MAY 17: Meadows Foundation Open Board Meeting at the Van Wickle House

This meeting of the Meadows Foundation Board of Directors is open to the public!

DATE: Monday, May 17, 2010
TIME: 7:00PM
PLACE: The Van Wickle House
1289 Easton Avenue, Somerset

Why not become a member of the Meadows Foundation or volunteer and get in on all the fun? OR, become a fan of the Meadows Foundation on Facebook?

RESCHEDULED to February 24: SOMERSET COUNTY VISUAL ARTS ROUNDTABLE

The Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission [SCCHC] is hosting a forum for the visual arts community to exchange ideas, identify concerns, and look for cooperative solutions to common issues--and you are invited!

DATE: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
TIME: 5:30PM to 8:45PM
PLACE: Somerset County Administration Building
20 Grove Street, Somerville
Free parking in the parking deck behind the building and accessible from East High Street.
RSVP: Pre-Registration Required
INFO: Cindy Mellusi, (908) 707-1749
CulturalHeritage@co.somerset.nj.us

ADMISSION IS FREE!!! Please pass this info along to everyone you know who might be interested!

[from SCCHC]
"We are pleased that Sue Nyoni, a well known technology strategist and and social media consultant, will be joining us to share her insights on social networking for artists. She is the former manager of information systems for the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and will offer ideas on ways to promote and sell your works."

November 22: SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORICAL ANNUAL MEETING & PRESENTATION

The Somerset County Historical Society is proud to invite the public to visit the newly renovated Van Veghten House for the society's annual meeting and a presentation by historian and author of Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution, Terry Golway.

DATE: Sunday, November 22
TIME: 2:00Pm
PLACE: Somerset County Historical Society
Van Veghten House
9 Van Veghten Drive, Bridgewater
INFO: www.schsnj.com
CONTACT: schs@schsnj.com
(908) 218-1281

ADMISSION IS FREE!!!

The Van Veghten House was used by General Nathanael Greene during the Middlebrook encampment, from 1778 to 1779. Mr. Golway's biography of the general provides a rare glimpse into the man who, in the face of such desperate times, was forced to become a suburban military tactician and brilliant quartermaster general.

"Nathanael Greene was an unlikely warrior - a Quaker with a pronounced limp - he surprised fellow patriots by rising quickly to become George Washington's favorite soldier and heir apparent. After taking command of the failed Southern Army, Greene formulated an unorthodox guerrilla strategy-to win by surprise attacks and hasty retreats, which cut the enemy's supply lines until the outwitted British leaders grew tired of hunger and bloody sacrifices. His strategy of turning defeat into victory allowed the rebel army to gain momentum toward a final push, setting the stage for the victory at Yorktown."

Terry Golway is a frequent contributor to American Heritage, The Boston Globe, and The New York Times. His other books include: So That Others Might Live, The Irish in America, For the Cause of Liberty, Full of Grace, Together We Cannot Fail, and Irish Rebel.

October 17 & On-going: CALL TO ACTION! Unnecessary Cell Tower Intrusions Will Mar Pristine Vistas of Protected Sites!

**MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD**

Just say, "Elsewhere!"

The construction of two industrial cell towers is planned within the protected Millstone Valley Scenic/Historic Corridor. This is an explicit violation of the agreed upon Corridor Management Plan's specific prohibition of cell towers within this area.

Millstone Valley Scenic/Historic Byway

1) Weather permitting, on Saturday, October 17, 2009, from 9:00AM until 12:00PM, a crane test will be performed at 139 Green Avenue in Montgomery, near the Staats Farm Road intersection. Green Road runs one block northwest of River Road.

Please take pictures to document this violation and voice your objections by clicking on "comments" at the bottom of this blog entry! With your permission, we would like to share your photos with the RMVE Blog community.

2) The construction of second tower is also planned for 138 Coppermine Road in historic Griggstown (Franklin Township, Block 11.01, Lot 61.01), adjacent to the beautiful Native Grasslands Preserve.

Once again, please voice your objections to this intrusion upon one of the most beautiful and pristine natural preserves in Central New Jersey by clicking on "comments" at the bottom of this blog entry and submitting your thoughts!

Griggstown Native Grasslands Preserve

With your permission, your objections will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities in Montgomery, Franklin Township, and Trenton. You will be heard! The construction of cell towers in historic and environmentally sensitive areas have been successfully fought without interruption to cell users service as they we constructed in more appropriate areas.

-Jan ten Broeke

May 9: COME SHARE YOUR IDEAS ABOUT MEETING THE CULTURAL & HISOTRICAL NEEDS OF SOMERSET COUNTY!!!

The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Heritage Trail Association invite you to participate in an open forum to exchange ideas, make recommendations, and recommendations, and reexamine how the cultural and heritage needs of Somerset County are currently being met, as well as to explore collaborative efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our common objectives!

DATE: Saturday, May 9
TIME: 9:00AM to Noon
PLACE: Van Horne House
941 East Main, Bridgewater
RSVP: Pre-Registration is Appreciated, Not Required
Register On-Line Here
INFO: (732) 356-8856
info@heritagetrail.org
PARKING: Behind the Target, 200 Promenade Blvd
Patriot Stadium lot, east side of Main St.

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED!

Among the topics that will be included on the agenda are:

• The needs survey conducted by the SCC&HC in 2006
• The Crossroads of the American Revolution Association and what that organization can offer the historic community and what we can offer them
• The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
• Signage for historical sites and historic routes
• Event marketing and communication with the public
• Educational programs

Should you have specific topics, projects, or ideas that pertain to the general history community, please let us know in advance so that they can be included on the agenda. To insure that every active historical group in Somerset County is represented, please consult with other members of your organization and encourage at least one member to join us. If you have materials to share with other participants, a display area will be provided for flyers, newsletters, event calendars, etc.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

April 6: BEAR AWARENESS SEMINAR!

Please join the Franklin Township Environmental Commission for a VERY important Seminar on Bear Awareness!

DATE: Monday, April 6
TIME: 7:30PM
PLACE: Council Chambers of the
Franklin Township Municipal Building
475 Demott Lane

The Meadows Foundation's Resolution Supporting The Millstone Valley Scenic Byway Corridor Plan

The Board of Directors of the Meadows Foundation submitted the following resolution to the Franklin Council to encourage its adoption. It will be on tomorrow night's (Tuesday October 14) agenda for adoption by the Franklin Township Council. The Council will meet at 7PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, 475 DeMott Lane. This meeting will be open to the public.

Resolution of Support for the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan

Date: October 8, 2008

The Board of Directors of the Meadows Foundation urges adoption of the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan to preserve and enhance Central New Jersey’s heritage, history and open space.

The Meadows Foundation will benefit from this consolidation since three of the historic properties under its stewardship, namely the Hageman House and Barns, Wyckoff-Garretson House, and the van Liew Suydam House fall within the Millstone Valley Scenic and Historic Corridor.

The Millstone Valley Scenic Byway Corridor has already been officially recognized by the New Jersey State Scenic Byway Program.

The Corridor Management Plan is needed to support National designation of the Byway, which would make Federal Highway Administration National Scenic Byway Program funds available for implementing the Plan’s recommendations.

Sincerely:
John Mullen
President of the Meadows Foundation


Click here for more information about the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway.

Millstone Valley Byway Meeting, Sept. 3

We hope you can all come to the Public Meeting:

• Monday, September 8, 2008, 7:30 pm to 9:30
• Griggstown Reformed Church’s Fellowship Hall 1065 Canal Road, Griggstown, NJ

This meeting has been organized by The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition, with the assistance of the consulting firm Stantec, to present the final version of the Corridor Management Plan that has been developed for the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway.

Also further information on the New Jersey Scenic Byways Program will be presented.

The Millstone Valley (Scenic/Historic ) Byway is corridor connecting fifteen historic districts, parks and nature preserves. It it approximately 28 miles in length and lies in the historic Millstone Valley located between Route 206 on the west and Route 1 on the east. The historic Delaware and Raritan runs through most of the byway with Canal Road on one side and River Road on the other. It was designated as a New Jersey Scenic Byway in 2005.

The purpose of this meeting is to present to the public the final version of the Corridor Management Plan that has been developed for the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway. The plan was a cooperative effort between the NJDOT and the Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition, Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer Counties, the D & R Canal Commission, the Townships of Franklin, Hillsborough, Princeton, Montgomery, the Boroughs of Millstone and Rocky Hill, the Canal Society of New Jersey, and several other interested organizations.

The corridor management plan is a written document in which the sponsor describes the goals, strategies and responsibilities for conserving and enhancing the byway’s most valuable qualities. It is developed collaboratively with all those who have an interest in the future of the area included in the byway corridor. It includes both a long-term vision for what this byway may become over time and also a short-term action plan. This plan was prepared with funding from a Federal Highway Administration grant through the National Scenic Byways Program. The grant was administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The byway management plan is needed in order to complete requirements for designation as a New Jersey Scenic Byway and to apply for designation as a National Scenic Byway.

This meeting will review background on the Byway Program and the process for becoming a National Scenic Byway in NJ.
It also provides an opportunity to discuss issues with representatives of NJDOT.

CD’s featuring the updated Corridor management Plan will be available.


For more information, please contact:

Cindy Bloom-Cronin
New Jersey Department of Transportation
Phone: 609.530.5676 Email : Cindy.Bloom-Cronin@dot.state.nj.us

OR

Jason Yadlovski
Stantec
Phone: 212-366-5600 Email: Jason.Yadlovski@stantec.com

OR

Liz Palius
President Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition
Phone: 908-874-3820 Email : SidPalius@comcast.net