Youth Employment & Training Program Proposals sought from Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders

by Marin Barrett/Somerset Reporter

Thursday November 20, 2008, 12:12 PM

SOMERSET COUNTY - The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders has announced the availability of funding for agencies to provide Employment and Training Programs for Youth in Hunterdon and Somerset counties for 2009.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) may be printed off the Somerset County Web site. Go to www.co.somerset.nj.us and click on Bids/RFPs from the top of the homepage.

You must return an original proposal, ten copies and a CD- ROM containing the proposal in MS Word for Windows in a sealed envelope by noon Friday, Dec. 5 to the Somerset County

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Somerset Hills YMCA Volunteer Recognition Night

by Marin Barrett/Somerset Reporter

Thursday November 20, 2008, 11:52 AM

SOMERSET COUNTY - The 21st annual Somerset Hills YMCA Volunteer Recognition Night will be held from 6 -10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge to acknowledge the hard work of the community's volunteers.

The event provides organizations the opportunity to honor their own volunteers, share in the community's spirit of volunteerism and learn about one another's groups and volunteer programs.

The event is coordinated and presented by the Somerset Hills YMCA. Tad Waldbauer, chair-elect of the Somerset Hills YMCA board of directors, will be extending the welcome with Chris Daggett, former Somerset Hills YMCA chair of the board, will be the master of ceremonies.

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Matheny's Arts Access program celebrates 15 years

by Somerset Reporter

Thursday November 20, 2008, 9:28 AM

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE -- The Matheny Medical and Educational Center's Art Access Program began 15 years ago with a question: "Can people with disabilities create fine art?"

Anyone who attended Full Circle 2008, the 15th anniversary celebration of Arts Access, held Saturday, Nov. 15 in Matheny's Robert Schonhorn Arts Center, knows the answer to that question.

In the auditorium, following an art reception in the gallery, Lyn Sanders, director of Arts Access, introduced a presentation that included dramatic interpretations of poetry, wheelchair dance performances, a multimedia collaboration between an Arts Access artist and an able-bodied dance company and a preview of a documentary being produced by P3 Entertainment that very clearly demonstrated the art facilitation process.

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What's Happening in Somerset County - Nov. 21

by Somerset Reporter

Thursday November 20, 2008, 9:08 AM

Friday, Nov. 21
WARREN - Kristallnacht memorial service of Temple Har Shalom, 104 Mount Horeb Road, 7:30 p.m. (732) 356-8777 or www.templeharshalom.org.
HILLSBOROUGH - Thanksgiving wreath for ages 2-5 to make. Hillsborough Library, 379 South Branch Road, 10 a.m. Registration required: (908) 369-2200, Ext. 14.

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Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College presents A Christmas Carol at the Clinton Township Middle School

by Marin Barrett/Somerset Reporter

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 4:32 PM

NORTH BRANCH - The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College will present TheatreworksUSA's production of A Christmas Carol at 1 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Clinton Township Middle School.

With witty dialogue and new songs, both humorous and touching, A Christmas Carol conveys Charles Dickens' message that the holiday season should be a time of kindness, forgiveness and charity.

The presentation is part of the Theatre's Sampler Series, which is recommended for youngsters age four and older and their families.

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Gabe Sacco and Deanna Lindbergh get gold at the Bassman Triathlon

by Marin Barrett/Somerset Reporter

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 12:21 PM

Bound Brook resident, teacher at Middlesex High School, featured tonight on NJN's State of the Arts

by Somerset Reporter

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 12:12 PM

This week's episode of State of the Arts on NJN Public Television examines the history behind the stories of four individuals, adding depth to the narratives and revealing the motivation behind their success in the arts.

As part of the program, the episode "Backstories" profiles Kelly Clark, a Bound Brook resident and art teacher at Middlesex High School, who is a Geraldine R. Dodge Artist Educator fellow.

State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa visits her classroom to see how the work she completed with help from the Dodge grants has translated into their classroom work. "Backstories" airs 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 with a rebroadcast 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26.

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Nominations sought for Outstanding Women Awards

by Marin Barrett/Somerset Reporter

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 11:58 AM

SOMERVILLE - The Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women is seeking nominations for its 2009 Outstanding Women in Somerset County awards program.
Nominees must be women who reside or work in Somerset County.

Categories include: arts/entertainment, business/management, education, entrepreneur, government/public service, hometown hero, information technology, journalism/media, law, medicine/health services, social services and volunteerism.

Nominations should cite the ways the nominee has demonstrated outstanding performance or dedication in her job or community.

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Garden State sees lowest gas prices since March 29, 2005

by Marin Barrett

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 11:48 AM

NEW JERSEY - According to AAA Mid-Atlantic Garden State motorists are paying the cheapest per-gallon price for regular serve gasoline since March 29, 2005.

The state average dropped below $2 per gallon overnight, and stands today at $1.97, which is more than $2 cheaper than the $4 peak New Jersey reached on July 8.

"Prices could fall farther after Thanksgiving," David Weinstein spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic said.

Here are various prices over the last year:

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Pluckemin Boy Scout Troop 154 scales news heights in preparation for trip to New York state

by Somerset Reporter

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 11:02 AM

What's Happening in Somerset County - Nov. 20

by Somerset Reporter

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 9:08 AM

Thursday, Nov. 20
BRIDGEWATER - Book Group discussing "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton. Bridgewater Library, 1 Vogt Drive, 7:30 p.m. Registration recommended: (908) 526-4016, Ext. 105.
NESHANIC STATION - Monthly Meeting of Neshanic Garden Club. Station House, Olive St., 10 a.m. (908) 359-6480.
WARREN - "Laughing Stock," fall production of Drama Club at Watchung Hills Regional High School, 108 Stirling Road, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20-22. Adults $10; students $5; seniors free. (908) 647-4800, Ext. 2604.

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Watchung's the Rev. Lynn Czarniecki, hospice chaplain at Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, named Hospice Spiritual Caregiver of the Year

by Somerset Reporter

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 10:52 PM

The Rev. Lynn Czarniecki of Watchung, Hospice Chaplain for the Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, was a recipient of the Hospice Spiritual Caregiver of the Year Award at the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's 11th annual Awards Program.

Each year the organization presents Hospice Team Awards to recognize outstanding hospice professionals as role models for their counterparts statewide.

In nominating Czarniecki, Rabbi Moshe Abramowitz, director of Pastoral Care for the center, commended her for her ability to sense the needs of the 'whole' person, "bringing the powerful and comforting message of spiritual presence."

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