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EVENTS: Ride a Horse, Valentine Activities, Meet 'Lincoln'

Activities abound as we enjoy a mild winter that lets us get out and about.

Here we are, already well through winter, and (although you may wish otherwise if you're a skier) the weather is giving us the freedom to get out and enjoy many activities without worrying about driving home in the snow. This week, there are a variety of Valentine celebrations, no matter who your sweetie is. There's a cooking and wine tasting class for couples in Bridgewater, a Valentine's party for senior citizens and a chance to hear romantic (or rockin') music. Children's activities are included from around the area. To combine a Valentine's celebration and kids' night out, check out "Parents Night Out" for a place to let your kids bake Valentine's cookies while the grownups get some time to themselves! Parents Night Out When/Where: …

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Chabad's 'New Year For Trees' at Back to Nature in Basking Ridge

Chabad Jewish Center invites all to mark beginning of season for earliest blooming trees at Back to Nature Home & Garden center.

The Chabad Jewish Center at Basking Ridge is partnering with their new neighbor, Back to Nature for a joint Tu Bishvat celebration at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8 to mark the "New Year for trees." The public is invited to show up at the Home and Garden Center at 3055 Valley Road, across the street from the Chabad Center. Tu Bishvat is an agricultural holiday that marks the beginning of season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle, said Chabad's Rabbi Yitchok Moully. The community is invited to Back to Nature enjoy fruit and chocolate fondue, learn about the significance of Tu Bishvat and plant your own fig tree, Moully said. The cost is $15 per person. …

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Moms Talk Q&A

Moms Talk: Should the RHS Dropoff Behind Cedar Hill Continue?

It's now been a week since Ridge High School buses were rerouted for morning dropoff behind Cedar Hill School.

This week, Mom's Talk (also for dads, kids, grandparents and other observers) returns to a timely topic — the school administration's decision to reroute Ridge High School morning buses through the Cedar Hill Elementary School traffic loop in an effort to relieve weekday traffic backups at the entrance to the high school. The change was implemented on a trial basis. The decision is supposed to come up for reconsideration at next Monday night's Board of Education meeting, at 7 p.m. at the William Annin Middle School. School officials have asked for the public's input at that meeting. RHS principal Frank Howlett said today that the rerouting of morning buses will probably continue through that time. So, what do you think? What do your kids …

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Great Escape

Escape to a Valentine's Day To Remember

We've got some great places to celebrate Valentine's Day with a delicious dinner — or some other ways you haven't thought of.

Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier. And in less than a week, it's a day of hearts and flowers as we celebrate Valentine's Day—so to help you out a little, we wanted to provide a little help in finding the perfect place to take that special someone for a night of romance. And there are some other special places to go to celebrate Valentine's Day with all your heart in the Somerset Hills, whether you're young or old, and even if your date wears horseshoes. Other Valentine's Day ideas If none of that applies to you, The Somerset County Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge will host its first “I Love Horses” Valentine Introductory Ride …

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Ridge Grad Oscar Nominee in Interview with Huffington Post

JC Chandor, Ridge graduate, discusses his nomination for Best Original Screenplay for "Margin Call."

Expert: Rock Wall is 'Stable' at Millington Quarry

ADDED INFO: Next witness for quarry plan due to testify at Planning Board meeting March 6.

A geologist representing Millington Quarry on Tuesday night told the Township Planning Board that rock faces alongside a proposed 50-acre lake and possible future residential neighborhood on the quarry land are "stable." "I wouldn't do anything to disturb any part of that quarry face," geologist Mark Zdunczyk advised on the quarry's behalf. "Rocks will tumble—we don't know when," the geologist said. Later in the meeting, he revised that observation to specify he couldn't predict when rocks might break off, if at all, as a result of repeated freezing, getting wet and drying. The geologist added that the rock faces have fractures, but none of the fault lines that cause rock to move. In response to questions by Board Member Kevin Orr, …

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Mitola Breaks Points Record For Gill Basketball Win

Hoffman scores 30 points and 12 rebounds for Gill St. Bernard's.

The atmosphere was tangible in Tuesday's heated playoff game. The contest was intense and physical. In the end, only one team could win this boys basketball shootout between Gill St. Bernard’s and Bridgewater-Raritan. Gill St. Bernard’s had the last laugh. Dominic Hoffman had a double-double with 30 points and 12 rebounds. Alex Mitola became the school’s all-time leading scorer and the Gill St. Bernard’s Knights held on to win a close one over Bridgewater-Raritan, 65-61. “This is a wake-up call. We’re deep into the season now, we went through our first round of conference play, and this is the second time we’ve played Bridgewater,” said Knights head coach Mergin Sina. “To tell you the truth, they should have won the game. They wanted it …

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