By Matt Nelson, Special Writer
Last Friday, the Hightstown Farmers Market by the Lake reopened for its fourth consecutive year.
The market will open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight, Friday, at Memorial Park alongside Peddie Lake.
At the June 8 launch, there were vendors on hand selling their products to patrons along with music by The Hights Tones, a Hightstown High School male a cappella singing group.
Among the vendors were the Happy Wanderer Bakery, Stace of Cakes, Incredible Kettle Corn, Unionville Vineyards, Tumbleweed & Eddie’s and The Artisan Tree.
Market organizer Chris Moraitis, of Hightstown says, “Over the last three years, we’ve continually (gotten) better vendors. Tom Muza has worked with a lot of vendors and knows a lot of people in this industry and they are now contacting us and we’re trying to balance the amount of vendors we have knowing the amount of patronage we have.”
The Hightstown Farmers Market kicked off at 4 p.m. as Mother Nature had an effect on the event just 45 minutes into its return. After 10 minutes, the rain left the parade and The Hights Tones began to set up and prepare to sing.
”As 6 p.m. rolls around, the more people come. Our goal is make this a destination, not just come buy your groceries and go home. We want people to stay. It’s a place where people come socialize and have an opportunity to see friends they haven’t seen in a week,” said Tom Muza, of Hightstown, a market organizer.
The other two men who helped organize the event are Jeff Belpanno and Pete Klapsegeorge, both of Hightstown.
Estelle Orr, of Trenton, is the owner of Happy Wanderer Bakery in Trenton.
”We have a lot of customers who want to come back and buy our products, a lot of customers who want to try something for the first time. The music brings a lot of people to this event, including Antwan Michael, who tried out for American Idol last year,” says Ms. Orr.
Rob Lore, of New Brunswick worked the Incredible Kettle Corn vendor and it’s in its second year of being part of the Hightstown Farmers Market.
”I like doing the one in Hightstown. It may not always be extremely busy like some of the big events, but the community is out. You see a lot of the same people. A lot of the same vendors come out to Hightstown, so I think that’s cool,” said Mr. Lore.
Philip Clingerman of East Windsor says, “it’s fun to come out every year and see what the local companies are selling rather than chain grocery stores. This night is also very special because my son Billy is in his last performance with The Hights Tones.”
The Hights Tones consists of students from the choral program at Hightstown High School and is under the direction of Catherine Anzuini of East Windsor, Charles Ernst, and Lisa Ernst, both of whom live in Hightstown.
This was the last performance for The Hights Tones in the 2011-12 calendar year and for some, it was their last performance as a member of a high school singing group. Michael Kesting of East Windsor is one of those seniors moving on to a new experiences. He graduated from Hightstown High School last night.
Mr. Kesting sid, “I love performing in Hightstown. It’s been great performing in the farmers market, especially with all my friends for the last two years. It’s a bittersweet moment, I’m moving on, but it’s been fun and I’m really going to miss it next year.”
”I had a blast with The Hights Tones this year. It was my only year and now I’m graduating from high school and I’m going to miss a lot of these students,” said Billy Clingerman of East Windsor.
This is the fourth year of the Hightstown Farmers Market and it will continue every Friday until Sept. 28 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 22 will feature a movie night to watch “Dolphin Tale” at 8 p.m. weather permitting. The Charlie Ernst Trio will also perform next week.
Visit www.hightstownfarmersmarket.org for more information about upcoming events throughout the summer months.

