Editor's note: The following letter is written regarding an event that would have been a fundraiser for the English barn and installation of professional gallery lighting at the Farmstead Arts Center in Basking Ridge. Dear Friend of the Farmstead, After much discussion and thought the Friends of the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead decided to postpone Light the Way which was scheduled for December 8.  The damage sustained on the Farmstead grounds after Hurricane Sandy caused us to change the date and venue. We soon learned that due to other commitments and the personal losses of our vendors …

To the Editor: As a South Finley resident, I have been closely following the “Ridge High Traffic Problem”, and began to pay even greater attention after the Board of Education published the results of its traffic study in June. Since then, I have attended all BOE and Township Committee (TC) meetings and have addressed each group on several occasions, orally and in writing. I take issue with several recent comments by Patch readers. Based on my experiences and observations, as well as media reports throughout the better part of the year, I have learned or concluded that: Ridge High’s Principal…

Dear Editor, I would like to weigh in on the Ridge High School (Ridge) busing issue. I fear that the best solution to the nightmarish morning traffic around Ridge — paving the access route from the Municipal Complex (MC) to Ridge for one-way bus traffic — will continue to be ignored by an inefficient Bernards Township Committee (TC). The frustrating busing and traffic issue surrounding Ridge and Homestead Village is well known. In March, Homestead Village residents asked the TC to consider linking the MC to Ridge. Paving the existing gravel road between the MC and Ridge for bus drop-off makes…

The following is an open letter to the Bernards Township Committee, dated Oct. 12. Esteemed members of the Bernards Township Committee: As I write this letter I am extremely perplexed. It was this time last year that I followed news articles about the TC’s  need to preserve the quality of life for the residents that border the Bamboo Grille.  As I recall, great expense (attorney’s fees) was spent fighting for the rights of a few residents due to a noise violation. Quality of life was mentioned, right to quality of life, etc. It is time to take the same gusto and address the problem of traffic…

To the Editor, We are Homestead Village residents writing in regards to the disastrous rerouting of Ridge buses through Homestead Village that began last spring a never ending discussion of traffic problems. We have attended both BOE and Bernards Township meetings, have asked many questions to only hear the same empty response — we are working on the problem. We have been patient. But our patience has run out and we are extremely angered that this dangerous situation has continued to go on into the new school year. We feel that we have been misled and strung along as a community for way too …

To the editor, As a resident of Homestead Village, I understand that I am biased toward finding a solution for the long-standing traffic issue at Ridge High School. A small, quiet neighborhood is no place to reroute 27 buses and the Board of Education seems to be in agreement and working towards implementing a solution within the confines of the school property. My concern is that any solution that is restricted to the existing school property is in no way sustainable given how quickly our community grows. The proposed solution of widening the health department driveway to allow for a left …

To the Editor, During the months of June and July, Brighton together with its Brighton Collectibles store in the Bridgewater Commons Mall and its other retailers nationwide rallied in support of arts programming for kids. The promotion generated over $1 million. With this valuable mission in mind of giving America’s next generation of artists in communities across the country a bright future, Brighton selected The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster, NJ as the local recipient organization for this wonderful win-win promotion.  Brighton created a limited edition stylish silver Americana …

To the Editor, Our Moral Compass:I am proud to be a citizen of Bernards Township and warmly welcoming the new mosque for the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge on Church Street in Liberty Corner. What a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves and our children that our country was built on the right of religious freedom. Our forefathers understood clearly that for a new democracy to work and to work well, that religiosity was a crucial pillar. Democracy works because diversity is embraced and we as citizens have a strong moral compass. When my moral compass waivers, I can reach out to …

To the editor, I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, who lost her 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She had an inspiring, accomplished career and is an icon in our nation’s history.Tragically, for those who have been touched by pancreatic cancer, 17 months is an exception, as 74 percent of patients die within the first year of diagnosis. Perhaps what is worse is that pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which the relative five year survival rate, of just 6 percent, has not improved substantially in over 40 years …

Editor's Note: The following is an announcement from the Notables Singers, a Basking Ridge-based group of singers who perform American classic tunes in a variety of venues, primarily in Somerset and Morris counties. The singers rehearse weekly from September through June at Ridge Oak Senior Housing in Basking Ridge. Dear Editor:   This is to inform you that two New Jersey high school seniors – Isabel C. Rogers from Morristown High School and Michelle Bonzani from Point Pleasant Borough High School – have been selected as recipients of the 2012 Notables Singers Scholarships. Both plan to …

Editor's Note: Emie Williams, 15, is a Basking Ridge resident earning her Gold Award by collecting donations for veterans at the Veterans Administration NJ Health Care System at Lyons. As part of that effort, she said she will place red boxes in Basking Ridge before the Memorial Day parade on Monday, and asks that donations be placed inside. She said that a box also will be placed for a few weeks outside her home at 86 Woods End Drive. She is a sophomore at Gill St. Bernard's School in Peapack-Gladstone. To the Editor, Memorial Day is traditionally a day to honor the veterans who have given …

Dear Editor: I had an idea a few months back to use my birthday as an excuse to get some ladies together to raise money for a charity. I thought I would find a cause, have a cocktail and support a worthy organization. Knowing I would need a little help in executing this idea, I contacted Deborah Naude of "Just The Help You Need." She is a local event planner and she immediately jumped on board, free of charge. That was my first indication that this was going to be a great night. I've always wanted to do something to "make a difference" in the lives of women. I feel that I've been so blessed, …

Editor's Note: David Larsen, a businessman from Tewksbury, is opposing incumbent Leonard Lance, in this June's Republican primary election to be included on the ballot in November to represent New Jersey's 7th district in U.S. Congress. The 7th district will next year represent all of the Somerset Hills and Long Hill Township, after redistricting will remove Bernards Township from the 11th district, currently represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen. To the editor, Government regulatory burdens are destroying job creation in America today. As a result, the private sector economy has lost 2 million…

Editor's note: Shannon McNamara of Basking Ridge founded SHARE in Africa while a student at Ridge High School. This year, she is a a freshman at Rice University, in Houston, Texas, majoring in Women's Studies, according to the SHARE website. The organization, started in 2008 when McNamara was 15, began when after a visit to Tanzania that led to 33,000 donated books being sent to schools for girls in that country. The organization now focuses on providing a scholarship program for girls in Tanzania, the website says. Dear Editor: Thank you for publicizing "Cupcakes for a Cause," a SHARE in …

Editor's Note: Local resident Michael Sommer has consistently supported the efforts of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in its efforts to advocate for research and patient support as well as seeking a cure for the disease, which took his father. To the Editor, April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and I would like to take a moment to sincerely thank all of our volunteers from the Northern New Jersey Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, …

Editor's Note: The Somerset Hills Historical Society has given periodic historic walking tours of downtown Basking Ridge in previous years, and is looking to add personal anecdotes to the tour presentation. The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills is based in the Brick Academy at 15 W. Oak Street in Basking Ridge center. Dear Editor, The Somerset Hills Historical Society, located at the Brick Academy in Basking Ridge, is looking for “old stories, tales or recollections” of Basking Ridge from as early as 1850 through 1960. The reason for the “tales” is to add further interest to the local …

Editor's Note: The following is from resident Douglas Wicks, addressing the Bernards Township Committee, and regarding the introduction of an ordinance to allocate another $50,000 to repair a hockey rink closed for almost two years at Harry Dunham Park. The ordinance, proposed on Tuesday night, would bring the maximum total for the project to $175,000. Township Committee members and the township engineer have disputed Mr. Wick's conclusions. However, Township Committeeman John Carpenter asked that information for why the township has decided not to use tiles at this time be detailed when the …

Editor's Note: Township officials recently said the municipality will soon bring up again consideration of how to repair the closed roller rink at Harry Dunham Park off Somerville Road in the township's Liberty Corner section. The township twice has failed to obtain acceptable bids for the job of repairing the cracked rink.A copy of this letter was sent to the Bernards Township Committee, Township Engineer Tom Timko and the Bernards Township Recreation Committee, according to the letter writer, Douglas Wicks. To the editor. A recent article indicated that the Harry Dunham roller rink repairs …

Editor's Note: "Caring for Kathy" was planned more than a month in advance at a fundraiser to help defray the costs of cancer treatment for Kathy Kelleher, a resident of the township for 30 years and, until recently, a teacher at the Tree House Child Caring Center in Basking Ridge. The event was sold out shortly before last Friday. Dear Editor: On behalf of everyone who worked on the Caring for Kathy: a Night at the Beach fundraiser that was held on Friday, March 2 at Saint James School, I thank you and the staff at The Basking Ridge Patch for helping us to publicize the event. The articles …

Editor's Note: The following is a letter from U.S. Congressional candidate David Larsen of Oldwick, who is running in this June's primary election against Republican incumbent Leonard Lance, who represents New Jersey's 7th district in the U.S. Congress. Bernards Township currently is represented by 11th district Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen. However, Bernards Township will be redistricted to the 7th district, along with the remainder of the Somerset Hills, as of 2013, and will be voting for 7th district candidates in this year's election. Dear Editor,   America is brimming with the …