Van Doren honored by county ag board

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Thursday November 20, 2008, 3:49 PM

Jo-an' Van Doren

FLEMINGTON -- Jo-an' Van Doren was honored by the Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture with its Distinguished Service Award.

Ms. Van Doren, a Raritan Township resident, has been interested in agriculture from her childhood. The daughter of local farmers Abram and Hermine Van Doren, she was a 4-H member and involved herself in many community projects. As a youngster, she would help her father by reaching up on tiptoe to milk the cows on their dairy farm.

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Karrow aims for Senate appointment

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday November 20, 2008, 11:35 AM

As expected, Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow of Flemington has jumped into the race to succeed Leonard Lance as state senator in the 23rd District.

Marcia Karrow

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Freeholders hoping to reassign workers

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday November 20, 2008, 11:26 AM

County employees could be shifted among departments and asked to do work not defined under their current job titles if the Freeholders can win approval for the cost- and job-saving option from the state. The board will meet with county Director of Human Resources Cheryl Weider and Administrator Cynthia Yard within the next two weeks to be briefed on what could be a six-month state Department of Personnel process.

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Lower gas prices keep us guessing

by Curtis Leeds / Hunterdon County Democrat

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 10:35 AM

Gasoline is selling for almost half of what it cost over the summer. Fuel oil is $2 a gallon less than at its peak. And all over Hunterdon, people are wondering how much more the prices will come down.

Even with the lower costs, though, they're looking harder at more fuel-efficient cars and trucks, dealers report.

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Nearly $1.7 Million In Aid Coming For County Roads

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 6:54 AM

Ten Hunterdon municipalities will get a total of $1,686,000 in state aid for road projects.

The state Department of Transportation said it will distribute $78.75 million statewide to fund street improvement, rehabilitation and safety projects in 372 New Jersey towns.

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Protestor at GOP office gets ticketed by police

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 3:47 PM

FLEMINGTON -- A man says he was unfairly harassed and given an undeserved ticket for disorderly conduct during an Oct. 30 protest against illegal immigration at Republican headquarters on the Route 202 circle.

Keith Fulton, 48, of Somerville said he cleared his protest with Chief George Becker ahead of time, but apparently the officers on duty weren't aware of the fact. He said he went into GOP

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Readers list more bad roads, corners

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Sunday November 16, 2008, 12:42 PM

Photo by Ben ScheetzIS ANYONE COMING? This railroad overpass on Route 605, where Queens Road in West Amwell Township becomes Sandy Ridge-Mount Airy Road in Delaware Township, worries Stockton resident Edward Regan, who says drivers like the one headed toward him, bound for Mount Airy, can't see if another vehicle is coming toward them as they head under the span.

The county is developing a list of the most hazardous intersections and stretches of county roads, hoping to fix some of the worst ones. So we invited our readers to make their own nominations. Even if some of the roads are under municipal or state control, it's still worthwhile to increase motorists' awareness of them.

If you would like to bring attention to a hazardous road or intersection in Hunterdon, e-mail us at letter@hcdemocrat.com or write to Box 32, Flemington 08822. Be sure to include your name and municipality of residence.

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Investigation pending in misfiring of gun at gym

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Sunday November 16, 2008, 6:41 AM

More than two years after a gun went off in a county undersheriff's locker at HealthQuest in Raritan Township, authorities are still mum on whether there was anything illegal in how it got there. The investigation continues in the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

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Katharine Errickson named a new prosecutor

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday November 15, 2008, 4:06 PM

Katharine Errickson, a former assistant county prosecutor, has been selected as an assistant prosecutor in the North Hunterdon Municipal Court as well as an alternate prosecutor in Raritan Township.

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Stone bridge to be replaced by county

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday November 14, 2008, 6:42 AM

TEWKSBURY TWP. -- An historic one-lane stone bridge along Fox Hill Road that was closed last month after being damaged in an unreported accident will be replaced by the county rather than simply re-paired as some neighbors re-quested. The Freeholders at their Nov. 6 meeting gave Roads and Bridges Director John Glynn their blessings to complete the design of the bridge. Mr. Glynn estimated the replacement will cost $35,000.

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Dilts is set to become DOT chief

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday November 14, 2008, 6:26 AM

Steve Dilts

Mr. Dilts was tapped to move up when Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri was appointed chief executive officer for the Schools Development Authority, the agency overseeing construction of schools in so-called Abbott districts.

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Lance's D.C. goal: A 'sensible center'

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday November 13, 2008, 1:56 PM

State Sen. Leonard Lance will be the first Hunterdon resident to go to Congress since James Pidcock, a Democrat from Whitehouse, from 1885 to 1889.

Mr. Lance said on Monday that he intends "to develop cordial relationships with every member of the House of Representatives, to the best of my ability."

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Gymnastics winners

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Thursday November 13, 2008, 12:23 PM

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Holt to try for Lance's senate seat

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday November 13, 2008, 10:08 AM

Freeholder Matthew Holt will test the waters for the state Senate seat that Leonard Lance will leave in January when he is sworn in to Congress.

Matt Holt

Assemblyman Michael Doherty of Warren County is pushing hard for the job, while Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow of Flemington has deferred entering the fray for now -- although she's expressed interest. She declined to talk about it last week, saying that time should be Sen. Lance's hour in the limelight.

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70,000 cast ballots here in Nov. 4 election

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Thursday November 13, 2008, 7:19 AM

An historic high number of voters cast ballots in the Nov. 4 general election in Hunterdon.
County Clerk Mary Melfi said unofficial figures, including provisional and emergency ballots, showed that 70,145 people participated. That's 80.2% of the eligible record-high registration of 87,459.

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Thank you Veterans

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 2:52 PM

Photo by Ben Scheetz

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New can advised for recycling

by Renee Kiriluk-Hill / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 2:09 PM

LAMBERTVILLE -- Residents are being asked to buy new recycling containers to fit the city's new recycling rules.

Now that single-stream, curbside collection is in effect, the city is advising residents the best way to wheel the heavy load to the curb for pickup is with a rolling container with a lifting bar and attached lid.

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County's mission: Keep roads black despite ice, snow

by Warren Cooper/ Hunterdon County Democrat

Sunday November 09, 2008, 6:03 AM

County roads ought to stay pretty clear this winter, no matter how harsh the weather. To fight the inevitable, the road department has filled its bins with more than 6,500 tons of rock salt and stockpiled 10,000 gallons of calcium chloride solution. That should keep help avoid the kind of hazardous road conditions predicted elsewhere, after shortage of the materials and dramatic price increases were reported nationwide.

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Readers cite more dangerous Hunterdon roads

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday November 08, 2008, 6:44 AM

Photo by Ben ScheetzLOSE THIS SIGN on Route 523 in Readington Township and Bryn Kolodziejski will have an easier time getting home at night. It encourages southbound traffic to pick up speed as it approaches Route 22 just when she's trying to turn left from the northbound lane onto Central Avenue.

We have invited readers to tell us about dangerous roads and intersections in Hunterdon County. The intent is to bring the bad spots to the attention of local officials, and also to alert motorists to places where extra caution and consideration need to be exercised. Here is another installment.

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Highlands towns can delay COAH deadline

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday November 07, 2008, 11:53 AM

Fourteen Hunterdon municipalities considering whether to throw their future in with Highlands region planning rules had the pot sweetened last week. Those who jump in will get another year to come up with a plan to build state-mandated affordable housing in their communities, they learned. And they probably would wind up having to build fewer units.

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Vacant Milford paper mill causes worry

by John Monteith / Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday November 07, 2008, 6:59 AM

MILFORD -- Officials of the federal Environmental Protection Agency have no idea how far exposed asbestos is traveling from the Curtis Specialty Papers property in Milford or what effect it might be having on community health.

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Hunterdon County Democrat online

by Rachael S. Brickman

Thursday November 06, 2008, 3:20 PM

To subscribe to the Hunterdon County Democrat call (908) 782-4747 x249.

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Swastikas mar election day

by Renee Kiriluk-Hill / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday November 06, 2008, 1:54 PM

DELAWARE TWP. -- The letters KKK and swastikas were splashed across a half-dozen Barack Obama campaign signs and on a roadway Monday evening, shocking and disturbing residents and officials.

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Voters approve open-space tax

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday November 06, 2008, 11:38 AM

After rejecting a state open-space ballot question last year, Hunterdon voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a referendum to make permanent the nine-year-old county open space tax. The levy was due to expire Dec. 31, 2009.

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Lance victory sets up fight for senate

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday November 06, 2008, 9:24 AM

Leonard Lance

State Sen. Lance, a Republican state legislator since 1991, overcame the Barack Obama-led Democratic landslide in the state and won a surprisingly large 51%-41% victory over Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender of Fanwood. The preliminary vote total was 142,004-116,171.

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Too young to vote; teens help at polls

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday November 04, 2008, 4:19 PM

Unable to cast a vote herself, 17-year-old Hunterdon Central High School senior Jenna Ingram spent seven hours Tuesday helping registered voters do just that at Case Middle School.

The Raritan Township resident is among about 85 county high school students, some as young as 16, who served as youth poll workers in a statewide program intended to boost young peoples' interest in the electoral process. They helped the county's 500 regular poll workers at polling stations throughout the county.

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Tax views differ in District 12 race

by Gene Robbins / Hunterdon County Democrat

Monday November 03, 2008, 6:11 AM

Republican challenger Alan Bateman is pushing his business experience as a way to keep government spending down and to lower taxes in his campaign to unseat Democrat Rush Holt in the 12th Congressional District.

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E. Amwell will get new bridges

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Sunday November 02, 2008, 12:10 PM

EAST AMWELL TWP. -- Township officials say they are surprised to learn that the county Roads, Bridges and Engineering Department intends to replace two bridges on Wertsville Road in the next two years.

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LINK fares could rise

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Sunday November 02, 2008, 6:59 AM

RARITAN TWP. -- Proposed fare increases for riders who use the county LINK bus system will be discussed at a public hearing set for Friday, Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the Human Services Department conference room in Building 3 of the county complex off Route 31, at the end nearest Wescott Drive.

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Foreclosures rising in Hunterdon, too

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Saturday November 01, 2008, 6:59 AM

With New Jersey ranked eighth in foreclosures nationwide, relatively wealthy Hunterdon is not immune.

More Hunterdon homes were sold at auction through sheriff's sales during the first three quarters of 2008 than in all of 2007, according to Undersheriff George Muller. With no end in sight for homeowners and the lenders who hold their mortgages, sales are on target to exceed last year's tally by 20% or more, he said.

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