First Duck Race and Arts Festival, Mosque Hearing Continues This Week

The township-owned which opened in 2010 at the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead off King George Road, has been making steady efforts to draw more area residents to its events, exhibitions and programs — and this Saturday could be the biggest draw yet.

The Farmstead, centered in an historic farmhouse along the Passaic River, has scheduled its first Farmstead Duck Races and Art Festival for noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, at 450 King George Road.

The family-oriented day will include arts and crafts, a silent auction of more than 40 pieces of artworks, food and music. Then, at 3 p.m., more than 1,000 rubber ducks will be launched into the Passaic River, competing for a $500 grand prize.

Ducks now are for sale for $5 each, or for "teams" of six for $25. Hundreds were sold at Charter Day on May 18, according to information from the Farmstead Arts, and there is a limit to how many will be sold. Ducks may be purchased on the Farmstead Arts website.

This year's Bernards Township Mayor, at the beginning of the year as a way of continuing to promote the Farmstead Arts, as well as providing another community-wide event.

"Ducks are selling fast and may be sold out before the day of the event," according to information on the Farmstead Arts website.

The website said that duck "backers" do not need to be present to win. Grand prize is a $500 gift card courtesy of the Rotary Club, with a second place prize of a $250 gift card from Dean’s Natural Food Market, and other prizes from Get In Shape for Women, the Back to Nature and Mallory’s Muffins.

Art vendors and food suppliers also will be at the event. Some of the art for sale, along with more information on the duck race, is at the Farmstead Arts webpage.

This Tuesday also is the primary election around the state, with uncontested races in Bernards Township for the Democratic and Republican party nominations for one available seat on the Township Committee. Republican Carol Bianchi and Democrat David Ferdinand both would be newcomers on the Township Committee, although Ferdinand has run for the position before.

Meanwhile, resident Bill Connors, saying he is "fed up" with Ridge traffic solutions proposed by the current Township Committee, said he will seek enough signatures to be included on the ballot.

Also on Tuesday, the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge's proposal for a mosque on Church Street in the Liberty Corner section of the township is scheduled to be back on the Bernards Township Planning Board's agenda at 7:30 p.m. that night.

The discussion has centered at the previous few meetings — and likely will continue on Tuesday — on whether and just how much traffic would be generated, by the actual number of worshippers who might be expected to show up at the new house of worship.

Other scheduled meetings this week include:

• The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday at the municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane in Basking Ridge.

• The Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at 262 S. Finley Ave. in Basking Ridge.

• The Board of Adjustment is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the municipal building.

• The Deer Management Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the municipal building.