Clinton Township Newsletter

2 0 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 7 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com t h e Q u e S t f o r a Q u i e t Z o N e – T H E H A m D E n r O A D r A I L c r O S S I n g "On Tuesday November 8, a group of residents gathered at the Clinton Township Council meeting to ask the Township to initiate proceedings to request the Hamden Road rail crossing become a "quiet zone", thus putting an end to the constant sound of train horns that disrupt this otherwise peaceful area. Since 2009, quiet zones have been instituted in various areas in New Jersey, restoring the quality of life homeowners have been seeking, as well as having positive effects on home and property values. This reader's research has discovered several studies that demonstrate the negative effects increased noise pollution has on home values and subsequent home sales, as well as quality of life and health. Currently the train horns at Hamden Road rail crossing are sounded every one and half to two hours in the evening. The NJDOT has rail grants in place that will assist towns in installing any additional safety devices needed if necessary to eliminate the use of a horn. According to the NJDOT"s website these grants are in place "To promote freight as a good neighbor and the movement of freight in a socially and environmentally responsible manner." (www.nj.dot) Residents who have lived in this area for most of their lives feel this measure is way over due and are determined to see it through. We are confident we can follow in the footsteps of those towns that have obtained quiet zone status, and believe our local government will support our quest for peaceful nights, better health and a happy community. As we continue through this process please look for our on-line petition in support of the quiet zone. " – Sincerely, Lori Latsko J O I n u S F O r T H E b o o k e N d S B O O k D I S c u S S I O n ! Saturday, December 2, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Or Chadash, 149 Foothill Road, Flemington, NJ 08822 www.orchadash-nj.org | 908.806.2122 Author Trifecta! Join colleagues and friends Lauren Smith-Brody (The Fifth Trimester), Caroline Campion (The Dinner Plan and Keepers), and Elisabeth Egan (A Window Opens) as they share their stories with us. Food tasting from The Dinner Plan begins at 10:00 am, author discussion at 10:30 am. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Open to the community. We hope you'll join us! The three authors are colleagues and friends--at one time they all worked at GLAMOUR magazine. Liz is currently the book editor, Lauren was the Executive Editor and Caroline was a Contributing Editor. They have all taken different paths and have each written a book--or two. Some of us will prepare dishes in advance from Caroline Campion's book, The Dinner Plan, and we will all enjoy these delicious dishes during the morning gathering! Between juggling work, family activities, mismatched schedules and often bare refrigerators, there are all sorts of situations that make weeknight cooking a universally challenging—and frustrating—experience. Caroline Campion's The Dinner Plan offers five meal strategies — Make-Ahead, Staggered, One-Dish, Extra-Fast and Pantry — that will help get dinner on the table no matter what the workweek throws at you. The 135 recipes—from main dishes to sides to salads and "lifesaver" condiments — provide lots of practical options whether time is super-tight, you haven't had a chance to run to the store, or everyone is coming home at a different time. The Dinner Plan is every home cook's indis pensable weeknight dinner guide. Liz Egan lives in Montclair and wrote her novel, A Window Opens, during her child's very early morning swim practices. Alice Pearse, the compulsively honest, longing-to-have-it-all, sandwich generation heroine of her book is a mostly-happily married mother of three, an attentive daughter, an ambivalent dog-owner, a part-time editor, a loyal neighbor and a Zen commuter. She is not: a cook, a craftswoman, a decorator, an active PTA member, a natural caretaker, or the breadwinner. But then her husband makes a radical career change.... Lauren Smith-Brody's The Fifth Trimester is your new best friend: a brilliant, tells-it-like-it-is guide that helps moms cope with the demands of the real world after the baby arrives. The first three trimesters (and the fourth--those blurry newborn days) are for the baby, but The Fifth Trimester is when the working mom is born. No matter what the job or how you define work, you're going to have a lot of quesitons. How can I achieve 50/50 at home with my partner? Like What to Expect When You're Expecting and The Happiest Baby on the Block, this is an indispensable guide every new mom needs on her shelf! c O m m u n I T Y m E n O r A H L I g H T I n g I n D O W n T O W n c L I n T O n This Chanukah there will be no shortage of celebration for the festival of lights in Clinton! Chabad is set to host a Community Menorah Lighting on Thursday, December 14. The community is invited to attend and to participate. Hot latkes, donuts, gelt, Chanukah crafts, free menorah kits, dreidels, the world famous Dreidel Man and more will provide Chanukah flavor and fun for the whole community! Mayor Kovach of Clinton, Mayor Higgins of Clinton Township, and Councilwoman Sosidka will attend the ceremony and will assist in kindling the lights of Chanukah. New this year: the Town of Clinton Fire Department will hold the first ever "Gelt Drop" dumping 1000's of chocolate coins! The menorah lighting and celebration will take place at 6:30 pm, by the river, on the Hunterdon Art Museum terrace. During the Chanukah celebration Chabad will hold a drawing for Chanukah giveaways. An assortment of gift cards and beautiful items that were generously donated by local merchants will be raffled off and hot beverages will be provided to help make the evening warmer. Chanukah, a celebration for all time, is highlighted by the kindling of the Menorah each night of the holiday. "It is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition," said Rabbi Eli Kornfeld, director of Chabad of Hunterdon County. "In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place." Chanukah also provides a universal message that ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness. As part of the Chanukah outreach campaign, Chabad of Hunterdon County joins thousands of Chabad Centers across the globe that stage similar public displays of the Menorah and its symbolic lights. From Australia to Africa, Columbia to Hong Kong, New York City's Ground Zero to the White House Lawn, hundreds of thousands will experience the joy of Chanukah with Chabad. Won't you join, too? For more information and a complete list of Chanukah events throughout Hunterdon County, contact Chabad of Hunterdon County at: 908.238.9002 or log on to: www.JewishHunterdon.com.

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