in health care costs, amounting to over $2 million. Board president, and operations committee chair, Michelle Hurley said the district's insurance broker attended a committee meeting and discussed options for district health care, including changing carriers and switching from self-insured to fully insured.
Energy, supply, transportation and facilities costs are also rising due to inflation.
The district's preliminary budget will be presented at the March 13 board of education meeting.
"There's still a lot of work to be done with the funding formula, and costs continue to rise and rise, and the gap seems to widen and widen as to what is put onto the taxpayers," Dawson said.
The board passed a resolution calling on legislators to reevaluate the state's school funding formula so state aid is distributed more transparently and reflects the growing enrollment and changing demographics at FRSD.
In 2023, the district passed a similar resolution asking the New Jersey State Assembly and Gov. Phil Murphy to pass a bill reevaluating the state funding formula, which determines the amount of state aid for public school districts.
The 2024 resolution requests that the NJ State Assembly pass A1280, a bill that seeks to establish a School Funding Commission to study the school funding formula and prepare a report that will serve as the basis of the new formula. The NJ State Senate passed S1986, establishing a School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force to study, evaluate and assess the provision of state school aid under the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008."
The resolution calls on Murphy to sign them into law to finally reevaluate the funding formula.
]]>FLEMINGTON – An agreement to downsize the proposed housing redevelopment at the former Liberty Village outlet center would bring that project more in line with the borough’s need for commercial space, Mayor Marcia Karrow said.
The borough council, on March 5, introduced an ordinance that would finalize a development agreement for the 23-acre site between Route 12, Church Street and Brown Street by replacing the old development plan with a new one.
The ordinance will get a reading at the March 12 planning board meeting, and is scheduled for a public hearing at the March 25 council meeting.
The original 2021 redevelopment plan with Hoboken Brownstone Co. called for 160 townhomes and 225 rental units to be built in two phases.
Under the new agreement, the number of townhomes to be built on the main site of the former outlet stores would be reduced from 160 to 111, and a plan to build 225 rental units on the site’s parking lot would be reduced to 12 units in two buildings designed for disabled veterans and their families.
“The old plan has been replaced,” Karrow said. “There is only one phase. The development of the parking lot has been changed because the lot is in a flood zone.”
The new redevelopment plan will include a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, common for similar redevelopment projects, Karrow said.
Discussions to turn a commercial building at Liberty Village into a new borough hall was also rejected, Karrow said. The building proposed for the government building will remain as a possible commercial site.
“That is not an ideal site for a borough hall,” Karrow said.
The current borough hall is also home to the fire department.
Karrow said that after the loss of a commercial building that is being converted to a new police headquarters, the borough cannot lose more commercial spaces.
The 1-square-mile borough has enough housing, with more planned, she said.
According to the borough tax assessor’s office, 77% of Flemington’s taxable properties are housing.
A report by borough tax assessor Ed Kerwin at the March 5 council meeting showed the borough has 856 family homes and 10 garden apartment complexes, or 866 housing related units out of a total of 1,123 taxable properties.
Karrow told the Hunterdon County commissioners last year when she acknowledged a $20,000 planning grant that Flemington had more than 550 approved, but unbuilt housing units on the books.
That grant allowed the borough to begin to rezone areas to make them more suitable for commercial development, Karrow told the county commissioners.
Among the changes, the borough has eliminated a residential zone on Route 12, replacing it with a commercial, mixed use zone; the village arts district near Stangl Factory would be enhanced for retail only; and office zones on Park Avenue and Route 12 were eliminated.
]]>FLEMINGTON – The borough’s Tuccamirgan Park could see numerous site improvements if a $100,000 state grant is approved.
The borough council, on Feb. 26, approved by resolution applying for a Department of Community Affairs grant under the designation of Flemington as an “overburdened community.”
The grant would cover improvements to the soccer field, basketball court, picnic shelter, repairs to the amphitheater and renovations to trails that would also improve trail connectivity to neighborhood parks, schools and residential neighborhoods, the resolution said.
Before approval, councilwoman Susan Engelhardt asked that a reference for improvements to the “sledding hill” be removed from the resolution, which was done.
The 12-acre Tuccamirgan Park is on Bonnell Street, adjacent to the Reading-Fleming Intermediate School.
It is home to the Flemington-Raritan community pool, a playground, recreation courts and fields, picnic facilities and trails that offer walks and runs through fields and woods.
It is also home to the Flemington Borough Community Garden, opened in 2023.
The park is named for Lenape Chief Tuccamirigan, who befriended early Flemington settler John Case.
]]>HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ - Students enrolled in the Hunterdon County Polytech Pre-Apprenticeship Career Education Electrical Training Program received their certifications of completion Feb. 28.
The career training is funded through a state grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce, and initiated by the New Jersey Apprenticeship Network, according to a release.
"On behalf of myself and the entire commissioner board, I would like to congratulate the recent certificate recipients," commissioner Zach Rich said in the release. "This is the first PACE Pre-Apprenticeship program for Hunterdon County Polytech, and I hope this will open the door to enrollment for future classes. It is a great opportunity for students of any age, from a variety of backgrounds to receive free training and get paid while learning valuable job skills."
The program is available for students who are recent high school graduates or seeking new career opportunities. The training is free to those who qualify, and provides hands-on career training, plus comprehensive support like transportation, childcare, mentoring and ELL tutoring.
Paulo DiBetta, a graduate of the four-year Polytech Electrical Apprenticeship Journeyman Program, and a Hunterdon County electrician, was the instructor for the class.
"When Polytech called me about having our building trade staff teach the program, Paolo jumped at the opportunity and was very eager to help share his knowledge and teach the next generation of Hunterdon County Trade personnel," said Justin Tibbetts, DiBetta's supervisor and department head for buildings and maintenance.
Participants interested in the program must be at least 16 years old, and be interested in skills like heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, carpentry or welding. PACE offers work experience with local employers in a chosen field for $15 an hour.
]]>FLEMINGTON – Borough tax assessor Ed Kerwin’s annual analysis of the borough’s property value landscape offered some hope that Flemington economic fortunes could be turning.
The simple analysis offered at the borough council’s March 5 special meeting was that empty retail spaces are filling up, properties are selling at higher prices than might be expected based on the assessed value and, based on the number of inquiries his office had received in the past two years from developers and banks, they are showing an increased interest in the future of the borough.
“A property that I thought would sell for $700,000 sold for $850,000,” he said for example, “and another valued at $800,000 sold for more than $1 million.”
A vacant Rite-Aid pharmacy is being redeveloped as a bank at $250 a square foot, a marked increase in value, Kerwin said.
The recent redevelopment activity is a driver in the boost, he said. Projects such as the Main Street redevelopment of the Union Hotel, the plans for Liberty Village, the Agway site and the Spice Mill attract more interest, he said.
Another measure of that development impact is Liberty Village, now with a development plan, was worth 28% more in 2024 than in the past, and the Agway site, also with development permits, saw a 20% hike in value.
“We are seeing young families move in,” he said. “These are the types of families who will want to walk along Main Street, enjoy a meal or ice cream and could help return Flemington to the type of town it used to be.”
One impact of the borough’s economic slump, Kerwin said in answer to a question from council president Jeremy Long, is that 10 years ago, commercial properties were the largest portion of the tax base. That has changed.
In 2024, four large garden apartment complexes are the top valued properties, and number five is a shopping center.
Kerwin’s 2024 tax assessment results showed that the borough has 1,123 parcels broken down as vacant land, 30 parcels, worth $3.338 million; residential units (one to four families), 856, $291.229 million; commercial (retail, offices and such) 223, $210.220 million; industrial sites, two, $2.062 million; and garden apartments, 10, $72.570 million.
The total assessment is $579.420 million, up $48.391 million from 2023.
The average assessment of a borough home rose to $340,221 from $314,653 in 2023.
The early draft of the 2024 municipal budget unveiled Feb. 26 showed an increase in spending of $462,000 over 2023, for a 2024 total budget of $8.375 million.
If approved, the new budget would mean a 3.9% tax increase. For a home valued at $100,000, municipal taxes would rise $40; for a home valued at $250,000, taxes would rise $100; and for a home valued at $350,000, the increase would be $140.
The possible tax increases do not include county or school taxes.
The budget will be officially introduced at the March 11 council meeting.
]]>RARITAN TWP, NJ - Four years ago, John Tully, supervisor of engineering and information technology, began working in IT for Raritan Township.
At this time, a five-year plan of modernization and resiliency was established, and, in recent years, the town has said it is crucial to keep up with it.
“Cyber security as we all know now is of paramount importance,” said Tully.
The township has experienced two breach attempts in recent memory. The first occurred in 2018 when the town had a breach with software.
And just in the last month, there was a breach attempt on a user’s two-factor authentication, which failed.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an identity and access management security method that requires two forms of identification to access resources and data. 2FA gives businesses the ability to monitor and help safeguard their most vulnerable information and networks.
“We have the two-factor authentication coupled with monthly training we go through and monthly phishing scams,” Tully said.
The monthly phishing scams consist of sample junk emails which look like legitimate ones, but Tully said 85 to 90% of the staff no longer falls for it. When an email is flagged, Tully is notified.
“If I get an email with a suspect domain name, the system flags it and tells me I have these suspect emails,” he said. “It is in the cloud in a secure email jail, for lack of a better term. I can see it and if it is something I know, I can allow it on an individual email basis. If not, that domain will be blocked from here on out.”
Tully told the township committee at a recent meeting that this year marks the end of the five-year originally established plan. The MSI server has been temporarily repurposed to cost the town a total of $8,000, as opposed to $35,000.
Tully said all items in the proposed budget for the department are required, whether they are an insurance requirement or at the end-of-life.
After a year, he said, the WiFi requires a new security patch in order to not have an open gateway. The town also wants to go completely paperless, as everything will be uploaded to the cloud in order to cut back on the use of paper.
The courtroom, where the Raritan Township Committee holds its meetings, will feature two, 85-inch screens behind where the committee members sit. It will allow anyone to connect wirelessly for presentation purposes.
The court will be able to use it for meetings with prosecutors and defendants, as well as in speaking to translators.
“That is part of the whole modernization process that is in this budget right now,” Tully said.
Tully said the biggest part of the modernization budget will be for the police department. All documents from the storeroom need to be scanned to the cloud. The entire room will then be freed up for the police to use.
Also presented recently was the municipal capital budget for engineering, which will entail road development projects, including drainage from massive flooding from regular storms. The system, which was originally designed in the 70s, is now deemed inadequate.
Reaville Road will have a proposed readjustment of the curb to widen the area of the sidewalk to exist with the current existing sidewalk across the front of the apartment complexes, so individuals can now walk to McDonald’s or various restaurants and stores.
Walter E. Foran Boulevard has received a grant to get a sidewalk due to pedestrian safety concerns near the high school. This will add a curb to raise it up, and a sidewalk will be added.
This year marks the end of the engineering department’s five-year plan. The committee was left with a new five-year road plan to consider for the budget.
]]>RARITAN TWP, NJ - The Raritan Township Committee voted unanimously to pass a resolution Feb. 20 in support of the Flemington-Raritan Regional School District’s 5k Color Run to be held in May.
The upcoming color run was the main topic of discussion at the Jan. 30 council meeting, when residents, one by one, addressed the committee to express how important the color run is not only to them, but to students and the community as a whole.
Last year, the event attracted approximately 800 participants, including families and students. The route of the race went through J.P. Case Middle School to Woodside Farms and back.
However, the event’s slightly new route, which will start at J.P. Case to Case Boulevard to Woodside Farms and back to J.P. Case for the finish line, received some backlash from the Homeowners Association (HOA) raising concerns on safety.
“We are happy to work together,” said Crystal Silva, color run committee co-chair. “We just want to see this still remaining at our school.”
The race began in 2016, with a slight break a few years ago, Silva said, when the COVID-19 pandemic put it on a bit of hiatus, as many gatherings were deemed inaccessible.
The color run benefits Flemington-Raritan’s six schools Copper Hill, Barley Sheaf, Francis A. Desmares, Robert Hunter, Reading-Flemington Intermediate and J.P. Case Middle.
Last August, the town notified the committee to consider Lenape Park as a solution to hold the event, due to safety concerns from the HOA. Sliva said she never received the specifics on what the safety issues were, and her understanding was that only one homeowner raised a concern.
“It is a well-supported district-wide event, and we are trying to bring it back as an annual event,” said Sliva.
Mayor Scott Sipos addressed last year’s 800 participants and asked, “How will the parking be with cars parking along the route and additional spectators?”
“Everyone parks at J.P. Case and the roads are cleared,” Silva said. “We ask the community to park their cars in driveways to make room for road parking.”
Any spectators will stay near the finish line at J.P. Case.
Sliva said the route was changed because, “we are trying to meet in the middle and reduce the footprint we are going through.”
Councilwoman Robyn Fatooh asked why the town’s suggestion for Lenape Park did not work out.
“We made many attempts to try and fit the footprint we are looking for,” Silva said. “We would be running the park in circles over grass and gravel. A lot of our family members have strollers, and some participants have walkers.”
Councilman Bradford Perry asked if they had ever considered just going through J.P. Case twice.
“Can you explain why it is important to go to the neighborhood?” he asked.
“The flat surface is easier for the runners and everyone walking,” Silva said. “The terrain at the school is gravel and grass. It is the same situation as Lenape [Park]. It is not ideal.”
Each committee member had access to a map that featured rainbows in various locations, indicating that that is where the blasts of color are expected to occur during the race. The colored powder is cleaned up by committee members as they walk through the route, as well as the fire department hosing it down.
The color powder is made from cornstarch and is water soluble and environmentally friendly.
As the town’s municipal budget was also on the agenda, the town’s police, fire and EMS squads were all present. They agreed they have a plan in place for cleanup after the run.
Flemington-Raritan’s 5K Color Run is scheduled for May 19, at 8 a.m.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ — TAPinto Flemington-Raritan is in search of qualified and talented freelance news reporters to cover news in the community.
Interested candidates must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this position:
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If you are interested in applying to be a news or sports reporter for TAPinto Flemington-Raritan, please click here and fill out the form. Please include a resume, writing samples and the area (or areas) in which you are available. If you have already applied through another TAPinto site, you do not need to apply again.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - The Hunterdon Jr. Red Devils Senior Rec team won first place in the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando Feb. 11, in the Rec Game Day Division.
This is the largest school cheerleading championship in the United States, with 25,000 athletes and 1,183 teams across 34 states.
The Devils competed against 13 teams in the division.
In addition, the team took second place in the Traditional Rec 14 division, out of nine teams.
The team has athletes from the ages of 11 to 15.
]]>ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- Two members of the Hunterdon Central wrestling team earned top-eight finishes in their respective weight classes at the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City over the weekend.
Anthony Rossi came in third in the state among 120-pounders. Rossi went 5-1 over the weekend, with one victory by technical fall and another by major decision. His 5-3 victory over Mikey Bautista of St. Joseph of Montvale in the final round of the Third-Place Consolations sealed his third-place finish.
Thomas Brunetti finished fourth at 175 pounds. Brunetti went 4-2 with three pins over the weekend. He reached the finals of the Third-Place Consolations with a pin in 1:40 against Temuulen Mendbileg of St. Benedict's Prep in the consolation semifinals.
]]>HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ - Hunterdon County received 42 applications worth $2.8 million for a special grant program announced in 2023 to help non-profit agencies cover operational costs.
The county had pledged $1 million from the American Rescue Plan for the program.
Still, Joseph Sarno, of HFA Certified Public Accounts and Advisors, the company hired to advise the county on the program, told the board of xommissioners on Feb. 20 that awards of $5,000 to $100,000 are being prepared.
Sarno said the applicants are being vetted to assure their non-profit status and to align the grant program with the federal requirements of the American Rescue Plan funding.
The county was allocated $24 million in federal funds through the American Rescue Plan to be used for local programs and projects by the end of 2024.
Sarno said the special grant funds would also need to be spent by the end of 2024.
He said the awards could be announced at the March 5 commissioners meeting.
This program is in line with what board director Jeff Kuhl announced as a “new era of partnership” with the county’s 26 municipalities at the annual reorganization meeting of the board Jan. 2.
The goal of the new initiative, he said at the time, would be to use the financial clout and planning expertise of the ounty to help municipalities address common needs.
Kuhl said two areas of concern under consideration for $1 million in grants each are helping county towns with public works issues such as road repairs and signage, and a second grant program aimed to help towns with necessary work at their public parks.
]]>FLEMINGTON, NJ - Flemington residents were recognized recently for achievements at college.
FLEMINGTON – When Warren Buckleitner and his wife, Ellen Wolock, would walk their dogs in Court Street Park, she’d remark how the small urban park could use a playground.
That made sense, he said recently.
She was a state education official and mother, and the lives of children mattered greatly to her. She was a supportive mentor to her colleagues, he said.
That dream has taken several steps forward.
On Feb. 26, the Flemington Borough Council sketched out plans that, along with Hunterdon County which owns Court Street Park, are destined to add a tot-lot style, all-access playground to the park.
The playground will be dedicated to Wolock, who died in December.
Buckleitner said he thought a playground would be a living memorial, and a more fitting recognition of his wife’s life than a funeral.
So he pledged the $20,000 that might have been spent on a funeral and reached out to Flemington Mayor Marica Karrow, a longtime family friend, and county representatives, and pitched the playground idea.
Karrrow immediately backed the plan, he said, because she, as did he and his wife, recognized that Flemington is a “playground desert.”
Adding a child-friendly element to the park would give young families an opportunity to enjoy the well-used park, he said.
The playground also represents an opportunity to give something back to the town they called home for decades, and add to the community life in the borough, which is undergoing significant changes.
Karrow at the council meeting said the response from the county was positive. She said among the next steps is to reach out to the state Department of Environmental Protection, which funds the state’s Green Acres program.
Photos of the concept show tot-sized climbing apparatus and slides.
Buckleitner said he was pleased by the county’s response, which included his being contacted by the designer of the Deer Path Park all-inclusive playground opened by Hunterdon County last year.
That park, the first all-inclusive county playground, has been followed by plans to build a second such county playground at South County Park. The county is seeking state funds for that project.
Buckleitner said he had started a GoFundMe site to raise more funds for the playground, and that he intends to pay for the entire playground project through donations. He said he has pledges for 80% of the estimated $30,000 price tag provided by the county.
He said his wife was dedicated to fighting to improve preschool programs for every New Jersey child.
She served as the director of early childhood education for the New Jersey Department of Education, and, during her term, she secured an $80 million federal early childhood education grant that still benefits young students across the state.
The planned playground is a celebration of her life and her life’s work, he said.
There will be a memorial celebration from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. March 2 at the Stangl stage. Donations will be dedicated to the playground project.
A memorial plaque will be unveiled Saturday.
The link to the GoFundmlMe page is https://gofund.me/8205e4f2.
]]>HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ - The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District is set to see a slight increase in state aid for the 2024-2025 school year, according to the figures released by the state following Wednesday's state budget address.
Last year, the district received $5,546,642.
In the coming year, the district will see an additional $549,199 in state aid, or 9.90%, bringing the total to $6,095,841.
Hunterdon Central Regional School District, on the other hand, will see an under 1% decrease in state aid for the coming year, about $31,227.
Last year, the district received $4,617,137, and this year, the district is set to receive $4,585,910.
]]>HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ - A Hunterdon County Grand Jury returned an indictment Feb. 29 charging Onika G. Johnson, of Ringoes, with first degree attempted murder and other charges.
Johnson, 44, is being charged with first degree attempted murder, four counts of second degree aggravated arson, three counts of third degree arson and two counts of third degree criminal mischief.
According to a release from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, Johnson, 44, was arrested Aug. 9, 2023, after a joint investigation by the Raritan Township Police Department, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office Arson Task Force and the Raritan Township Fire Safety Services.
In the early morning hours of May 21, 2023, the release said, Raritan Township police officers responded to 8 Whitetail Way, in Ringoes, to investigate a fire at a home occupied by several family members and tenants. The Raritan Township fire marshal and Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office Arson Task Force found that the fire started in the garage of the home, and it was started intentionally.
In addition, the release said, investigators found that Johnson, who lived in the residence, purposely or knowingly started the fire, causing significant structural damage and placing the occupants in danger of death.
Johnson is being held at the Warren County Correctional Center.
First degree charges can lead to a term of imprisonment between 10 and 20 years, and a fine not to exceed $200,000; second degree charges can result in penalties including a term of imprisonment between five and 10 years, and a fine not to exceed $150,000; and third degree charges can result in criminal penalties including a term of imprisonment between three and five years, and a fine not to exceed $15,000.
]]>FLEMINGTON -- The Flemington Borough Council got its first official look at the proposed 2024 municipal budget Feb. 26, and nibbled at the edges of a possible $35,000 gap that will need to be filled.
Chief financial officer William Hance said the early draft of the new budget showed an increase in spending of $462,000 over 2023, for a 2024 total budget of $8.375 million.
The new budget is supported by a $48 million increase in borough property values to $579 million.
If approved, the new budget would mean a 3.9% tax increase. For a home valued at $100,000, municipal taxes would rise $40; for a home valued at $250,000, taxes would rise $100; and for a home valued at $350,000, the increase would be $140, Hance said.
The possible tax increases do not include county or school taxes.
The median home value in the borough is $335,000.
The council will hold a second public budget workshop at 5:30 p.m., March 5 at borough hall. The budget will be introduced at the March 11 meeting.
Hance said key drivers of the budget increase were group health insurance costs, trash disposal through the contact with LMR Disposal and associated costs for the development of the new police headquarters building, costs of borough development efforts and assorted equipment purchases.
During the discussion, council members dug into the budget details.
Councilman Tony Parker questioned the amount of police overtime, and wondered if it might be more cost effective to add another officer to the department. He also questioned the cost of adding a new police car.
Hance said the borough is trying to replace one police car a year to keep the fleet as modern as possible, but in 2023, the department bought a car, but not the equipment package to make it serviceable, a cost that would land in 2024.
Councilwoman Susan Englehardt asked about an increase in the budget for building inspections.
Mayor Marcia Karrow said that increase is the result of her directive to the inspection office to do more inspections that could result in the discovery of code violations.
Several council members wondered if it was possible to increase the amount of food composting done by borough residents as a way of reducing the annual tonnage of trash collected.
Hance said the cost of trash disposal is rising statewide, driven by higher costs of fuel, workers and tipping fees paid at disposal sites.
The council seemed to solve one sticky budget issue by transferring $7,000 from a shade tree commission refillable reserve account to cover a proposed budget increase by the commission to purchase trees.
Karrow called for the second budget workshop to take a second look at the budget to find necessary savings.
“But,” she cautioned, “I don’t want to nickel-and-dime the departments.”
]]>HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ - The Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners recognized 12 students from Hunterdon County Vocational School for their successful competition in principals of teaching 1 and 2 at the statewide Family, Career and Community Leaders of America conference last fall.
The board also recognized teacher and advisor Natalie Guarino for her 15 years of leading the group.
Polytech superintendent Todd Bonsall said the competition was a “great achievement for these young teachers.”
The next competition is a national conference in Seattle, he said.
At the conference, students were involved in leadership workshops promoting chapter fundraising, community service and listening to motivational speakers.
The county proclamation said, “(The county) thanks the entire Polytech community for continuously creating an award-winning environment, where students can compete and be recognized for their skills.”
The Polytech winners were:
Abbey Kostelansky and Ashley Vanatta, in the caregiver carry category, ranked 3rd Place, gold;
Hannah Rosenthal, virtual read aloud; 2nd Place, gold;
Olivia Auletto and Catherine Brennan, get up and move; 1st Place, gold;
Ally Kusmiesz and Cambria Loesch, caregiver carry; 1st Place gold;
Jillian Fullper, Michael Seifert and Alexa Tettemer, circle time; 2nd Place, gold;
Nevaeh McKenney, Zacarias and Erinn VanAuken, get up and move; 2nd Place, silver.
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