School Year Activities Begin, Planning for Emergencies

Well over 5,000 Bernards Township students are beginning their second full week of school, having returned to classrooms last Monday, Sept. 9.

While a new calendar and other schedules are in place, some things remain up in the air even now. The Board of Education — and township — have submitted plans to the county engineer for Ridge High School entrances and exits to try to ease traffic flow.

Students are just beginning to sign up for activities at the high school this week:

The Ridge Drama Club has a lot to offer, and is looking for performers, technical assistance, costumers, photographers, artists and more, according to the Bernards Board of Education web page for Ridge High School. The first Drama Club meeting is 2:45 p.m. on Monday in the Performing Arts Center at the high school.  The Club is open to all Ridge students and Monday’s meeting will offer the chance to meet the officers and learn more about our exciting club.   

There will be an information meeting for those interested in joining the state-champion Ridge Forensics team at 6 p.m. on Monday in the RHS media center. Come find out more about the school's nationally-recognized speech, debate, and dramatics competition team. Students are asked to see teacher David Yastremski in room 404 for more details.  

Students who would like to participate in the award-winning Choral program at Ridge High, if they have lunch or a study hall periods 5, 6, 7 or 8, should see Mrs. Barbara Retzko in the Choir Room No. 230 to sign up for a Choir Sectional class. 

Ridge High day planners are for sale for $5 at the reception desk in the Main Office at the high school. Get organized.

Emergency Planning

It's that time of year again, and the Bernards township emergency management and flood mitigation group is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the municipal building's conference room.

Meanwhile, work continues on a municipal meeting room and court room in Bernards Township's municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane, to upgrade the facility and to prepare it as a command center in case of a local emergency such as Hurricane Sandy.

In the meantime, meetings of the Township Committee, Township Planning Board and Board of Adjustment will be held at the Bernards Township Library, 32 S. Maple Ave., through October and into November, officials say.

Bernards Township's municipal court has been moved to Mondays at the Bedminster Township facility at 1 Miller Lane in Bedminster.