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The Roseco Press
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Updated January 14 2012.                                                             ©2011, The Roseco Press

Welcome to our new Web site.   We've made a number of changes -- some major, some minor -- that we think help present our information better.   We've reduced the number of pages, and changed the organization of articles.  Most of the content from our former site has transferred here, so if you don't see something you've read before, it may be on another page.
We hope you like what you see.  As always, we're eager to hear your feedback

January News

Historic Bridges Preserved

County Clerk's Corner

Citizens of the Year, 2011

Letters to the Editor

Township Seeks Web Input

Hunting Season Continues

Notes from the Fire Official

Oldwick Fire Co. Serves You

Zion Lutheran Seeks Information

What's Your News?

January News

See our Recreation Page for this month's TAA Update as well as details on these stories:

Girls' Travel Softball;

TTA Reviews 2011;

WCTT News;

SHHRC Seeks Volunteers;

Textural Art Exhibit at D&R;

Landscapes on Exhibit at CCA; and more.

Our Environment Page has these stories:
 
 
Plus, there's lots more all over the site, so take a look around.

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Citizens of the Year Named
At the December 13th Tewksbury Township Committee meeting, Boy Scout Troop #199 in Oldwick was selected by Mayor Peter Melick and the Tewksbury Township Committee as the 2011 Tewksbury Citizens Of The Year.

citofyear.jpg

l–r: Tommy Koester, Daniel Higbee (Assistant Senior Patrol Leader), Mayor Peter Melick,
Banton Heithoff (Senior Patrol Leader), August Heithoff, Ken Short (Scoutmaster)

The proclamation read by Mayor Peter Melick cited Troop #199's long and distinguished history of community service within Tewksbury Township, the Troop’s history of instilling in its members the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law, helping to turn countless Tewksbury boys and young men into exemplary citizens.

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Historic Bridges Preserved

Tewksbury Township is pleased to learn that Hunterdon County has agreed to repair a deteriorating old circa-1890 stone arch bridge (T91) on Sutton Road near the intersection of Philhower Road.  John Glynn, Director of the County Roads, Bridges & Engineering Department informed Town Administrator, Jesse Landon, that the county has agreed to repair rather than replace this old bridge.  Work is reportedly planned for August.  A section of the wing wall was damaged by a vehicle and the underside of the arch is badly in need of repointing (cement repair).

Despite the absence of a comprehensive town plan, the Hunterdon County Department of Roads, Bridges& Engineering has been cooperative in preserving several bridges.  An historic iron latticework guard rail on Water Street was restored earlier this year.  The guardrail, near Cokesbury Road, had been damaged by a truck.  The county removed, repaired and repainted this fine old relic.  And the county has worked with the township to replace several damaged early 19th century bridges with designs appropriate for the area.

Tewksbury Township has approximately thirty-six stone arch bridges which are integral to the history and rural character of the township.  To help preserve such bridges, the township voted last year to add bridge oversight to the heretofore Scenic Roads Commission.  Many stone arch bridges have already been lost as a result of storm or vehicular damage.  The county and township are regularly confronted with the decision to repair such bridges or replace with more modern structures.  The advisory Scenic Roads& Bridges Commission (SR&BC) believes that such decisions have to be tempered with a realistic recognition of the county budget constraints, location in historic districts, aesthetic contribution, and magnitude of damage as well as traffic considerations.  Members of the commission admit that their bias is to save the majority of all stone arch bridges, but recognize that some bridges may eventually need to be sacrificed.  They are seeking to develop more data on the age and historic priorities for the numerous stone arch bridges.  They are planning on adding photos of many such bridges on the town web site to encourage input from the community.

Tewksbury citizen group Alliance for Historic Hamlets, led by George Cassa, sought and obtained a 2009 Small Grant from the New Jersey Highland Coalition for the purpose of engaging an historical professional to inventory and document the historic bridges in Tewksbury Township.  Architectural Historian Nancy Zerbe reports that many of the stone arch bridges are circa 1850.  SR&BC is using that study as a template to continue the development of a pragmatic list of the most important bridges that require
preservation above others and share findings with the County.

The county has developed a unique process for jacking up and solidifying stone arch bridges.  The restoration of the Delaware Township Dunkard Church stone arch bridge employed this extraordinary concept to preserve another important historic bridge within the county.  This technique will reportedly be used for the Sutton Bridge.  Proponents have suggested that such repair may be less expensive than modern replacement in many instances.

For Tewksbury residents having an interest in furthering these programs, the Scenic Roads & Bridges Commission is seeking to fill several commission vacancies.  Those interested in joining the commission should contact Township Clerk Roberta Brassard.
Kurt Rahenkamp, Chairman
Tewksbury Scenic Roads & Bridges Commission

Letters to the Editor
[most recent posts first - editor].

Dear Editor:

I want to express my sincere gratitude to the voters of Tewksbury for re-electing me to the Township Committee on November 8.  If you voted for me, I thank you for showing your trust and faith in me.  For those who did not vote for me, I hope that I will be able to gain your trust and support.  I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Township Committee to make Tewksbury the very best it can be with lower taxes, less spending and a high quality of life.

I will, as I always have, work my hardest for ALL of the residents of Tewksbury Township.  We may many issues facing us over the next 3 years, but working together we can solve them.  I urge residents to attend Township Committee meetings on the 2 & 4ndth Tuesdays of the month at 730PM in the Mountainville Meeting Hall and express your views.  As always you are free to contact me via my Township email scvandoren@tewksburytwp.net with any question, issue or concern.

I wish all of the residents of Tewksbury a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012.

Shaun C. Van Doren

Tewksbury Township Committeemen

-posted 1/14/12 - editor

County Clerk's Corner

RUNNING FOR LOCAL OFFICE
Course Date:    Saturday, January 28
                          Snow Date Saturday, February 4
Time:            9:00AM–12:00PM
Place:            Hunterdon County Library
                      Route 12 County Complex
Cost:            No Charge

School systems and local government depend on dedicated residents who run for School Board and local government.  This workshop will guide you through the steps needed for placement on the ballot as a candidate.  Topics covered include qualifications required to run, how and where to file a petition, campaign finance reports and filing deadlines.  The Workshop is free but registration is required.  To register, phone 908-788-1214 or e-mail countyclerk@co.hunterdon.nj.us.

SPRING BREAK 2012 PASSPORT HOURS
Get ready for Spring Break by applying for your passport now.  Processing time is currently 4-6 weeks.  We will be open on the following Saturdays in early 2012: January 7 & 21, February 11 & 25, March 10 &  24, from 9:00AM–1:00PM.  Photos may be taken on-site and no appointment is required.

HUNTERDON COUNTY VETERAN ID CARD
Veterans can file their DD-214 Discharge papers with their County Clerk’s office.  Filing this form affords the veteran the security of knowing that his/her records are permanently recorded.  All records are confidential.

We offer a County Veteran Identification Card that provides the Veteran’s name, address and file number of the recorded DD-214.  This service is FREE OF CHARGE to all honorably discharged Hunterdon County Veterans.  This card can be an easy reference that may be used to obtain a certified copy of your discharge papers if a situation arises where they can not be located quickly.

You can request a certified copy of your DD-214 online.

For more information,  please contact me by e-mail, or by telephone 908-788-1214.

 

Mary H. Melfi

Hunterdon County Clerk

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Township Seeks Web Input
The Tewksbury Township Committee is seeking input, comments, and suggestions from Township residents regarding the current format and use of the Township's website, www.tewksburytwp.net. 

Please provide any comments you may have regarding the website, how its is currently used and any suggested changes you would like to see to Committeeman Louis DiMare.

Hunting Season Continues

The Tewksbury Township Deer Management Program began its 2010-2011 hunting Season September 11th.  Dates for various hunting seasons are listed below.  Please note that the Tewksbury Township Deer Management Program takes place in Township parks.  The Sunday restriction does not apply to hunting on private lands.

• Permit Muzzleloader: Nov. 28, Dec. 2, 5-10, 12, 13, 17 --30, 2011 and Dec. 31 ‘11 – Feb 11, 2012 (no Sundays).

• Permit shotgun:  December 31 – February 11, 2012 (no Sundays).

• Winter Bow and Arrow: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays January 1 –February 18, 2012.

Remember to wear bright colors should you choose to use the Township parks during hunting season, there may be hunters present.  Please respect the rights of hunters.

The Tewksbury Police Department encourages residents to phone the Police Dispatcher, at 439-2503, if any illegal hunting activities are observed.

Note: the Tewksbury Township Deer Management Program takes place in Township parks.  The Sunday restriction does not apply to hunting on private or County lands.  - editor

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Notes from the Fire Official
OPEN BURNING PERMIT REQUIRED
With the arrival of Fall comes the season of agricultural open burning and recreational bonfires.
 
The New Jersey State Forest Fire Services requires a permit for all types of burning, in addition to a Type 1 Fire Safety Permit, required from the Township of Tewksbury, in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. Information and permit applications are available at the Municipal Building located at 169 Old Turnpike Road.

FIRE/SAFETY INSPECTIONS REQUIRED
The State of New Jersey requires a Certificate of Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide Detector and Fire Extinguisher Inspection prior to the closing of a sale of residence and also prior to a change of tenant in a rental property.  To schedule an inspection, apply at the Tewksbury Township Administration Building, 169 Old Turnpike Road.

A closing cannot occur without the Certificate of Inspection.  A fine may be issued if a tenant moves in prior to the inspection, in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.


Tom Anderson
Tewksbury Township Fire Official

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Oldwick Fire Company Serves You
Established in 1938, the Oldwick Fire Company (OFC) currently responds to 150 calls per year.   This volunteer organization of thirty-five members relies on its two pumper trucks, a tanker/pumper, and a brush truck to serve Tewksbury Township.

Monthly meetings are held the first Monday of the month at 8:00
PM at the firehouse, on Oldwick Road (rt 523), south of Oldwick.  Their office phone number is 439-2514 (dial 911 for emergencies). New Members are always welcome.

BANQUET HALL OPEN
The Oldwick Fire Company’s new banquet hall is now available to host your next event. The facility can handle events up to 200 people.  The banquet hall is suitable for weddings, business meetings, organization or club meetings, birthday parties, instructional seminars, or classes such as karate, dance etc.

The banquet hall is in the lower level of the Oldwick Fire House, at the intersection of Routes 517 and 523, and offers beautiful woodland views in its surprisingly secluded setting.

For more information, or to book your event, phone 439-2514, or drop a note to:
Oldwick Fire Company
attn Banquet Hall Committee
PO Box 83
Oldwick, NJ 08858.

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Zion Lutheran Seeks Information

Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2014, and is now compiling its extensive archives into a database that will be accessible on its Web site.  Among its many historical documents are the church’s charter from King George III, and 1749 deeds from Ralph Smith, the primary landholder of “Smithfield”, renamed “New Germantown” in the 1750s, and then “Oldwick” during World War I.

The church’s Historical Committee is seeking to identify additional historical documents or photographs that can be added to the database. For example: a steeple, added in 1854, was blown down in 1888, but the church has been unable to find a photograph of it.  If any readers have early documents or photographs that the church could copy, please contact the Historical Committee at:
Zion Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 41
Oldwick, NJ 08858, telephone 439-2040.

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What's Your News?

The Tewksbury Times--on paper and online--is ready to help your organization publicize its activities. Many Tewksbury residents look to The Times to keep them informed about local happenings, and community groups rely on us to help them get the word out.
The deadline for next month's issue of The Tewksbury Times (on paper) is always the 15th of this month. Notices can be e-mailed to us or sent by US Mail to:

PO Box 434
Oldwick, NJ 08858


The deadline for The Tewksbury Times--Online is rolling. Announcements of upcoming events or activities may be e-mailed to us at any time, and will be added to this site at our earliest chance.

We're very interested in hearing from you! Whether you like what you see or have ideas for improvements, your thoughts are important to us. We'd also love to hear of any links you think we should add that would be of interest to residents of Tewksbury or visitors to the township. You can always GetEdwin@TewksburyNJ.com.

Please see our Letters Policy for submissions guidelines before writing to us.

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Letters, articles, ideas, questions, advertising inquiries? E-mail: GetEdwin@TewksburyNJ.com