By: centraljersey.com
UPPER FREEHOLD — The Monmouth County Park System has announced the opening of a new trail in the township.
The Union Transportation Trail was once the Pemberton and Hightstown Railroad, a short line right-of-way established in 1864 to provide dairies and farms access to larger railroads at junctions in Pemberton and Hightstown. In 1888, the Union Transportation Company acquired the line which thrived until the New Jersey Turnpike was constructed in the 1950s, cutting the rail off from its Hightstown junction. Ceasing operation completely in the 1970s, the right-of-way was later acquired by Jersey Central Power & Light. In 1998, the Park System leased the right-of-way for 99 years, preserving it for possible reactivation as a rail corridor in the future.
The first 1.4 miles of the new Union Transportation Trail is the county’s second rail trail and will be opened and dedicated during a public ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday. This portion of the gravel trail includes a rehabilitated historic wood trestle bridge over Lahaway Creek, which is one of the few physical remnants of the old railroad. Two parking lots and access points are available at both Millstream Road and Jonathan Holmes Road. All are welcome to the ceremony, which will feature dedication speeches, a ribbon-cutting, and light refreshments.
For more information about this and other Park System events, please visitwww.monmouthcountyparks.com or call (732) 842-4000.
Candidates forum
The League of Women Voters of East Windsor—Hightstown, in conjunction with the TV production class at Hightstown High School, is sponsoring a Hightstown Council and Mayoral Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
Open to the public, it will take place from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. in the media room (room 601) at HHS, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
The candidates for three-year terms for two seats on the council are incumbent Democrats Jeff and Walter Sikorski and Republicans Selena Bibens and Lynne Woods. The candidates for four-year terms as mayor are Democrat Steve Kirson and Republican Robert Thibault.
The election is Nov. 2.In an effort to have a diverse set of questions from the community, the questions from the audience and the League of Women Voters will be submitted in writing and will be read by the moderator, who will be a member of the League from outside the area.
As in the past, the TV production class of Hightstown High’s David Hecker will videotape the forum. The forum will be shown on the East Windsor Regional School District’s cable station (Channel 27 for Comcast and Verizon Fios Channel 38.) The scheduled air times are Saturday and Sunday Oct. 16 and 17 and Oct. 23 and 24, at noon, 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

