Township kicks off weekend of holiday events

Christmas Tree Lighting program at Municipal Building on Friday evening kicks off festive season in Hillsborough.

By: Melissa Edmond
   Residents can show their holiday cheer at various events this weekend and in the upcoming weeks in Hillsborough.
   Friday night’s The Christmas Tree Lighting, an event organized by the Women’s Club for over 10 years, will take place outside the Township Municipal Building on South Branch Road from 7 to 9 p.m.
   According to the Women’s Club, Fire Company No. 1 will have Santa come to the tree lighting on a firetruck. The Rescue Squad will provide lights so people can see before the tree is lit. Children will greet Santa and the members of the Women’s Club will hand out candy canes to the children.
   The Women’s Club will have 15 dozen cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, and water for refreshments, all of which were donated by the Hillsborough Pathmark.
   The Hillsborough High School band will be playing inside and Santa will have a house outside the Municipal Building provided by the Department of Public Works.
   Saturday morning offers the annual Breakfast With Santa at Woods Road Fire Company, but those who don’t have tickets are out of luck because this well-known event in its near 20th season sold out the first week that tickets were available.
   The event will take place at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Saturday at 324 Woods Road. It includes a $9 full buffet breakfast, a family picture with Santa, and a chance for kids to visit with Santa and sit on his lap, according to Mark Brownlie, a firefighter who has organized the breakfast for the last 10 years.
   Mr. Brownlie said the food is being donated by Elmer’s Catering in Bound Brook. He said Fundamentals of New Jersey, a promotional company in Hillsborough, is helping out with the small presents given to the children during the event.
   Santa will also be making an appearance at the Central Jersey Regional Airport, flying in at 11 a.m. Saturday. He’s hoping the area’s good boys and girls will bring a donation of food or gifts for local food banks.
   The township and the Cultural and Arts Commission will be presenting the Festival of Holiday Music at Auten Road School in Hillsborough at 2 p.m. Sunday.
   "This is an opportunity to celebrate the joy of the season and the diversity of the community," said Art Carlson, the Cultural and Arts Commission chairman. "We have groups from area houses of worship who will sing, dance and share in the festivities."
   Mr. Carlson said Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa will be represented at the festival through the performances of four organizations including Temple Beth-El, Christian Community Chapel, Mary Mother of God Church, and First Baptist Church of Lincoln Garden in Franklin.
   He said Miche Braden, a professional singer, will represent Kwanzaa at the festival.
   "We’re trying to have different faiths explain a little about their music tradition and the significance of their faiths," said Mr. Carlson.
   He said that last year, the first year of the event, 200 to 250 people attended the festival, which is free to the public. He said the commission is hoping for more people this year.
   "It’s part of a great program we’re putting on for the community," said Michael Goldberg, vice chairman of the commission. "It’s a wonderful way for the people in the community to get together and spend some time enjoying the holiday season."
   The eighth annual toy drive sponsored by Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 is under way, and donations of new, unwrapped toys for infants up to 17 years old will be accepted until Dec. 14.
   "They aren’t shipped out of town. They (the toys) all go locally to the people who actually are in need in Hillsborough who are on the Social Services roster," said Joe Mitzen, a firefighter and one of the organizers of the toy drive.
   Mr. Mitzen[bwo: or Mitzen, as above?: ] said toys should be received by Dec. 14, but the company will accept toys after that for last minute deliveries or for the following year.
   "Last year, we did really good and hopefully this year we’ll do even better," said Mr. Mitzen.
   The following list includes the various drop-off locations that residents can bring their toys:
   Hillsborough Pathmark on 315 Route 206, Hillsborough Super Stop & Shop on 649 Route 206, Hillsborough ShopRite on Route 206 and Amwell, Bagelicious on 601 Route 206, Hallmark on Route 206, Hillsborough Fire Safety Department in the Municipal Building on South Branch Road, the Hillsborough Police Deparment on South Branch Road, Bagel Bop on 670 Amwell Road, Worden+ Green Century 21, Hillsborough K-Mart on 256 Route 206, Provident Bank on Route 206, Amboy National Bank on 32 New Amwell Road, Hillsborough Exxon on Triangle Road and Route 206, Hillsborough Motor Works on 104 Steinmetz Rd, Peapack Gladstone Bank on 417 Route 206, Collision Auto Tech on West Camplain Road in Manville, Kindercare on 756 Route 206, Happy Hearts Day Care on 67 New Amwell Road, Kiddie Academy on 133 Stryker Lane, and Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Co # 2 on 375 Route 206.