Clinton Township Newsletter

Use R e s o lv e d to G e t F i t ? C au t i o n W h i l e E x e r c i s i n g About 45% of Americans make New Year's resolutions and of those, about 15% vow to get more exercise. Before you sign up with the nearest gym though, make sure you read the fine print. According to the National Electronics Injury Surveillance System, there has been a 45% increase in gym equipment-related accidents in recent years. The majority of these accidents involve treadmills with people tripping over, tripping on or falling off these machines. Weight machines and free weights held second place for causing gym-related accidents. The severity of the accidents vary, but statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission for 2009 showed 1500 emergency room visits for fitness equipment-related injuries. Common injuries suffered in these mishaps include fractured arms and legs, broken ankles and fingertip amputations. These injuries can result in pain and suffering and, depending on their severity, mounting medical bills and possible lost wages. Don't hurry to recover damages though. The majority of health centers, estimated to be over 80%, require members to sign waivers protecting the center from liability related to such injuries. That protection can cover the center even if the injury is the result of negligence on the center's behalf. The validity of such waivers was upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court a few years back when it heard an appeal from a woman who was injured after the handlebars on the stationary bike she was riding fell off causing her to fall over the bike. Among the many conditions of the waiver she had signed was the release of liability by the club for "the sudden and unforeseen malfunctioning of any equipment." Legal experts note that opening up fitness centers to liability could be their ruin as one lawsuit could quite possibly put a center out of business. The waivers, however, do not release the centers from liability for gross negligence defined as failure to correct a problem that has caused repeated injuries or overlooking an obvious hazard, such as broken glass. Gym memberships give you the right to use the facilities and equipment offered. However, with these rights comes the responsibility to use those same facilities and equipment correctly. Best of luck in keeping your 2014 resolutions and here's to your happiness and health in this New Year! www.rotololawfirm.com Divorce & Family Personal Injury Criminal Defense THE ROTOLO LAW FIRM 908.534.7900 Lebanon, NJ 08833 Victor A. Rotolo, a resident of Clinton Township, was named to the list of 2013 NJ Super Lawyers for the eighth consecutive year. Call The Rotolo Law Firm today: 908.534.7900 to discuss any legal situation confronting you. Your half-hour consultation is free of charge! Their attorneys and staff are ready to serve your legal needs. The Rotolo Law Firm • 502 US 22, Lebanon, NJ 08833. www.rotololawfirm.com "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." –Abraham Lincoln J a n u a r y H i s t o r i c P r e s e r va t i o n C o m m i s s i o n Public Archaeology at the Christoffel Vought Farm Site, Summer 2014 b y C h r i s t o p h e r M at t h e w s , P h D (Montclair State University) The 1759 Vought House Inc., in conjunction with the Clinton Township Historic Preservation Commission, has invited archaeologists from the Center for Heritage and Archaeological Studies at Montclair State University to lead a public archaeology program at the Christoffel Vought Farm Site in Clinton Township during the Summer 2014. They are seeking volunteers to help with excavation and artifact processing. This program is a great way to learn about local history, contribute to ongoing research and have a great experience working with your fellow community members helping to add to Hunterdon County's rich historical story. The Vought House is well known for its association with Palatine German immigrants who settled in New Jersey in the early 18th century and their role as loyalists during the American Revolution. The "bank-house" style of the structure, as well as several well-preserved decorative interior plaster elements, show the influence of the Palatine German culture. Moreover, a previous cultural resources survey has confirmed that there are many buried archaeological deposits and features associated with the 18th and 19th century occupants of the site. The Voughts were among the earliest and most historically significant migration of German peoples into New Jersey. They settled first in the Raritan Valley in 1712. Johannes Christoffel Vogt was born there on February 24, 1714. Eventually the family moved and settled in the New Jersey Society's Great Tract where Christoffel Vought is listed as one of the tenants in 1739 and as being in possession of 200 acres. As loyalists during the Revolutionary War, the Voughts lost their home. The Vought House Farm property was purchased in 1779 by Benjamin Stout and later in 1789 by Daniel Hunt, who was also a miller. The archaeological study will add more details to the history of the Vought, Stout, Hunt and later families who lived at the site. It is also focused on understanding all of the members of these households, which included enslaved Africans until at least 1798. We still know very little about enslaved people in New Jersey since the story of their contributions and their communities is largely absent from the documentary record, though it may be recoverable through archaeology. The Vought House is currently undergoing a significant renovation which will bring the house back to its original condition. The archaeological excavations are also guided by this work and will help us to better understand how the house was constructed and hopefully what life was like for all of those who lived there in the 1700s and 1800s. The archaeology program will run for two, one-week sessions during the Summer of 2014. Participants will gain hands-on experience in archaeology and be trained in the basic techniques of excavation, site recording and the recovery of artifacts. Participants will also assist in processing artifacts which involves washing and identifying what is found. All participants must attend a site and fieldwork orientation and commit to work for at least one-full day (usually from 10:00 am -4:00 pm) during the scheduled time of the program. The exact dates of the orientation and the archaeology program will be scheduled in the upcoming weeks. Participants will need to provide their own water, food, sunscreen and insect repellent. They are responsible for adhering to basic on-site behavior and rules that will be explained at the orientation. A reasonable fee to help offset basic expenses will be required for participation. Please contact the Clinton Township Historic Preservation Commission at clintontwphistory@googlegroups.com (care of Frank White) to learn more about this incredible program. We hope you will also visit and "like" the 1759 Vought House facebook page: http://facebook.com/1759VoughtHouse. 2 0 1 4 13

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