Community Corner
Ridge Baseball Club Asking Again to Turf Fields, E-Book Instruction at Library This Week
Also, Ridge club begins collecting used eyeglasses.
The Bernards Township Committee is about to from the Ridge Baseball Club again at Tuesday's meeting, with a repeat of a request for permission to install synthetic turf in the infields at the baseball complex off Valley Road — at the club's expense.
A letter from the club on the Township Committee agenda for this week renews a request to install the turf infields at the complex, as set forth in an application submitted to the township in November 2012.
Following several months of discussions and a township survey on neighboring streets, the Township Committee voted 4-1 in October to prohibit parking on some of the streets that supposedly are receiving overflow parking from the complex on Valley Road.
The ordinance approved prohibits parking — other than for residents who will be given laminated permits — on both sides of Wedgewood Drive from March 15 to Halloween, and on the west side of Spring Valley Road from Valley Road to Baldwin Court and on the east side of Spring Valley Blvd. to Compton Court at all times.
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The letter points to those restrictions, and other alternatives for parking control discussed in the past as having resolved any potential parking issues.
'We request that the Committee render a decision on the turf application since one year has now passed since its filing with the township," says the letter to be considered on Tuesday, which is dated Nov. 20.
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Residents and also some officials said that the Ridge Baseball Club appears to be using the complex to draw in out-of-town tournaments with few local participants.
In October, Deputy Mayor JCarpenter said that the tournaments throughout the year, starting with Memorial Day and lasting into the fall, bring in teams from other areas that sometimes far outnumber the Basking Ridge teams.
"We have to address the increase in tournaments with out-of-town teams," said Township Committeeman John Malay, in discussing the parking issue.
The Ridge Baseball Club, in its Nov. 20 letter, also offered as a proposal to provide shuttle service and off-site parking during tournaments hosted at the Complex on Memorial Day and Independence Day. The shuttle service will only be used when the game schedule is expected to result in significant parking issues during these tournaments, the letter said.
"RBC will provide for these services but it cannot guarantee that spectators and fans will use these services," the letter said.
That matter, and other agenda items, are scheduled to be discussed at a meeting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Bernards Township Library, 32 S. Maple Ave., according to the township website. The usual meeting room at the municipal complex at 1 Collyer Lane has been undergoing renovations this fall.
On Tuesday, the committee also is scheduled to commend the Bernards Township Beautification Task Force for its projects and community efforts, including last month's Field of Honor flags for Veterans Day.
Used eyeglasses wanted
Meanwhile, the Ridge Girls Lead Eye Eyeglass Drive begins on Monday at Ridge High School, to continue through Jan. 17.
Community members, through students, are asked to donate used prescription eyeglasses for those who cannot afford to buy their own eyeglasses. The drop off box is located by the welcome desk at the entrance by the school cafeteria.
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