🌱 Patch AM: A Historic Night: 1st Democratic Mayor Ever Selected In Bernards Township

Good morning Basking Ridge! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Bernards Township makes history with first Democratic mayor and deputy
• How Ridge High’s theater became a statewide standout under Tim Lynch

Also on today's calendar: Meadowbrook Day Camp to Host Open House on January 11, 2026 and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: After dinner, my parents asked if I could clear the table. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Sunshine mixing with clouds, with a high of 50 and low of 31 degrees.
• Friday: Cloudy, afternoon rain, temps: high: 50, low: 43.
• Saturday: Rain and drizzle, with a high of 45 and low of 38 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• A Historic Night: 1st Democratic Mayor Ever Selected In Bernards Township (patch.com) — Basking Ridge residents just saw local history made as the Bernards Township Committee unanimously chose Ana Duarte McCarthy as the township’s first-ever Democratic mayor. At the reorganization meeting, Democrats Brett Hodges and John Tompkins were also sworn in, with Tompkins named deputy mayor, signaling a significant political shift in local leadership while emphasizing unity over party labels.
   

• Interview: Tim Lynch-Theater Arts Director at Ridge HS in Basking Ridge (broadwayworld.com) — Ridge High School’s acclaimed theater program in Basking Ridge is thriving under director Tim Lynch, who has led students to major state awards and recognition. In this wide-ranging interview, he shares how he builds a supportive, high-achieving arts community, the challenges of serving more than 100 students, and why Ridge productions like Radium Girls and Peter Pan and Wendy have been so meaningful.
   

📸 Around Basking Ridge

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Basking Ridge

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday January 11

• Meadowbrook Day Camp to Host Open House on January 11, 2026
  Meadowbrook Country Day Camp, 73 E Valley Brook Rd, Washington Township
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday January 8

• Virtual: Highlights of the High Line, with Mario Medici
  BernardsLibrary.org
  7:00 pm

Friday January 9

• Special Needs Social Hour (ages 18+)
  Bernards Township Library , 32 S Maple Ave , Bernards
  11:30 am
• Family Fitness Night
  Mount Prospect Elementary , 111 Hansom Road , Basking Ridge
  6:30 pm

Saturday January 10

• Charity Pancake Breakfast!
  22 S Finley Ave , Bernards
  9:00 am
• Family Fun - mr. RAY in Concert!
  Bernards Township Library , 32 S Maple Ave , Bernards
  10:30 am

Sunday January 11

• Friends of Great Swamp NWR January Second Sunday Program
  Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge , 32 Pleasant Plains Rd
  1:30 pm
• Family Card Games @ Bernards Township Library
  Bernards Township Library , 32 S Maple Ave , Basking Ridge
  1:30 pm

Tuesday January 13

• Virtual: Start the New Year with Meditation
  BernardsLibrary.org
  7:00 pm

Wednesday January 14

• CHS Winter Concert @ RHS PAC
  Cedar Hill Elementary School , 100 Peachtree Road , Basking Ridge
  6:30 pm

Tuesday January 20

• iPad and iPhone Basics
  Bernards Township Library , 32 S Maple Ave , Bernards
  2:00 pm
• Virtual: The Adventures of Ben Franklin - a one-man show with J.T. Turner
  BernardsLibrary.org
  7:00 pm

📣 Basking Ridge Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Basking Ridge PatchAM possible:

• The NJ School of Woodwork — (908) 303-6648
  The Largest Woodworking school in NJ
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Curbing Hunger — (908) 768-7776
  Orange Bins help curb hunger
• Somerset Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery — 908-222-0070
  A patient-centered plastic surgery practice
• Ridgedale Wealth Management Group – James Hofmann — (973) 534-8014
  Tailored Financial Strategies. Personal Service.
• David A. Abrutyn, M.D. — 908-685-8500
  Sports Medicine, Joint Reconstruction, Shoulder&Knee Surgery

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Heat Up the Winter: St. James Men of Charity Host 16th Annual Chili & Chowder Cook-off —Tom Grady Read on Patch

• US Government Jobs posted a job opening for Medical Support Assistant in Basking Ridge. Apply here.
• Daiichi Sankyo posted a job opening for Associate Director, Global Quality Audit in Basking Ridge. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Basking Ridge here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bernardsville

• To the Editor: A Wake-Up Call For Princeton Pedestrians Out on the Town in the Dark (tapinto.net)

Morristown

• Unlicensed Limo Driver From Morristown Drove Fugitive Client: Cops (patch.com)
• Teen Mom Shot, Left To Die On NJ Roadway Christmas Eve Likely Paralyzed, Officials Say (patch.com)
• Son Of Legendary NJ Guitarist To Perform At Morris Museum (patch.com)

Ok Basking Ridge! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I needed a running start, but I made it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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