The Blog of South Brunswick

20090629 Traffic work on 27

2009-06-29T11:22:00.001-04:00

Apparently an accident on 27 north of Sand Hill and south of Stillwell KOed the power.

State of NJ is doing work on 27 South running up to Northumberland and past it. Southbound cars are force to drive on the shoulder. There are some wicked potholes. Watch out!

Power restored 0833 of outage 0700 29 Jun 09 in Kendall Park?

2009-06-29T07:54:00.001-04:00

Is it me o more than me?

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Housekeeper, homeowner held at gunpoint as men ransack house in South Brunswick

2009-06-10T10:46:00.001-04:00

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090610/CRIME/90610005/Housekeeper++homeowner+held+at+gunpoint+as+men+ransack+house+in+South+Brunswick

Housekeeper, homeowner held at gunpoint as men ransack house in South Brunswick

By Joshua Burd • Staff Writer • June 10, 2009

*** begin quote ***

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A group of armed men forced their way into a home Tuesday afternoon, holding a housekeeper and the homeowner at gunpoint while ransacking the house and then fleeing with valuables, police said.

Investigators say the housekeeper was the lone occupant at 14 Harmony Lane when the doorbell rang just before noon Tuesday. The woman told police she opened the door for what she believed was one person, but found two additional men outside who promptly rushed into the home.

*** end quote ***

So much for the idea that South Brunswick is quiet and safe.

Wonder if we’ll see this on “Township TV”?

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Yet Another Accident at Stillwell and Rt27

2009-06-06T12:56:00.001-04:00

Three car rear ender. Like elephants, nose to tail and nose to tail.

Why can't we have a "sympathetic" light at that corner in time with the one just a little south from there?

Would make it easier for everyone!

Argh!

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GRAND SLAM struck out

2009-06-05T16:29:00.000-04:00

Anyone notice that GRAND SLAM down the road from the new High School has closed its doors. It's been a fixture for ages.

(At the risk of being political, this is NOT the kind of "change" that I was "hoping" for!)

UPDATE:

http://centraljersey.com/articles/2009/06/05/topstory/doc4a27fcf0ae58a340218233.txt

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20090219 Frayed Flags in South Brunswick

2009-02-19T17:53:00.002-05:00

Disrespectful?

As a vet, I just shake my head at the attitude that permits it.

We have boys and girls at risk in the field. We can't even treat the symbol that they are dying for with some modest amount of respect.

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Winter Nature Walk at Davidsons Mill Park at 2 pm Saturday, Jan. 24.Event

2009-01-21T08:26:00.000-05:00

Davidsons Mill Park nature walk planned

Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - 4 hours ago

SOUTH BRUNSWICK —The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership will be sponsoring a Winter Nature Walk at Davidsons Mill Park at 2 pm Saturday, Jan. 24. ...

Finnegan's Lane gets a drug store

2009-01-09T18:37:00.000-05:00

http://nbs.gmnews.com/news/2009/0108/front_page/009.html

Supreme Court favors developer of Rt. 27 pharmacy

Court says the S.B. council's decision to rezone is 'arbitrary and capricious'

BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

*** begin quote ***

Inverse spot zoning is when a municipality decides against a plan that is permissible, according to the town's zoning and master plan. The state's highest court ruled 5-2 in favor of Riya Finnegan LLC on Dec. 22, overturning a lower court ruling in favor of the Township Council's decision to rezone a nearly 13-acre property off Route 27 at the intersection of Finnegans Lane.

*** end quote ***

I'm sure that will enrage some and make one developer very happy.

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Candidates sought to fill South Brunswick council vacancy

2009-01-09T09:25:00.001-05:00

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090108/NEWS/901080355

Candidates sought to fill South Brunswick council vacancy

By STAFF REPORT • January 8, 2009

*** begin quote ***

SOUTH BRUNSWICK —Would-be candidates have less than a week to file paperwork to be considered to replace newly appointed Middlesex County Freeholder Carol Barrett on the South Brunswick Township Committee — and the local Democratic chairman said there's already been considerable interest expressed in the post.

*** end quote ***

Where are all the taxpayers?

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Frozen lakes are trajedies waiting to happen

2009-01-05T09:06:00.002-05:00

Perhaps the Police, Fire, and Public Works of South Brunswick, and all Townships, should take proactive measures to protect folks from inadvertant loss of life. Not hard to imagine this happening to a child. Can't imagine that an old tire with a rope could not be found around the township.

If the gooferment can't, or more likely won't, do it. How about the people? When I'm out and about from now on I'll be looking for these hazards. How about you? Self-defense of the commonweal?

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http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/plainsboro_woman_drowns_trying.html#preview

Plainsboro woman drowns trying to save dog from frozen pond
by Nyier Abdou and Joe Ryan/The Star-Ledger
Saturday January 03, 2009, 7:11 PM

*** begin quote ***

A Plainsboro woman fell through the ice and drowned today while trying to rescue her grandson’s dog from a frozen pond.

*** end quote ***

Posted by reinkefj on 01/05/09 at 8:47AM

*** begin quote ***

Sad.

Interesting to see if a lawsuit doesn’t come out of this. Who owns the lake?

If it’s the town, then a simple rope with a ring would have been a great forethought. Or and after thought?

In the USAF survival school, we were taught, along with a lot of other stuff, not to go on ice with “ice picks”. (Wood dowels with nails protruding.) We had them on the hood draw strings as an inspection item for winter field exercises. Funny the stuff you remember forty years later.

Tonight I’ll remember her in my prayers for her and the family. Valiently trying to save her dog.

*** end quote ***

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The future of Dayton

2008-12-02T11:54:00.005-05:00

Go to Channel Surfing to see my post on Dayton's future.

Leaves, leaves, everywhere?

2008-11-20T12:13:00.003-05:00

Ahh, it's late Fall. The leaves turn beautiful colors and then fall.

Then they are nothing but a nuisance. Folks sweep them to the curb or into the street.

Where they wait for the township to do their job and collect them.

Sorry, but as usual, gooferment demonstrates that it can't get the job done. Day after day. Week after week. They sit. Blowing back on to lawns. Blocking the drains. Crumpling into the yucky mess we hate.

We need a better "system". I suggest that the gooferment admit it can't do the job and turn it over to the private marketplace.

North Brunswick make folks bag them. But that system costs more money and doesn't seem to work better. It just solves the blow back.

Wonder what wonders the marketplace could supply if it was "permitted"?

Maybe the mulch makers would pick them up for free since they could sell the stuff in the spring?

No, there's probably a law against it.

Argh!

Campaign Signs

2008-11-19T09:09:00.002-05:00

Does anyone else think that its time to clean up the campaign signs. Or is this now an eternal tribute to the "fearless leader". Like the old USSR with the eternal displays to Lenin, Stalin, or Marx?

UPDATE: 11/22 Signs are still there!

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Care needed at New and Old 522

2008-11-08T07:13:00.002-05:00

Thursday night, at New Road and Old 522, I saw a close call between a car and pedestrian. The pedestrian was yelling at the driver.

The car was obviously confused by the detour. That happens a lot there. It was very dark that night. There's minimal lighting. And, the pedestrian was dressed in dark clothes.

Happily the enraged pedestrian stomped off yelling. The driver got themselves turned around.

And, all ended well.

But, care by pedestrians and drivers is warranted here.

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Pickup the old political signs

2008-11-07T19:28:00.001-05:00

Will all the politicians please repoort to the "open spaces" of South Brunsiwck to remove all thee signs.

QuickChek at Henderson Road

2008-11-06T08:27:00.001-05:00

Again, I've had conflict turning into the QuikChek from Route 27 just past Henderson Road.

I'm sure our "Planning Board" had all the best intentions when they approved the site plan.

There are two entrances -- one from Route 27 and one from Henderson Road. And, one exit onto Henderson Road.

No left turn inside the site supposedly prohibits traffic exiting onto Route 27. No left turn at the exit supposedly prevents traffic from turnng left onto Henderson Road.

It's a COMPLETE joke!

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Deer spotted at Emerald & Stillwell

2008-09-24T16:31:00.000-04:00

Drive safe. They can mess up your day.

When the light went out at Rt1 & Major / Sandhill

2008-07-26T09:23:00.003-04:00

The other day we had a big storm. (In case you hadn't noticed) And the traffic light went out on Route 1 at Sand Hill / Major Road. It failed with blinking yellow on the Route One side and blinking red on the Sand Hill / Major Road sides.

It was unfortunate that I was just coming home then. It was before the "blue light gang" arrived to put some order into chaos. I was wishing I had my video camera. I thought I was going to have a front row seat at 'nascar like' pile up.

I waited patiently to execute my personal 'plan b' --- no way I was going to try to get across Route 1 without a light to restrain the North or Southbound traffic. I'd resolved to take a right and go to Northumberland or as far as needed to get across safely. Seemed like common sense to me.

But as one cynic once said "common sense ain't too common"!

I watched in horror as person after person forced their way across the rush hour traffic to make a left on to northbound route one. They had to be INSANE!

Any way, no wrecks occurred that I saw, and by the time, I had executed Plan B, the "blue light gang" had seized control of the intersection on each side forcing traffic right. (As any intelligent person would do.)

Upon reflection, I knew in my heart that the gooferment was at fault. It took me a minute to throw off the socialist indoctrination to find it. But I did! The gooferment selected a dangerous failure mode.

The answer was simple. The lights should fail green on Route 1 and SOLID red on the cross road. The driver stopped at the red light would soon realize it was "stuck" and seek an alternative --- RIGHT TURN ON RED.

No risk of accidents. At least no more risk than we have already. No "blue light gang" needed. They can go back to trapping speeders with radar traps earning money for the gooferment.

Any way, thought I'd suggest that the next time you happen upon the "light out" scenario, think "Right On Red" as opposed to Crash - Boom - Bang?

reinkefj
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com

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Battlefield may end MOM battle

2008-06-19T15:56:00.001-04:00

The state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Parks and Forestry has apparently given " thumbs down to the Monmouth Junction route's proposed crossing" of the Monmouth Battleground State Park, according to the Asbury Park Press.

A May letter from the division, the paper says,

cites adverse effects from commuter trains on the park — which is crossed by rails where a freight train runs — and from more drivers using Route 522 to reach a proposed station in Manalapan near the park.

The effort to upgrade the Monmouth Junction line across the preserved battlefield could be prevented by federal officials, now that the DEP has rendered an opinion about the effects, a prominent historian said.

"They can't proceed without the permission of the New Jersey Historic Sites Council, and if they approve, the National Parks Service would not approve," said Garry Wheeler Stone, Monmouth Battlefield State Park historian.

The Post and Press will have more on this story as it develops.

Major / Sandhill Road at Route 1

2008-05-20T20:16:00.003-04:00

Perhaps the geniuses that saddled us with this intersection could put some restraining lights at the top of their respective hills?

Or at least on across half way down to the intersection.

At least give the turner from Route 1 a fighting chance to get across.

Seems obvious to me.

Anyone notice?

2008-05-20T20:13:00.001-04:00

Did anyone notice ... ... that Best Buy is closed due to an "emergency".

Maybe the roof collapsed due to all the rain? Just guessing.

School Budget

2008-04-17T19:01:00.004-04:00

Our children need education.

But at what cost?

Clearly the taxpaying voters of South Brunswick are rethinking how much they want to pay for public education.

Perhaps the School Board needs to rethink as well.

What do our students acutally need to have a good basic education? Classroom space? Teachers? Books and other essential supplies?

It may be painful to say, but in an era of economic crisis, government needs to look at tax revenue in a new way. Taxes are not a "bottomless pit" of money to spend. Like those of us with ever thinning wallets, governments need to really think about what it can "afford" to spend instead of looking at what it "wants" to spend.

While it's nice to offer students dozens of extra curricular activities, sports, and other amenities it might be time to reconsider as to whether or not the school district can actually afford such things. It would be a painful decision to make, but it might well be time to separate the essential services from the "extras."

Years ago, the New Jersey Department of Education intiated a "Back to Basics" movement. While that concept has fallen by the wayside on the State Level, replaced by "No Child Left Behind" and all its regulations, it wasn't such a bad idea.

But, if we expect our schools to go back to basics, then the rest of the government agencies who spend our tax dollars really need to join in.

The backs of New Jersey taxpayers are breaking. The weight of public education is only a part of the problem, but is certainly is a place to start lightening the load.

SCHOOL BUDGET FAILS

2008-04-15T22:49:00.001-04:00

The tough financial times are here. The school budget failed by 50 votes. With over 9,000 kids in school only 2,400 people voted !

Department of Agriculture Needs to Stay

2008-03-24T11:21:00.004-04:00

Keeping New Jersey Green

Governor Corzine's budget cuts include a proposal to eliminate the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

What a shame that would be for The Garden State to no longer have its government supporting its farms, its waters, its food supply, its forests, and its homeowners.

If you visit the Agriculture Department's website, you will see that more than just farmers benefit from the agency. We all do.

Food programs in the schools, assurance of safe foods for us all, control of insects such as the Gypsy Moth that destroy our forests, the horse industry, and many other beneficial programs supporting the greening of New Jersey are all administered through the Department.

Other States, like Connecticutt, have tried to cut Agricultural services only to find the need to undo the cuts. The land needed a steward, and a Department of Agriculture with all its expertise and services was the highest and best answer.

Search the website and find out that our land and water are linked. Soil conservation and the protection of our water supplies are an important function of the Department.

And besides, just how much money will be saved? The jobs the Department does will still have to be done and I've been told most of the current workers will still have jobs with the State. So, the ultimate savings will amount to, perhaps the cost of administrative salaries. Not much, actually, compared to the budget deficit.

We need to preserve and protect our remaining farmland. We need to protect our forests. We need to protect our forests.

The South Brunswick Township Council has proposed a resolution calling upon the Governor to keep the Department of Agriculture intact. It will come before the Council on Tuesday night, March 25. We need to support the Council on this resolution and take the time to write our own resolutions and letters to the Governor.

New Jersey needs to protect its remaining green lands.

County Makes Offer on Van Dyke Farm

2008-02-22T18:25:00.001-05:00

Good News and Hope

Middlesex County has made an offer to purchase the Van Dyke Farm on Davidson's Mill Road.

The Eastern Villages Association has been working on trying to preserve this valuable historic and natural resource for a number of years, so this news as music to our ears.

The County had several appraisals made of the land, so the offer is fair according to the current market. What remains to be seen is whether the current property owner will entertain the offer.

We are ever hopeful. The farm house dates back to the 1700's and there is a cemetery on the property with gravestones dating back to the American Revolution. As well there is documentation of slaves who worked on the farm and testimony that there is also a slave cemetery on the land. Add to all of this the fact that the farm lies on the northeastern border of the Pigeon Swamp State Park, which holds the only Category 1 water in Middlesex County, and you have a perfect piece of land for such preservation.

EVA, the Township Council, and the County Freeholders have worked long and hard to reach this point. Parntnering with the State of New Jersey in hopes to acquire the property so it may be preserved and protected forever, we all hope the owner and developer will realize how important this purchase is. Here is a chance to treasure and protect both our heritage and the environment.