High Bridge Cultural & Heritage Committee

A Cultural and Heritage Committee is herby established to advise the Borough Council on the cultural and historical needs of the Borough of High Bridge. Its responsibilities include the development of programs to promote interest and participation in and understanding of local history, arts, cultural values and goals of the community and state by working directly with arts and historical organizations, schools, religious organizations, service clubs, municipal governments, and other interested groups and individuals. It may establish museum and cultural programs, including fine and performing programs, undertake historical research, and architectural and genealogical research, and promote the borough through motion picture and television/ radio settings. Reports and directories may be published that help develop interest in historical and cultural matters.

Members (7 members) - 3 year terms

Dean Rapp (Council) - Term expires 12/31/10
Jim Murray - Chair- Term expires 12/31/10
Lynn Hughes- Vice Chair- Term expires 12/31/11
Sarah Swatsworth -Secretary- Term expires 12/31/10
Gail Wolczynski - Term expires 12/31/12
Victoria Miller - Term expires 12/31/12
Eric Erb - Term expires 12/31/11

Honorary member: Borough Historian Robert Lee

ALTERNATES (2 Year Term)

Maryann Hagan 12/31/10
Nancy Hunt 12/31/12

Meeting Time

Third Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall.

Cultural & Heritage Committee 2010 Goals

1. Continue to Organize Annual Town wide Cultural & Historic Events

Pooch Parade
Movies in the Commons Summer Series
Memorial & Veteran's Day Ceemonies
Summer Concert Series
Pumpkin & Gingerbread Displays
Facilitate Borough Event Days (coordinate several activities by various groups throughout a given day)

2. Promote High Bridge Heritage Awareness

Petition County to obtain more Town Historic Markers.
Continue looking into obtaining historic home markers
Continue to look for cultural & historical grants
Oral History Project “stories of the past” Purchase digital voice recorder for Oral Histories
Submit oral history stories for newsletter articles, place oral history stories on web page provide CD of oral histories for borough library
Continue to work with Scout Project as they arise
Investigate showcasing local artists: music, art, etc.

3. Promote C & H Public Awareness

Caretakers of Borough Hall Outside Bulletin Board
C & H Web page & newsletter updates

Annual Events sponsored by the Cultural & Heritage Committee

May: Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park
June: Pooch Parade
June/July: Movies in the Commons
Summer: Saturday Concert Series in the Commons
October: Carved Pumpkin Display on Main Street
November: Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park
December: Gingerbread Houses on Main Street

Past Events

High Bridge BBC Radio Interview

On Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Lynn Hughes had the opportunity to be an ambassador between High Bridge, NJ and Highbridge England. BBC radio host Trevor Fry from calls towns around the world that have the same name as a town in England.

Click here to listen to the interview from Bristol, England. (7.7MB MP3 File)

High Bridge 'Mini Historians'

Congratulations to the 2010 High Bridge Mini Historians! First Place District and Hunterdon County Mini Historian Zachary Lucash, and Second Place District Madeline Kearney.

We are proud to honor the following fourth grade students from the High Bridge Elementary School for their efforts to learn and share our rich local history. They have been recognition by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission as High Bridge 'Mini Historians' through their participation in the annual 'Most Historic Place in My Town' essay contest.

Click here to go to the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Website

Annual Memorial Day Ceremony

Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day and honored men who had died in the Civil War. It now honors servicemen and servicewomen who died in any war. Come join with the American Legion Post #188 and the Cultural & Heritage Committee as we remember all American Service people who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

2008 High Bridge Memorial Day Remembrance

Click here to view the 2008 Memorial Day Ceremony held at C.K. Hoffman Park on May 24, 2008

http://www.bantampress.com/mem2008/

Click here to view the 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony held at C.K. Hoffman Park, on May 23, 2009

http://www.bantampress.com/mday09/

Click here to read the 2010 Memorial Day speech presented by James Conroy at the borough ceremony held on May 29, 2010:

2010 Memorial Day Speech

Annual Veterans Day Ceremony

World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The actual fighting between the Allies and Germany, however, had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day, as November 11 became known, officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to United States national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. Come join with the American Legion Post #188 and the Cultural & Heritage Committee as we remember all American Service people.

2007 Veterans Day Photos

http://bantampress.com/vetday2007/

2009 Veterans Day Photos

http://www.resultsinreading.com/vet09/

2010 Pooch Parade Results

The 16th annual High Bridge Pooch Parade, sponsored by the High Bridge Cultural & Heritage Committee, drew 49 dogs entered with participants from High Bridge, Annandale, Belvidere, Califon, Clinton, Glen Gardner, Lebanon, Milford, Neshanic Station, Pittstown, Stanton, Whitehouse Station, and even as far away as Bangor and Marshall's Creek, PA. We thank all the participants for coming out and making this year's parade a huge success.

This year's winners were:

Most Creative Costume- Baxter, a Westie at Baxter's Bistro
Silliest Costume- Sam, a German Shepherd as a "Watch" Dog
Best Small Dog- Avery, a Yorkie as a NJ State Police Officer
Best Medium Dog- Tazzie, a Lab Mix as Tazzie's Hot Dog Stand
Best Large Dog- Zeke, a Newfoundland as a Lifeguard

Best Team Costume- Bentley, Bingo, Massimo & Miles as "Paws Construction"

Best Blue Collar Dog- Weston, a Bichon Frise as Farmer West

Best White Collar Dog- Hoppy a Yorkie as Executive Hoppy

Top Dog, Adult- (1st Place) Ages 13 and older- Snow White, Lucy & Dee as the Beekeepers

Top Dog, Child- (1st Place) Ages 12 and under- Vegas & Schatzie as Henry Las Vegas, CPA & Pencil

We wish to thank the following sponsors for their donations: Shop Rite of Clinton, Fur Majesty in Clinton, Four Paws Playground, in Bloomsbury, Country Pet Specialties in Lebanon, Pets, Pets, Pets in Califon, High Bridge Stone Company, Glassman High Voltage of High Bridge, Naughright & Scarpone Funeral Home, Crown Veterinary Specialists, Out of the Box in Clayton, NC, and Rita's Italian Ice of Clinton.

We would also like to thank the following vendors for participating in this year's event: Therapy Dog International, Rogers' Rescues, Animeals, Irish Setter Rescue

A huge thank you to all the volunteers which included members of the High Bridge Cultural & Heritage Committee, High Bridge Girl Scouts, High Bridge Police Department, the Parade Judges, Ralph Blakeslee for doing such a great job as our MC and Jihn Morello as our photographer.

Next year's theme is Fun in the Sun/Beach Party so start planning now!

Photos of this year's parade are available on this webpage courtesy of John Morello.

Photos from the 2009 Pooch Parade Click here to view:

http://www.bantampress.com/pooch09/

2007 High Bridge Pooch Parade

Click here to view pictures from the 2007 High Bridge Pooch Parade.
Click here to view the winners of the 2007 High Bridge Pooch Parade.

2008 Pooch Parade Photos

Click here to view the 2008 Pooch Parade Photos taken on June 21, 2008 at the Commons Park

http://www.bantampress.com/pooch2008/

Free Movies in the Commons

Once again we will we offering our free Movies in the Commons series. Held under the stars, the films will begin at dusk approximately around 8:30 PM. All movies are rated PG.

The movie dates are:

Friday, June 18 (raindate Sat. June 19) Bandslam
Friday, June 25 (raindate Sat. June 26) The Tale of Despereaux
Friday, July 9 (raindate Sun. July 10) The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep
Friday, July 16 (raindate Sun. July 17) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

2010 Movie Sponsor Thank YOU!

Due to copyright laws, we must pay between $200 - 250 to purchase the right to show a movie outdoors. Because we feel strongly about making our movie series a free event, we must depend on the generosity of sponsors. C & H can not thank them enough for their donations in support of our movies series!

This year’ s movies were sponsored by the following local businesses:

Dispenza Financial, Eloquent Bouquet, Glassman High Voltage, Inc., High Bridge Business Association, High Bridge Stone, Michel's Pizza, Rocky's Rod Shop, Circa, Belsy's Tayloring, and an anonymous donor.

When you visit any of these fine businesses, please thank them for sponsoring one of our movies during this year’s Friday Flicks series!

Movie Summaries:

Bandslam - June 18 - Rated PG; 111 minutes (2009) Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Scott Porter Summit Entertainment; Directed by Todd Graff Will Burton is used to being bullied or ignored by his schoolmates, so when cool and popular cheerleader. Charlotte Barnes starts inviting him to spend time with her, the teenager is stunned. Impressed by his eclectic knowledge of music, Charlotte, a gifted singer-songwriter, asks Will to manage her rock band. Her goal is to take revenge on her egocentric ex-boyfriend at a regional battle-of-the-bands.

The Tale of Despereaux - June 25 - Rated G; 93 minutes (2008) Animated Feature; Voices by: Matthew Broderick, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin Kline Universal Pictures; Directed by Sam Fell & Rob Stevenhagan Little Despereaux the mouse is born tiny, wheezy and with comically oversized ears and is very different from his family. His love for a princess leads him on adventures which involve him with an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of his dungeon and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears in this beautifully crafted animated film.

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep - 7/9 - Rated PG; 111 minutes (2007) Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Brian Cox Columbia Pictures; Directed by Jay Russell This magical motion picture is rooted in one of the most enduring and intriguing legends of our time. A young boy finds a mysterious enchanted egg and what hatches from it will set in motion an adventure that will take him on the journey of a lifetime as the sea creature of Scottish legend is born.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - July 16; Rated PG; 106 minutes (2009) Animated Feature; Voices by: Andy Samberg, Anna Faris, James Caan Columbia Pictures; Directed by Christopher Miller & Phil Lord Based on the children’s book, this animated adventure follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance. This is the most delicious event since macaroni met cheese.

Saturdays in Summer Concert Information

Music starts at 7 PM and ends at 9 PM at the Borough Commons unless otherwise noted on the borough calendar. All are encouraged to bring chairs and/or blankets and any food you might want to eat. It's always a great time!

Cultural & Heritage Committee Pumpkin Display

Pumpkin Display Friday, October 29, 2010

We invite all residents (young an older) to participate in our annual Pumpkin Display of creatively carved pumpkins on Friday, October 29, at 1 Main Street in High Bridge. The home-carved pumpkins should be brought to the front of Casa Maya/Cafe Hola at 6:30 pm. Each entry should include a candle or battery light to enhance the display. No electricity can be provided. Please note that the pumpkins will not be carved on-site. Public viewing of the lit pumpkins will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. If raining, the event will be held inside Cafe hola. For further information, please call Borough Hall.

Pictures of Pumpkin Display 2006: www.bantampress.com/pumpkinback.html

2007 Pumpkin Contest display: http://www.bantampress.com/hbpd07/

2009 Pumpkin Display photos: http://www.resultsinreading.com/pump09/hbp.html

Gingerbread Houses on Display

Saturday, December 4, 2010 1 to 3 pm outside Borough Hall (The same time as Cookies with Santa)

Help us create this holiday display. Bring your homemade gingerbread house for display. Sponsored by High Bridge Cultural & Heritage Committee. Click here to view the 2008 Gingerbread display: http://www.bantampress.com/ggb2008/

Cultural & Heritage Project List

To All Organizations & Residents of High Bridge:

High Bridge has many projects on our wish list. The following list is for the Cultural & Heritage Committee. This list is not all inclusive and do not prevent you from designing and working on an idea that does not appear on the attached. These community service ideas are being posted so that you can keep us in mind when planning a community service project.

Our committee would be happy to work with any organization, group, or individual that would be interested in taking charge of one of our "future projects". We are also open to other possible ideas that do not appear on this list. Additional ideas can be submitted via e-mail to info@highbridge.org.

Create a video tour of historic places for the web site (part one completed; more parts available)
Plan a walking tour of historic places in town (part one completed; more parts available)
Create self guiding brochure (part one completed; more parts available)
Historic markers at sites throughout the town (working on)
Run historic tour
Historic home markers (to show date built -scout working on this project)
Acting group: to portray people from our town's history
Promote local artists displays: art, photography, poetry, sewing, etc.
Someone to organize local musical groups for free concerts

Please also see the Environmental Commission's Community Service Project List.