September marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall, and for me, it invokes a back-to-school mindset. In that spirit, the Township Committee had a busy September, including recognitions of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 and resolutions highlighting local champions, our diversity, and the U.S. Constitution.

On Thursday, September 10, I joined many at the Heartworks 9/11 “Night of Reflection” program, honoring the 25th Anniversary of 9/11.  It was a beautiful convening of community to honor and reflect upon all those taken on September 11, along with others who passed from 9/11 related illnesses.  On Friday, September 11, the Township held its 9/11 Memorial Program honoring the 2,977 individuals, including 17 souls from our community, lost twenty-five years ago in the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, PA.  It was a special evening of prayer, song, reflection, and hope.  We appreciate everyone who attended the program, as well as those who participated from our Police, Fire, and EMS departments.  Special thanks to Committeeman Andrew McNally, former Mayor Janice Fields, and Christy Kieffer, Municipal Clerk, and her team for their work planning the event.  As I shared at the program, it’s said that you die twice, once when you stop breathing and a second time when somebody says your name for the last time. It is my hope our community will continue this ceremony to honor those taken from us for many years to come. 

Our local champions were the Pleasant Valley Pool Piranha’s Swim team, who won the 2026 Somerset Hills  Summer Swim League Championship for the second consecutive year. We recognized the swim team and coaches, along with the many volunteers who supported the team throughout the season.

Two heritage month resolutions were introduced, including Hispanic Heritage  (September 15-October 15) and Italian Heritage (beginning in October).  During  National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. According to the latest census (2020), approximately 5.6% of the nearly 28,000 residents in Bernards Township, New Jersey, identify as Hispanic or Latino, as do more than 17% of Somerset County residents. 

The Hispanic and Latino members of our community are entrepreneurs, public servants, and neighbors. Unfortunately, the PEW Research Center reports that expanded immigration enforcement has created a deep climate of fear, economic hardship, and social disruption across Latino communities in the United States, including among legal citizens and U.S. Residents. When our Hispanic community thrives, our entire town is stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient. 

October is designated as Italian American Heritage Month, honoring and celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of Italian Americans. The Township Committee resolution also recognized the local chapter of UNICO National. Founded in 1922, UNICO has served the Italian American community for more than a century through charitable service, scholarship, cultural programming, and civic engagement, while promoting Italian American heritage. The Basking Ridge Chapter of UNICO embraces this mission by fostering cultural pride, community involvement, and service, including its annual Ridge High School UNICO Bowl, which brings the community together while supporting local charitable causes.  Celebrating and recognizing Hispanic and Italian Heritage months is one way we demonstrate how we value and respect the diversity of our residents.

September is also the month we celebrate the anniversary of the United States Constitution. In 1955, the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned the United States Congress to dedicate September 17 through September 23 each year as Constitution Week. Congress subsequently adopted the resolution, which was signed into Public Law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Constitution Week has been observed since that time.

This year, in light of our country’s 250th Anniversary, Jane Allen, Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Basking Ridge Chapter, requested the Township Committee issue a proclamation honoring Constitution Week. The Township Committee was happy to do so!   Constitution Week reminds us that ‘We the People’ begins with each of us right here in our own community.  We have a shared civic duty to work together, listen to one another with respect, and improve our municipality for the next generation.  To honor Constitution Week, on Thursday, September 17, the community convened to ring bells at Town Hall at 4 pm ET.  This nationwide event, often called Bells Across America, replicates the exact moment church bells and the Pennsylvania State House bell rang out in Philadelphia on September 17th, 1787, to announce the completion and signing of the United States Constitution. We hope to expand  bell ringing across the township in the coming year.

On Saturday, September 19, the Voices of the American Revolution event was held at the Farmstead Arts Center. The festivities included patriotic music by BrassWorks, local historical characters, and a special talk on the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation.

On Wednesday, September 23, the Township hosted a meeting with Ben Spinelli, Executive Director, and Liz Ward, Principal Planner and Land Preservation Coordinator, on the NJ Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.  The presenters shared information on the Highlands Council mission and purpose, explaining what it means to be in the Highlands, how it interacts with local planning, state mandates, and the pros and cons of conforming to the Highlands Regional Master Plan.  The presentation slides can be found here.  

This past Saturday, September 26,  it was wonderful to celebrate the opening of a new business, Jersey Girl Chocolate, on Lewis Street. Nicole Edelson, a former teacher, has opened the business with her husband Pete. The store offers chocolate and gifts, and Nicole, who has a son with autism, shared that she wants to create opportunities to employ people with disabilities and has already hired one student. Be sure to visit this tasty and delightful new storefront!

At the September 29th meeting, the Township Committee introduced Ordinance #2602 to set the table for being a “film-ready” municipality.   This past year, Jessica Paolini, head of Somerset County Economic Development, alerted Committeewoman Asay and me that Bernards Township was not listed among the certified municipalities on the state’s Film Ready program website. We passed a film-ready ordinance in 2024, but some criteria had not been amended, so the application to be a film-ready municipality was not deemed complete.  The Township Committee has amended the Ordinance to reflect the current criteria, and if adopted, Bernards can again apply for certification and join the list of film-ready municipalities.

I appreciate those who attend or livestream the Township Committee meetings. Upcoming meetings are posted on the Township Committee web page. Meetings are open to the public, and begin at 7:30pm, Town Hall, 1 Collyer Lane.

Your Voice Matters! You can contact me with township questions/ thoughts/ comments at (201)306-0178, or via email at amccarthy@bernards.org. Please note that any correspondence sent to me will be visible to the full township committee and clerk.

– Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy