Concert or Meetings? Both Coming This Week

Would you rather see a rock and roll Jimmy Buffett cover band this Tuesday night, or attend a Bernards Township Committee meeting?

If you try hard, you can do a little bit of both. The ever-popular Jimmy & The Parrots will be back at 7 p.m. this Tuesday at Pleasant Valley Park off Valley Road.

The band is scheduled to present the third performance in the Bernards Township Parks & Recreation Department's 2013 Jayne Hannigan Summer Concert series.

All concerts are free, but concert-goers are urged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs — and dancing shoes. (Especially for Jimmy & The Parrots!)

In case of rain, the concert will be moved indoors to the Ridge High School Performing Arts Center at 268 S. Finley Ave.

But after warming up with a few songs, township residents can cut out and make it over to the Bernards Township municipal building, 1 Collyer Lane, to attend the Township Committee meeting at 8 p.m.

Items on the agenda this week include a status report on renovations to the municipal meeting and court room, which is being updated and outfitted for potential use as a warming center and command post during potential power outages. 

The committee also scheduled to hear Committeeman John Malay's status report on the Ridge Baseball League's request to install turf fields at the baseball complex. Officials had asked the league to first work with neighbors to smooth out disputes about parking on nearby streets near games. Malay's online report says that progress has been "nil" in this area.

Status reports or public comments on recent issues of interest to the public also may come up at Monday night's Board of Education meeting.

The summertime school board meeting, the only one scheduled during July, is set to be held at the Board of Education conference room at board offices at 101 Peachtree Road in Basking Ridge.

Items on the agenda include certifying the number of Ridge High School's 2013 graduates, as well as approving textbooks for the upcoming school year and approving curriculum writing. 

Other discussions that have repeatedly been raised by the public have included whether the school district should have a more distinct program for advanced instruction for students in elementary schools; and the progress and continuing questions about a proposal to address Ridge High School's morning traffic flow by moving a driveway through the health department, and diverting some traffic through the back parking lots.

Later in the week, it's time for more fun. This Wednesday's free outdoors movie at Harry Dunham Park, located off Somerville and Liberty Corner Roads at the edge of Liberty Corner Village, is "Wreck-it Ralph," rated PG.

Wednesday night movies during July are scheduled to begin between 8:15 to 8:30 p.m., when it's dark enough. Movies are free, although movie-goers are asked to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs. 

In case of rain, the movie will be rescheduled for the following night.

First day of school

And in case you forgot — or never knew — the first day of school for students in township this year is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 9. Although, recalling the last few fall seasons with their weather catastrophes and prolonged power outages, we may join the kids this year in wishing that summer would never end.