New Year brings family's third girl

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Wednesday January 07, 2009, 12:54 PM

Photo by Dana Kacedon Lane SHE'S NUMBER ONE -- The county's first baby of 2009, Grace Elizabeth Merriken, is welcomed by her family -- mom and dad Elizabeth and Peter, and sisters Rebecca and Katherine.

Hunterdon's first baby of 2009 is Grace Elizabeth Merriken.

Grace was born at Hunterdon Medical Center to Elizabeth and Peter Merriken of Lebanon Township. After about a 15-hour labor, dad says she made her entrance at 1:40 p.m. on Jan. 1.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Ad slump brings layoffs at Hunterdon Democrat

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Wednesday January 07, 2009, 11:19 AM

Langley Let Go

Jay Langley

The current slump in classified advertising revenue -- automotive and real estate ads especially -- has caused the Hunterdon County Democrat newspaper and its parent company to cut costs and staff.

Among those let go this week were Jay Langley, the Democrat's longtime executive editor, and Peg Gerke, the comptroller for NJN Publishing, the Democrat's parent company.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Whooping-cough alert

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Sunday January 04, 2009, 6:22 AM

The county Health Department is investigating a "cluster" of cases of whooping cough. The disease is usually harmless in adults, but can be serious and even fatal in infants.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Amwell road detour set

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday January 03, 2009, 11:24 AM

Hunterdon motorists who travel Amwell Road in Somerset County could be affected by road closures in Hillsborough Township while crews replace the Amwell Road (Route 514) bridge over the Neshanic River near Blackpoint-Montgomery Road.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Cimei talks about plans for 2009

by Curtis Leeds / Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday January 02, 2009, 3:12 PM

CLINTON TWP. - Mayor Kevin Cimei started his tenure with an advantage his recent predecessors lacked: no specter of a massive housing development on the 292-acre Windy Acres site.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Two people homeless after Flemington fire

by Matt DeBlass / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday December 30, 2008, 4:40 PM

Photo by George PaccielloFLEMINGTON FIREFIGHTERS work to control a house fire at 30 1/2 E. Main St. Two people were left homeless, but no one was injured except for a firefighter who was bitten by a cat.

FLEMINGTON -- A house fire left two borough residents homeless for the holidays.
Kimberly Cooper, who lived in one half of a house off East Main Street, came home and found the building on fire at about 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 23.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Local collegians at Bowl games

by Veronica Slaght / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday December 30, 2008, 2:22 PM

LOTS OF FANS will cheer for Penn State in the Rose Bowl game today. But Kelly Serra of Clinton Township will be almost in the game.

Tune into the Rose Bowl parade or game today and you might see a Hunterdon face or two.
Former North Hunterdon cheerleader captain Kelly Serra from Clinton Township will be in both the parade at 11 a.m. (EST) and the football game at 5 p.m. The Penn State senior is on the cheerleading squad.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Clinton rekindles Yule tree bonfires

by Veronica Slaght / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday December 30, 2008, 2:17 PM

This January, Clinton will revive a lost, unofficial winter event -- the burning of discarded Christmas trees. A similar tradition continues uninterrupted in Lebanon.

Back when winters got cold enough for the river to freeze above Clinton's Halstead Street bridge, Frank Hooper would light a bonfire of Christmas trees there and people would gather on the bridge to watch the blaze.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

County GOP execs say: Karrow for senate

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Sunday December 28, 2008, 6:03 AM

Marcia Karrow

Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow has won the support of the 15-member Hunterdon County Republican Executive Committee in her quest for the 23rd District state Senate seat being vacated by Congressman-elect Leonard Lance.

Ms. Karrow, of Flemington, is facing her Assembly colleague, Michael Doherty of Washington Township, and Hunterdon Freeholder Matthew Holt of Clinton.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Muller mulls seeking assembly nomination

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday December 25, 2008, 3:19 PM

George Muller

George Muller, a man of many facets, is considering running for Assembly.

Muller the former freeholder. Muller the embattled undersheriff. Muller the businessman and bank director. Muller the public servant on the boards of a college and the state broadcasting authority.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

On-the-job training covering the Sheriff's Office

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday December 25, 2008, 12:34 PM

Reporter's Notebook

Warren Cooper

People ask what it's like being a reporter at the local paper. Well, new Hunterdon County Sheriff Deborah Trout has made 2008 quite a learning year for me.

In 2007, we reported Ms. Trout's campaign promise to make the county Sheriff's Office "one we can be proud of."

Post a comment | View comments (2)

Investigators seize Sheriff's Office files

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Wednesday December 24, 2008, 4:23 AM

In a six-hour raid of the Sheriff's Office on Monday, Prosecutor's Office detectives and State Police seized computers and documents related to Hunterdon County Sheriff Deborah Trout's hiring and administrative practices.

The raid began around noon, with about 10 prosecutor's staffers scouring the sheriff's second-story offices, assisted by State Troopers. In a simultaneous raid in Bayonne, five detectives from the Prosecutor's Office executed a similar search warrant at the home of former sheriff's investigator John Falat Jr., seizing his personal computer and other papers.

Post a comment | View comments (8)

County won't rush to use solar panels

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday December 23, 2008, 4:59 PM

Covering the roofs of county buildings with solar panels may someday lead to big money savings for taxpayers, but it's unlikely the Freeholders will study the feasibility of such a plan soon.

Renewable energy consultant Vanguard Energy Partners recommended on Dec. 16 that the county study leasing, owning and power-sharing options related to solar energy. But the board will probably first try such unglamorous approaches as conservation.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Crash on Rt. 579 kills West Amwell mother of 2

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Tuesday December 23, 2008, 3:02 PM

HOPEWELL TWP. -- A 47-year-old West Amwell mother of two and community volunteer was killed Saturday evening when her SUV crashed on Route 579 near the boundary with her hometown.

Michele Hart was alone in her SUV, heading south when she failed to negotiate the curve south of Rock Road East, township police reported. Her SUV crossed the northbound lane and went off-road about 60 feet before hitting several trees. It rolled, coming to rest on its roof in the middle of the road, which was dry and clear. Mrs. Hart was wearing a seat belt.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Here's the scoop on Jimmy's

by John Monteith / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday December 18, 2008, 2:11 PM

Photo by Dana Kacedon Lane HAPPY NEW YEAR! Things are looking up in Holland Township for 2009 thanks to Meredith and John Oliver who plan to re-open Jimmy's ice cream stand in April. The popular summertime institution was closed in 2007 and many fans had feared the good times were over for good.

HOLLAND TWP. -- John Oliver always wanted sherbet at his favorite ice cream stand, but sometimes they would be out of it. So he vows that when he and his wife Meredith reopen Jimmy's ice cream stand, sherbet will always be available. The Olivers, who live on Bellis Road, recently bought the property.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Delaware River up after heavy rains

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday December 18, 2008, 11:26 AM

Just before midnight Dec. 11, river watcher Elaine Reichart from her home along the Delaware south of Belvidere e-mailed fellow activists during the pouring rain.

"Of course, I am not sleeping. I doubt that any of you are sleeping well either. They say it will rain over 2 inches tonight alone, with a total of about 4-5 inches for the four-day span... I don't know which is better -- snow or this rain... I used to love the sound of rain..."

Post a comment | View comments (0)

League of Municipalities exec board adds Sworen

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Tuesday December 16, 2008, 6:19 AM

Frenchtown Mayor Ronald Sworen has been elected to the executive board of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The state's mayors elected Mr. Sworen at the group's recent annual business meeting.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Governor nominates Rubin for new term

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Monday December 15, 2008, 1:08 PM

Superior Court Judge Stephen Rubin of Raritan Township has been nominated for a second seven-year term on the bench.

If approved by the state Senate, Mr. Rubin, 62, would have tenure and be able to remain on the bench until the constitutional mandatory retirement age of 70.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Lebanon addresses boro hall project

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Monday December 15, 2008, 6:37 AM

LEBANON -- Bids for the renovation of Borough Hall may be accepted as early as January.
Construction manager David Tillou said at a November meeting that he is very close to having the construction documents ready to go out for bids. "The next phase is the approvals and bidding process," he said.

Post a comment | View comments (2)

Secret stashes hedge against medical crises

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday December 13, 2008, 12:55 PM

At a number of secret locations around the county, the Health Department has cached four pods of pre-packaged mobile and surgical hospital (MASH) supplies designed to be tapped if a public health emergency were to overwhelm hospital facilities here. The most recent shipment arrived late in the summer.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Amwell squad in disarray

by Patrick Pizzuti / Hunterdon County Democrat

Saturday December 13, 2008, 6:22 AM

EAST AMWELL TWP. -- Six members of the Amwell Valley-Ringoes Rescue Squad say the group's affairs are so bad that it might be better for the squad to dissolve.

They allege other squad members misappropriated funds, condoned the use of alcohol while on duty and illegally terminated plans for a new facility.

Post a comment | View comments (3)

Sheriff Trout agreeing to limit car use

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Friday December 12, 2008, 1:12 PM

Nine months of wrangling between Sheriff Deborah Trout and the Freeholders over the number of county-owned vehicles her staff can take home at night could end next week. The Freeholders are set to adopt a revised vehicle policy on Tuesday. Once they do so, the sheriff has agreed to drop the number of vehicles from five to two and to restrict the practice to on-call top aides and officers.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Bullet in bedroom frightens family

by Curtis Leeds / Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday December 12, 2008, 6:07 AM

Ben Scheetz / Hunterdon County DemocratCLOSE CALL -- Two-year-old Giana DeCampos points to the bullet hole discovered in her bedroom as her mom Lisa looks on. State Fish & Wildlife officials have charged an East Amwell man hunting on a neighboring farm with firing the errant shot.

READINGTON TWP. -- Lisa DeCampos thinks she and her family are lucky. The discovery of a bullet in Ms. DeCampos' 2-year old daughter Giana's room only reinforces her belief.

"We do feel grateful," Ms. De-Campos said. If she had been changing Giana in the girl's room, "There's no doubt in my mind that one of us would have been shot," she said.

Post a comment | View comments (11)

Freeholders balk on land deals

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday December 11, 2008, 4:45 PM

The Freeholders have canceled at least two farmland purchases at the last minute. Now they are discussing among themselves whether to continue to chip in for preservation projects funded by nonprofit organizations.

Post a comment | View comments (1)

Public says: Take Windy Acres deal

by Curtis Leeds / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday December 11, 2008, 10:52 AM

CLINTON TWP. -- If anyone opposed the township's plan to buy the 292-acre Windy Acres property, they didn't speak at the special meeting Township Council held Monday expressly for the purpose. Although Township Council was peppered with questions about details of the plan, everyone spoke in favor of buying out developer Pulte Homes in the $7 million proposed deal.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Matt Holt running for senate

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Monday December 08, 2008, 6:09 AM

Freeholder Matthew Holt will run for state Senate in the 23rd Legislative District.

Matt Holt

His candidacy makes it at least a three-way GOP race for the job that will come open when Sen. Leonard Lance resigns to take his newly elected post in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district's two Assembly members, Marcia Karrow of Flemington and Michael Doherty of Washington Township, are interested in moving up.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Allen says ATV noise tortures neighbors

by Curtis Leeds / Hunterdon County Democrat

Sunday December 07, 2008, 3:11 PM

READINGTON -- Some officials want to enact rules limiting all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that they say are a noisy "source of annoyance" to residents.

Committeeman Gerard Shamey said he's received many complaints about loud ATVs and deputy mayor Julia Allen said, "I have a problem with people on small lots torturing their neighbors" with the recreational vehicles noise, a problem she once had years ago when living in Bridgewater.

Post a comment | View comments (3)

$300k field house proposed for DVR

by John Monteith / Hunterdon County Democrat

Sunday December 07, 2008, 9:02 AM

ALEXANDRIA TWP. -- A field house for Delaware Valley High School, a facility rejected in a 2001 referendum, could become a reality in time for the start of next fall's sports season. A volunteer organization, Remember Scott Oldenburg, is kicking off a campaign to build the field house through donations.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

Attacks in Mumbai have impact here

by Rachael Brickman-Levin / Hunterdon County Democrat

Saturday December 06, 2008, 6:56 AM

Mumbai, India might feel like a world away from Hunterdon, but for some here the horrors of last week's terror attacks struck close to home.

Post a comment | View comments (0)

See Parades in Clinton, Flemington

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Friday December 05, 2008, 6:50 AM

Two evening holiday parades -- one tomorrow in Clinton and the other on Sunday in Flemington -- have organizers making merry as they ready floats, bands and clowns to ring in the season.

The 22nd annual Clinton Guild Christmas parade will kick off at 7 p.m. from Center Street and proceed to Leigh and Main streets and over the bridge.

Post a comment | View comments (0)