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Politics & Government

Town's 250th Celebration Features Two Events in May

Charter Day festivities will be held on May 15 and the Navy band concert is on May 25.

Tea has been served, daffodils have bloomed and a Liberty Elm has been planted. Township students have carefully authored essays, toiled away on artistic exhibits which will endure for years to come, and selected theirfor a 100 year, time capsule burial.

The year-long 250th Anniversary Celebration, honoring the 1760 Charter signing which established Bernards Township, is well underway.

The 250th Anniversary Task Force, responsible for these events, met yesterday for status updates. Two major events will occur in May – Charter Day and the Navy Band Concert.

Charter Day – Saturday, May 15th

While Charter Day itself, is not the sole responsibility of the 250th Anniversary Task Force, many of the task force initiatives will be showcased that day:

  • The announcement and awarding of the Essay Contest winners at 2:40 p.m.
  • The Liberty Corner Quilt, designed and created by Liberty Corner Elementary School third graders (to be shown in Westminster Hall)
  • Ridge High School's Tile project, a mosaic depicting the capture of General Lee at White's Tavern
  • Commemorative Stamps, Envelopes and "Bernards Bucks"
  • A preview display of the "Time Capsule" with some of the actual selected items and the opportunity to contribute your own ideas
  • The 250th Anniversary booth with historical story boards, informative hand-outs, and knowledgeable staff (task force members).

There will be much to see and do.

Northeast Navy Pops Ensemble – Tuesday, May 25

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Denise Szabo, Township clerk and task force member, has been working on the upcoming concert by the Northeast Navy Pops Ensemble. On May 25th, the Ensemble will perform at 7:00 p.m. Note, the concert is free, but tickets are required in order for admission.

"Things have been moving along nicely," said Ms. Szabo," we've distributed 300 tickets since Monday." She also added that one of the local Girl Scout troops had volunteered to work at the concert. 

Kristin Fox, the social studies curriculum supervisor for Bernards schools and also a member of the township's 250th Anniversary Task Force, then offered that the Ridge High Video Club would tape the concert and edit the tapes. The town would then have a taped, archive of the event.

Residents can still obtain tickets for the Navy Pop Ensemble performance at the Bernards Township Municipal Building, 1 Collyer Lane, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  After May 10, any remaining tickets will be available to non-residents.

The concert has special, in-town significance since the conductor,  Lieutenant Carl J. Gerhard, grew up in Basking Ridge and graduated from Ridge High School.

For many, the 250th Anniversary is a "once in a lifetime event." The Task Force has sought to include as many aspects of the community as possible. Private businesses have made notable contributions, the schools have responded enthusiastically, encouraging student participations, township volunteers have donated time, energy and ideas.

 

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