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

Victoria Miller (Council) - Term expires 12/31/12
Jim Murray - Vice Chair-Term expires 12/31/13
TBD- Term expires 12/31/11
TBD-Term expires 12/31/13
TBD- Term expires 12/31/12
Nancy Hunt - Term expires 12/31/12
Eric Erb - Chair expires 12/31/14

Honorary member: Borough Historian Robert Lee

ALTERNATES (2 Year Term)

Maryann Hagan - 12/31/12
James Maher - 12/31/13

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'

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. First place: Abigail Thompson and Honorable Mention: Julia Silberman.

Congratulations to the 2010 High Bridge Mini Historian Zachary Lucash who was named 2010 Hunterdon County Mini Historian!

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.

2011 High Bridge Memorial Day Rememberance CK Hoffman Memorial Park Sat. May 28, 2011

Guest Speaker: Jay Hunter, US Marine Corps veteran Desert Storm, Iraq with two Purple Hearts.

The following April 2010-March 2011 deceased Post 188 American Legion members will be honored at this year's ceremony: Charles Barber-US Marines Vietnam, Ralph Lomerson-US Army WWII, Robert Garrison-US Navy WWII, Steve Gronsky-US Army Korea, Albert Bowlby-US Army Air Corp WWII.

Link to Memorial Day photos. http://www.resultsinreading.com/m2011/

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

2010 Memorial Day photo link http://www.resultsinreading.com/m2010/

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/

2011 Annual Pooch Parade: Sat. June 25, 2011

A High Bridge tradition, this year's parade theme was "A Day at the Beach/Fun in the Sun".

2011 Pooch Parade Results

The 17th annual High Bridge Pooch Parade, sponsored by the High Bridge Cultural & Heritage Committee, drew 55 dogs entered with participants from High Bridge, Annandale, Califon, Clinton, Frenchtown, Garwood, Glen Gardner, Middlesex, Newton, Phillipsbrug, Pittstown, 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.

2011 winners were:

Most Creative Costume- Weston, a Bischon Frise, as "Jersey's lrgest Hermit Crab"

Silliest Costume- Rusty, a Pug mix, as "Jersey Shore Pug"

Best Small Dog- Avery, a Yorkie as "Catch of the Day"

Best Medium Dog- Fred, a Basset Hound Mix, as "Watermelon"

Best Large Dog- Murphy, a Golden Doodle, as "Surfin' Murph"

Best Beach Team Costume- Lucy, a Schoodle, and Dee, a Cairn Terrier mix as "Fantasy Picnic"

Best Surfer Dude-Zeke, a Newfoundland, as "Surfer Dude Goin' to the Beach"

Best Beach Bum-Bentley, a Terrier mix, as "Surfer Beach Bum"

Best at the Beach-Child: Bailey, a Shih Tzu, as "Beach Bum"

Best at the Beach-Adult: Josette, a Shih Tzu, as "Lil Surfer Girl"

We wish to thank the following sponsors for their donations: Shop Rite of Clinton, Fur Majesty in Clinton, Country Pet Specialties in Lebanon, High Bridge Stone Company, Glassman High Voltage of High Bridge, Paw Prints Pet Services of High Bridge, Furrylicious of Whitehouse Station, Rita's Italian Ice of Clinton, Hills Science Diet Dog Food, Bayer K-9 Advantage Flea and Tick Protection, Hartz Mountain and the ASPCA.

We would also like to thank the following vendors for participating in this year's event: Therapy Dog International, Animeals, Irish Setter Rescue, Paw Prints Pet SErvices, Four Paws Playground, Ring Their Necks and Lauren Jannelli-Pet Psychic.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers which included members of the High Bridge Cultural & Heritage Committee, High Bridge Brownies and Girl Scouts, the Parade Judges, Ralph Blakeslee for doing such a great job as our MC, Gina Delusant of Glen Gardner for being our parade photographer and Mia Fiorentino of High Bridge for providing this year's artwork for our t-shirts.

2012 theme is "Tail-Waggin' Toons"- Cartoon & Comic Characters- so start planning now!

Check in soon at http://highbridge.org/cultural heritage committee.html for pictures of this year's Pooch Parade.

Photos from the 2009 Pooch Parade Click here to view:

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

2010 Pooch Parade Photos:

http://www.bantampress.com/pooch10/

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 17 (raindate Sat. June 18) The Spiderwick Chrolicles
Friday, June 24 (raindate Sat. June 25) Despicable Me
Friday, July 1 (raindate Sat. July 2) True Grit the Classic

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!

Movie Summaries:

The Spiderwick Chronicles 2008 101 minutes PG

When city-raised twins Jared and Simon (both played by Freddie Highmore)move to a tumbledown country mansion with their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) sister (Sarah Bolger), it's quite an adjustment--especially after they uncover a magical and sometimes dangerous fantasy world. Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and Nick Nolte also star in this family adventure populated with all manner of fanciful creatures.

Genre: family Adventures, Fantasy

Thank you to sponsor "High Bridge Business Association"

Despicable Me 2010 96 minutes PG

Villainous Gru (Steve Carell) lives up to his reputation as a despicable, deplorable and downright unlikeable guy when he hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. But he has a tough time staying on task after three orphans land in his care. Julie Andrews voices the role of Gru's malevolent mom, and Jason Segell, Kristen Wiig and Will Arnett round out the ensemble cast in this comic tale that earned a Golden Globe nod for Best Animated Feature.

Genre: Family Animation, Family comedy

Thank you sponsors "Yaros Law Office, LLC and Dispenza Financial Insurance & Investment Services"

True Grit (The Classic) 1969 128 minutes G

John Wayne landed one of his last great screen roles as crusty lawman Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, who reluctantly helps teenager Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) pursue her father's killer. True Grit is more a character study than many of Wayne's formulaic Westerns. The rousing final showdown between Wayne and the villains adds to the Duke's long list of outstanding movie momoents.

Genre: Classic Western

Thank you sponsors "Glassman's High Voltage, High Bridge Stone, Michael's Pizza"

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and relax in this lovely outdoor venue. Popcorn sold by the High Bridge Recreation Committee. Candy and soft drinks can also be purchased. For more information contact: Borough Hall 638-6455 or Lynn Hughes at 638-8887.

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.