By: centraljersey.com
On behalf of Downtown Hightstown Inc., we would like to thank Chris Moraitis and Tom Muza for organizing and managing this year’s Farmers’ Market by the Lake. Additionally, we would like to thank the wonderful vendors and talented musicians who participated in the market this year.
In addition to providing patrons with fresh local produce, entertainment and specialty items, they created a palpable sense of community every Friday night of this summer.
It’s amazing how the market – only in its second year – has already become a staple of the summer landscape in the downtown district. It was particularly encouraging to see all the parking spaces (from the municipal lot on Main Street all the way to the Wachovia Bank lots) fill up with cars, as residents and passersby stopped to shop, dine, stroll, and enjoy our town center.
The market enabled Friday nights in Hightstown to become an exciting blend of commerce, food, music, and – thanks to the Friday Night Swims, which offered training opportunities for the Hightstown Triathlon – recreation on Peddie Lake.
We are grateful to Chris and Tom for all their hard work in growing the market each year, and we look forward to supporting the weekly market again next summer. For information about other upcoming events in Hightstown, subscribe to our weekly e-mail list at www.DowntownHightstown.org.
Lev Golinkin, Amanda Porter co-chairs organization committee Downtown Hightstown Inc.
Resident questions Twin Rivers audit
To the editor:
I am obliged to report that for the second time in the last 10 years that I know of, Twin Rivers was hit by the state of New Jersey for a tax audit amounting to at least $18,650 (this figure is shown in our bills paid report).
However, based upon the previous tax audit I think there is a lot to be explained by our board of directors as to why we were audited again by the state and why the audit was never publicly announced at an open board meeting. But I am getting ahead of myself.
About 10 years ago Twin Rivers was notified by the state of a pending tax audit. This notification was part of the minutes for all the homeowners’ information. A month later, at the next board meeting, the board allocated about $5,000 for their accountant to represent us in the tax audit. About eight months after the state notice of the audit, board President Scott Pohl wrote in Twin Rivers Today that we were assessed $21,000 in unpaid sales tax and about $12,000 in interest. Mr. Pohl blamed the Committee for a Better Twin Rivers and stated had the CBTR not triggered the audit, "this oversight" might not have been found.
I’ve been asking the following questions about this matter, but not gotten answers.
– Why wasn’t the board of directors notified at an open board meeting about the current tax audit?
– According to what I was told, this time we did not hire an accountant to represent us with the state and I want to know why not.
– We were told that our budget for the last two years was a bare-bones budget, so out of what line item did this $18,650 come from?
– The Committee for a Better Twin Rivers has not been in existence for many years so who should the board be blaming for this tax audit?
– Although we were told that the tax audit was for sales use tax for the years 2005 through 2009 why am I not being allowed to see the results of what the state found?
By refusing to make public the current tax audit results I am wondering what the board of directors is hiding.
Al Wally Twin Rivers
Editor’s note: Mr. Pohl says he did not blame the CBTR for the audit, and the board was notified of the audit at an open meeting.
Triathlon was ‘awesome’
To the editor:
What happens when a couple of people who live in and love Hightstown and also happen to love triathlons get together? The craziest things!
We find out that week after week the water in Peddie Lake is safe and clean. We have people from all over the area come into town every Friday night for the rare opportunity to practice open water swimming (in a fun, safe and laid-back environment). People in the area, young and old, make the decision to get into shape and train, train, train for a big event.
Officials from Hightstown, East Windsor and Robbinsville who don’t always get along work quickly and cooperatively to approve a new bike course. Volunteers from all walks of life give up their weekend (and get up in the dark hours of Sunday morning, even) to keep strangers safe and cheer them on with miles of smiles. EMS support, police and fire police support, the list goes on and on. Local businesses sponsor the event and donate time, money and goodies to make it all happen.
Hightstown is spotlighted for people both near and far for triathlon weekend. I can’t think of a better way for people to get to know this town. I’ve lived in East Windsor for most of my life, and I saw Hightstown in its very best light. The residents have a lot to be proud of here, and this weekend showed the best of the best.
This was my first experience participating in a triathlon, and it was awesome! I was so proud to be on my "home turf." Thanks to Darek and crew for making this all possible!
Mary Rosenberger East Windsor

