Clinton Township Newsletter

2 5 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 5 H o s t i n g a H o l i d a y P a r t y ? U n d e r s t a n d y o U r r e s P o n s i b i l i t i e s About a third of homeowners don't realize they could be held liable for injuries suffered by their guests, but in New Jersey, the State's social host liability laws say they can be. If you're planning to host a party this holiday, take a few precautions before sending out your invitations to help limit your risks. Alcohol-related injuries: Under New Jersey law, an inebriated person cannot hold a host liable for injuries they suffer from a fall, a motor vehicle accident or other incidents; however, a third party injured as a result of the inebriated person's actions can. The injured third party may be able to seek compensation for medical and rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and the like, and also seek punitive damages from the host or the host's insurance company. To diminish your risks of being liable for an alcohol-related injury, consider providing non-alcoholic refreshments; offer alternative means of transportation or overnight accommodations; discontinue serving alcohol to visibly impaired guests and never serve alcohol to minors. Non alcohol-related injuries: Property owners are responsible under State law to take "reasonable care" to prevent injuries to visitors and could be held liable for such injuries if it is proven they were aware – or should have been aware – of the risks. Take time before your party to survey your property and make necessary repairs, including cleaning up loose materials that pose tripping hazards. Be sure to provide adequate lighting for steps, walkways and other areas your guests may use. Pet-related injuries: Your holiday party may not be the best place for man's best friend. Under New Jersey law, dog owners are liable for injuries their dogs cause to anyone who is lawfully on their property, whether or not the dogs ever exhibited aggressive behavior in the past. The victim of a dog bite only has to prove he or she was bitten while legally on your property and that the dog in question belongs to you. Consider kenneling your dog or restricting him to an area of your home not accessible to your guests. Here's to a happy and safe holiday season! – Victor Rotolo Victor A. Rotolo, a resident of Clinton Township, was named to the list of 2015 NJ Super Lawyers marking the tenth 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 C l i n t o n t o W n s h i P h i s t o r i C P r e s e r v a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n "Getting to Know your Township – A Historical Perspective – 1776!" B y D o n a l D S h e r B l o m Next year is the 240th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each month in 2016 we will trace how the momentous events of 1776 reverberated in this part of Hunterdon County, especially in and around today's Clinton Township. What was the experience of people living here, between the confluence of the Raritan and Spruce Run and New Germantown to the east, and the Union Iron Works to the north and Pittstown to the south, as the American Revolution arrived at their doorstep? Patriots petitioned the May election of a local Loyalist to the provincial congress. At a June muster, militia men attacked their Patriot captain with clubs. The Continental Congress' July 2 vote to declare independence was reported in Philadelphia papers read here along the Delaware. New Jersey's provincial congress hastily wrote a new constitution. Within months the British and Hessians occupied the state. They chased Washington's depleted army from Fort Lee to Trenton, where his troops escaped to relative safety across the Delaware in boats collected by Patriots like Thomas Jones of the Hunterdon militia. Washington's unexpected Christmas re-crossing of the Delaware and victories at Trenton and Princeton revived the failing rebellion. New Jersey was a simmering cauldron of divided loyalties in 1776 and the crossroads for two major armies at war. Those who lived along the great road from New Brunswick to Easton worked at the mills and iron works along the rivers, or raised livestock and cultivated this rich farmland faced hard decisions. Some remained neutral, others fought to defend their rights as Englishmen and some fought for the revolutionary ideals that all men are created equal. Events in New Jersey that year rescued the faltering war effort and inspired further struggles for freedom and equality over the next 240 years. Have any questions for your CTHPC? Please call: 908.735.8800. C l e a n y o u r C l o s e t s n o W f o r t h e n o r t h h u n t e r d o n h i g h s C h o o l g i r l s ' l a C r o s s e C l o t h i n g d r i v e ! Saturday, January 9, 2016 - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Where: Clinton Township Police Station, 1370 Route 31 North Annandale Tax receipts available! Drive up to the front entrance and the volunteers will unload for you--no need to even get out of your car! Please place donated items in well- tied plastic bags. Items accepted: clean wearable clothing, women's and men's accessories, linens, bedding, shoes, purses, belts, stuffed animals, soft toys, hats, mittens, coats, baby gear, bikes. Please NO furniture, glass items, decorative household items, electronics, books, yard toys, dishes, pots, pans, books or mattresses. Questions? Contact Kathleen Connors at: 908.500.9310 or Maria Rey-Perez at 908.500.1922. Cell: 908.303.2783 Clinton Office: 908.735.8140 Email: Lynn@LynnPorterRealtor.com www.LynnPorterRealtor.com #1 Real Estate Office in Hunterdon County! MERRY CHRISTMAS! I wish you PEACE JOY HOPE AND LOVE ... the true gifts of the Christmas Season! Helping Homeowners and Investors Maximize Their Real Estate Investments Since 1998. Lynn Porter Realtor, Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) "May love and li‡t fill your home and heart at Hanukkah. " – Anonymous

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