Mosque Hearing to Continue Tuesday, Book Sale, Park Party Later This Week

A continuing public hearing on a proposed mosque of slightly more than 4,200 square feet proposed on an existing home lot in the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township is set to continue at 7:30 p.m. this Tuesday.

The hearing on the plan by the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge was moved to this week at the municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane, after the topic was removed from the July 25 agenda of the Planning Board.

The proposal was last before the board in June, when planners and the ISBR's traffic engineer, Henry Ney, again failed to agree on the number of parking spots that would be adequate to serve a new mosque if one were built at 124 Church St.

The board's experts have several times noted that mosques tend to draw higher numbers of cars with only one or two occupants for services attending on Friday work days. Meanwhile, those testifying for the mosque have questioned whether an Islamic house of worship should be singled out as different from other churches or houses of worship.

Board of Education meeting Monday

And even with school closed, the Bernards Township Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. on Monday, at the conference room at the board offices at 101 Peachtree Road.

Also, this week, although parks month officially is over, Party in The Park, a DJ Dance party with a scheduled outdoors showing of the movie "The Avengers" at 8:30 p.m., is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the outdoors amphitheater at Pleasant Valley Park off Valley Road.

No R.S.V.P. is need for this free party, but those attending are encouraged to dress as an Avenger. Snacks will be available for purchase. An interactive light show is scheduled.

Rain date is Thursday, Aug. 8. The event is to be alcohol and drug-free.

And rain or shine this Thursday, Bernardsville Borough will be put on the map again for book lovers from throughout the metropolitan area who are expected to come in droves to attend the Somerset Hills Branch of American Association of University Women's annual giant book sale.

Monday is last day to drop off donations

Meanwhile, Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the last day to drop off book donations at the Bernardsville Middle School off Seney Drive in Bernardsville, where the sale itself also will be held this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Many Bernards Township residents, including Ridge High School students seeking to log school-required community service hours, are part of the event.

The actual sale itself this year is from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 8 and Friday, Aug. 9, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. The sale benefits the AAUW's scholarships program, local libraries and other charities.

Book prices will remain the same as last year, according toinformation on the Somerset Hills AAUW website. Books, both hardback and paperback, in the main room will be sold at $1, except for some of the smaller children’s books that will be sold at 50 cents.

On the first day, Thursday, there will be a 25 percent added premium on books in the main room. Rare and choice books in the separate room managed by Beryl Hunter are priced individually and are not subject to the first-day 25 percent premium.

Long lines expected first day

There is no admission charge to attend the book sale. However, admission numbers will be passed out to determine entry order for the long line that always forms on the morning of the first day of the sale starting at 9 a.m., the website said.

Noodle Night

Another thing to look forward to on Thursday is "Noodle Night" for pool members at the Pleasant Valley Pool in Basking Ridge, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.