Ridge Graduation, School Finally Ends, Meetings This Week

This was no ordinary school year, and it's not over yet.

But finally, Ridge High School seniors are due to graduate this Wednesday night, June 26, certainly pushing the limit for late high school graduations throughout the state.

Wednesday also is due to be the last official day of school for Bernards Township students — except, of course, for Oak Street Elementary School students, whose school year extends until Thursday.

That's because Oak Street School was closed for a full day last September, early in the school year, while the road at the entrance was dug up to repair a water main break that left the school dry. 

And this was no year with spare make-up days.

and requiring other school holidays to be shortened or eliminated. 

Having survived all that, the Ridge seniors are due to take to Lee Field at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, rain or shine. Only is weather qualifies as severe will students move into the new gym, in which case each graduate will receive two tickets per family, according to the school district. 

The Senior Bash, a final get-together for the Class of 2013 designed to be alcohol free, is scheduled to begin after the ceremony, with the graduates to be transported to the Funplex in East Hanover.

Meanwhile, before that big night, the Bernards Board of Education is scheduled to hold its last meeting of the year, at 7 p.m. on Monday at the William Annin Middle School.

The Bernards Beautification Task Force also is scheduled to meet on Monday, at 7 p.m. at the Bernards municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane in Basking Ridge.

And the Bernards Township Committee is scheduled to meet at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the municipal building.

Tuesday's agenda includes a continuing discussion of whether the Bamboo Grille restaurant and bar should be allowed to hold outdoors music until 11 p.m. on Thursdays. The noise of outdoor music has been a bone of contention with neighbors in the past.

The Township Committee is also scheduled to hear Township Engineer Tom Timko's presentation on stormwater mangement rules, and introduction of an ordinance to appropriate $365,000 for various capital improvements.

This Thursday night, the Bernards Township Planning Board is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. at the municipal building. 

As an alternative on Thursday night, you can attend Music at Moorland, an elegant evening held at Moorland Farm in Far Hills to raise money for Somerset Medical Center. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks.