Sci-Fi Author Talk

by Hunterdon County Democrat

Saturday October 11, 2008, 2:21 PM

RARITAN TWP. -- Author Jonathan Maberry, multiple-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, will speak at the Hunterdon County Library on Route 12 on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. A book sale and signing will follow the lecture.

The Doylestown author will speak about his recent release, Zombie CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead which follows the case of the first zombie attack and collects evidence to secure the nation's security.

With over 250 interviews from real-world experts in law enforcement, forensic science, medicine, the law, psychology, the military and philosophy, the reader will see how the real world would react, research and respond to an actual zombie uprising.

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Dog Lost One Month; Found 25 Miles Away

by Sue Sharpe / Hunterdon County Democrat

Saturday October 11, 2008, 11:55 AM

CLINTON TWP. -- Amy Lusty spent months planning her high school's 20th reunion and looked forward to an evening with former classmates in Michigan. But instead of reminiscing with old friends that night, she was searching for another old pal -- her lost dog, Nikki.

Thanks to the help of many people in the county, says Ms. Lusty, Nikki's story has a happy ending. The 6-year-old German shepherd was found 25 miles away in mid-September, exactly a month after escaping from her Allerton Road home.

The software developer had been in Michigan for several days when she got a call from neighbor Bridgett Thompson that Nikki had slipped out through a door after becoming frightened by fireworks. Ms. Lusty and her sister Kari headed back to Hunterdon.

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Lambertville House Tour Highlights Historic Places

by Hunterdon County Democrat

Saturday October 11, 2008, 9:25 AM

LAMBERTVILLE -- Peek inside six private homes and visit a variety of public spaces, from private dining rooms at a longtime restaurant to a Victorian-era firehouse, on the 26th Lambertville Historical Society Autumn House Tour on Sunday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Among the homes are the former 1st Ward School, built in 1878; an Italianate Victorian with tin ceilings, architectural molding and pine flooring; and a Federal-style home restored and adapted to feature views of the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

At the Swan Hotel restaurant, visitors on the tour can see second-floor dining rooms decorated with regional art and collectibles. The First Presbyterian Church, built in three stages from 1855 to 1884, is an example of Greek Revival architecture, with stained glass windows, oak pews and a paneled ceiling.

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Potential Pie

by Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday October 10, 2008, 2:53 PM

Nature Programs

by Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday October 10, 2008, 2:22 PM

SOLEBURY TWP., Pa. -- Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve will offer three programs on Saturday.

Trees of Bowman's Hill begins at 10 a.m. with a slide show followed by a walk that ends at 1 p.m. It costs $10 for preserve members, $15 for others. Registration is suggested.

At 3:30 p.m., help your child reconnect with nature led by Naturalist Pam Newitt. She will demonstrate activities to inspire you and your child, then walk out to the trails to enjoy nature.

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A planting takes place at Dobozynski Farm in Readington Township

by Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday October 10, 2008, 2:09 PM

Theater Group, JCC Sponsor Talent Nights

by Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday October 10, 2008, 8:22 AM

RARITAN TWP. -- The Flemington-Raritan Community Theatre will host a series of talent nights at the Jewish Community Center beginning Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. with a "Monologue Night." The JCC is off Route 523 near the Municipal Building.

Proceeds from this show will benefit the Flemington Area Food Pantry and the theater group.
Those interested in performing a monologue on Oct. 11 or any other act for upcoming dates, can call Kathleen Weaver at 782-2836. Other dates in the series will be Nov. 8 and Dec. 13, which will include singers and comedians.

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Chief Tuccamirgan Honored Saturday

by Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday October 09, 2008, 6:23 PM

FLEMINGTON -- Fleming Castle Museum will celebrate Tuccamirgan Day on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This is the first of an annual event planned by the museum to educate people about the Lenape tribe and its chief, Tuccamirgan, who greeted early settlers with friendship and aided settlement of the Flemington area.

The day begins at Borough Hall on Court Street and Park Avenue with a presentation by historian Beverly Friend, who will discuss the Lenape culture and how the natives lived when colonists arrived in the 18th century. Reservations are suggested for this talk, since space in Borough Hall is limited.

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A photo from Hunterdon days gone by...

by Karen Sheridan / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday October 07, 2008, 4:00 PM

Each week the Hunterdon County Democrat features a photo from Hunterdon's past.

Do you have an antique photograph you'd like to share? Have you ever recognized someone unidentified in one of our photos? Let us know. For details on the Bygone Days photo series call Democrat librarian Karen Sheridan at 782-4747 ext. 664 (be prepared to leave a message) or e-mail letters@hcdemocrat.com.

Ugliest dog aids rescuers

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Tuesday October 07, 2008, 2:56 PM

CALIFON -- Elwood, winner of the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog Contest, will return to the Califon Book Shop on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.

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Author puts parents in charge

by Mary Heffner / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday October 07, 2008, 6:00 AM

A child psychologist who used to practice in Flemington was be back in Hunterdon on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Clinton Book Shop signing copies of her new book, Beyond Time-Out: From Chaos to Calm.

A former resident of Whitehouse Station, Dr. Grosshans practiced on Main Street in Flemington for over 10 years. Clinical social worker Janet H. Burton worked with Dr. Grosshans in her practice during this time and became a contributor to the book. "Jan helped shape the ideas," the author said.

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Barn in Hoffman Park may be falling down

by Lillian Schupe / Hunterdon County Democrat

Monday October 06, 2008, 6:46 AM

TEWKSBURY TWP. -- The fate of the barn at the Christie Hoffman Farm is uncertain once again. A recent inspection found structural problems.

According to the report, which was discussed by the Township Committee Sept. 23, the part of the barn that connects to the silo may be close to collapsing. Deterioration of another wall could lead to the barn's collapse if it is not addressed soon. No estimate of repair costs was given.

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Church recreating lunches from 1935

by Renee Kiriluk-Hill / Hunterdon County Democrat

Sunday October 05, 2008, 6:00 AM

FLEMINGTON -- For six weeks in the winter of 1935, borough streets were teeming with legal minds, journalists, stars and the curious, all hungry for the latest twist in The Trial of the Century... and a good, hot meal. A block away from the courthouse on Main Street, members of what was then the Flemington Methodist Episcopal Church decided they could fill that need and raise some funds doing so.

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Varied quilts, projects on view at Prallsville

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday October 04, 2008, 6:49 AM

STOCKTON -- The Courthouse Quilters Guild presents its biennial quilt show tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Prallsville Mills on Route 29.

More than 200 traditional, contemporary, children's and antique quilts will be on display. Attractions will include quilt-related vendors, food vendors, a guild boutique, door prizes, demonstrations, a queen-size quilt raffle and a mini-quilt raffle.

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Play is early Halloween thriller

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Friday October 03, 2008, 6:45 AM

Start the Halloween season off with the delightfully chilling tale of a young girl with homicidal tendencies.

Oldwick Community Players presents Maxwell Anderson's Bad Seed on Oct. 3, 4, 10 & 11 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 5 and 12 at 3 p.m. The performances will be in the Fellowship Hall of the High Bridge United Methodist Church, 40 Church St., High Bridge. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and $25 for a family of up to five members. For information, reservations and directions, call (866) 215-8201 or go to www.oldwickplayers.org. Continue reading "Play is early Halloween thriller" »

Equine art show pulls Hunterdon talent

by Tammy McKillip / Hunterdon Observer

Thursday October 02, 2008, 6:31 PM

Flemington artist Xochitle (Shelia) Barnes has been painting horses for about as long as she can remember. The daughter of a Mexican mural painter and a German art student, she was born in New York City in the 1940s and remembers seeing and falling in love with her first horse when she was just a little girl. A lifetime of marriage, kids, part-time jobs and "dabbling" later, the 65 year-old has finally come home to her first love and is now the founding director of the New Jersey Equine Artist Association--a group that supports and exhibits equine art from local and international artists.

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HMC nurses praised with magnet award

by Matt DeBlass / Hunterdon County Democrat

Thursday October 02, 2008, 10:39 AM

RARITAN TWP. -- The nursing program at Hunterdon Healthcare System has been recognized as among the best in the United States by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Hunterdon Healthcare, which includes Hunterdon Medical Center and associated practices, has been awarded the Magnet designation, an honor achieved by only about 5% of hospitals.

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'Trial of the Century' returns Oct. 4-26

by By John Curran / Hunterdon County Democrat

Sunday September 28, 2008, 11:15 AM

FLEMINGTON -- The Trial of the Century returns to Flemington next month, bringing the old county courthouse back to life with re-enactments of the 1935 trial of Bruno Hauptmann, accused of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby.

Continue reading "'Trial of the Century' returns Oct. 4-26" »

Jewish High Holiday services with Chabad

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday September 27, 2008, 4:48 PM

CLINTON -- Chabad of Hunterdon County has scheduled services and programs for the High Holiday.

Beginning Monday, services, children's programs and holiday luncheons and dinners celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be held at the Holiday Inn Select on Route 173 in Clinton. Chabad is at 90 Beaver Ave., Clinton Township. Membership is not required to attend the High Holiday festivities.

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'Ghost Bike' is memorial to Readington bicyclist

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday September 27, 2008, 6:17 AM

TEWKSBURY TWP. -- A haunting memorial to a bicyclist killed by a truck has been set up on Oldwick Road (Route 523) by a friend of his widow. It is a "ghost bike" -- a bicycle painted white and chained in place with an explanatory sign.

The Tewksbury ghost bike commemorates the death of Michael Grieco, 72, of Readington Township who was killed at that site in 2006 by a box truck driven by an unlicensed man from Passaic. Mr. Grieco was wearing a helmet, but died at the scene of multiple traumatic injuries.

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Budding storybook author seeks votes

by Mary Heffner / Hunterdon County Democrat

Friday September 26, 2008, 1:52 PM

WEST AMWELL TWP. -- The story of a young zebra on a quest to find a birthday present for his mother also led township resident Lois Castellano on a quest to win a book contract.

She is one of 10 finalists in the ABC Children's Book Competition.

Zebra Berries for Mommy was chosen out of about 150 submissions in the nationwide competition. The submissions were judged and narrowed to 10 finalists. The winner will be decided after the online voting period that opened Sunday and closes Saturday, Oct. 5 on the contest Web site. Voting is open to the public and the winner will be announced on Oct. 20.

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Flying pumpkins at festival

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Friday September 26, 2008, 12:37 PM

UNION TWP. -- The Flying Pumpkin Festival will be held at Peaceful Valley Orchards on Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to benefit America's Grow-a-Row, which produces food for the hungry.

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New class has women taking off their dancing shoes

by Mary Heffner / Hunterdon Observer

Thursday September 25, 2008, 6:16 AM

A group of barefooted women are swinging their hips across the wooden floor of the large auditorium in the Senior Center in Raritan Township as they wait for fitness instructor Carol Heffler's next set of directions. They're part of a unique fitness class called Nia.

"Nia is a very unique workout program, it is a combination of dance and martial arts," said Heffler.

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Local artists ready for festival

by Curtis Leeds / Hunterdon County Democrat

Wednesday September 24, 2008, 6:07 AM

BLOOMSBURY -- The Bloomsbury Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday. More than 80 artists will descend on the borough with creations that feature watercolor, clay, jewelry, mixed media, photography, wood and more.

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75 Years Ago- Trial results in execution

by John Curran / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday September 23, 2008, 5:00 PM

About a year before Bruno Hauptmann was arrested in connection with the Lindbergh kidnapping, another alleged immigrant "slayer" was sentenced to die in the electric chair, the Democrat reported on Oct. 5, 1933. His murder was committed in Lambertville.

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Father's dream gets son to try acting

by Patrick Pizzuti / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday September 23, 2008, 12:53 PM

Several years ago, when Tom Wardach's son Alexander expressed an interest in acting, Mr. Wardach encouraged him, confessing that he'd wanted to be an actor all his life.

The response he got from his 7-year-old changed his life dramatically. "Then why aren't you an actor?" Alexander replied.

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75 Years Ago: Missing county records found in Frenchtown

by Curtis Leeds / Hunterdon County Democrat

Tuesday September 23, 2008, 6:43 AM

The Democrat noted the death of 78-year-old Eliza Apgar of Frenchtown 75 years ago, and reported that her passing could only complicate the problem that had brought her to prominence just 15 months earlier.

The county had lost the records of its Freeholder meeting minutes for the period from 1798 to 1864. It conducted an exhaustive search to find them. They were considered "missing links" in Hunter-don County's history, but all efforts by county employees to find the minutes proved futile. Eventually, the quest was abandoned.

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Seniors cry foul over plan to move bocce

by Warren Cooper / Hunterdon County Democrat

Monday September 22, 2008, 12:03 PM

Two controversial county communication towers to be built in Raritan Township are unlikely to be erected this year. County Purchasing Director John Davenport rejected the first batch of bids. He won't be ready to present new proposals to the Freeholders until next month. Meanwhile, a group of seniors are objecting to the location of the tower to be placed along Route 31.

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Bloomsbury art and craft festival

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff

Saturday September 20, 2008, 12:25 PM

BLOOMSBURY -- The borough's tree-lined streets will host the ninth annual Bloomsbury Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27 and 28. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

The event draws more than 80 artists and crafters from across New Jersey and as far away as Florida and Oklahoma. Some exhibitors are local and only have to travel a few blocks to set up their wares. It's the same for those who come as visitors -- some are local, others come from afar.

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Hampton woman starts 'reel' life at 50

by Tammy McKillip / Hunterdon Observer

Friday September 19, 2008, 3:42 PM

Independent film actress and star of the new film Silent, Gilda DeMartino had already had a full life when she turned 50. The Chicago native -- an Italian instructor, writer and translator -- had followed her husband around the country, as his career took the couple from her hometown, to Cincinnati, Ohio, to Florida and finally, to Hampton, Hunterdon County. But just when many people start to believe that their most interesting days are behind them, DeMartino said she decided that "the big 5-0" was going to be a turning point in her life-- an excuse to live it up and do whatever she wanted.

"Some people think once they hit 50 that life is over, but for me, I just decided to start a whole new life. I said I was going to do things that I had never done before. I said, 'I'm going to start acting!' Moving to New Jersey and turning 50 was the start of a whole new everything, and it is very exciting for me."

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