Bridgewater Man Retires From Y Board After 20 Years

Jim Redington was honored at a recent ceremony.

A Bridgewater resident was honored for 20 years of service to the Somerset Valley YMCA after he stepped down from the board of directors Dec. 31. James Redington spent 20 years on the board, and is a longtime member of the Bridgewater YMCA. “Jim was a conscientious board member who worked tirelessly to get things done,” said YMCA board chair Andrea Thorne in a release. “He gave his time and talents for over 20 plus years, and always enjoyed helping impact the community he served. I will miss his contributions at board meetings and his great sense of humor.” Redington, the release said, served on the building and grounds committee at the Y, and was instrumental in opening the Hillsborough branch on East Mountain Road. “Jim was always …

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YMCA Pool to Reopen at Noon

It closed Saturday because of a circuit breaker problem.

The pool at the Bridgewater YMCA is expected to reopen at noon Monday after being closed for two days because of a problem with the circuit breaker, according to Bev McCarron, with the YMCA. According to McCarron, the pool closed originally at 1 p.m. Saturday. "There was a problem with a circuit breaker that is used to run the pool pump," she said. McCarron said a piece had to be replaced, but the part was not readily available and had to be overnighted. "It came this morning and repairs are underway," she said. Tim Dry, Bridgewater Family YMCA executive director, said members used the pools in Hillsborough and Somerville this past weekend. "We're pleased we were able to get the part so quickly, make the repair and re-open the pool for our…

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Pedestrian Safety Options Eyed for Garretson Road

Police consider whether steps should be taken after a teen was hit by a car Thursday.

The police department will be reviewing its options for a new traffic study to determine if any action can and should be taken following Thursday's incident in which a 14-year-old was hit by a teen driver as she crossed Garretson Road to the high school. The girl was in the crosswalk walking from the Bridgewater YMCA to the Bridgewater-Raritan High School when she was hit by an oncoming car. She suffered non life-threatening injuries in the incident. Parents have said they believe there should be an officer stationed at the crosswalks to try to prevent this from happening again. Bridgewater Township Police Chief Richard Borden said there have been many traffic studies, township engineering studies and independent engineering studies over …

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5 Things

5 Things to Know About Bridgewater SWIM

Check out our list to get your day started.

Bridgewater SWIM is holding two sessions Wednesday at the Bridgewater YMCA for exercise opportunities for those having difficulty with mobility. The first session will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a second from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. In honor of these sessions, we present five things to know about the organization.

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Swimmer's Olympic Trial Experience 'Best in the World'

Hillsborough's Mike Vernoia falls short of making U.S. team, but enjoys challenge of facing nation's best.

He has been swimming since he was a student at Immaculata High School, and now the Hillsborough resident has one more thing to add to his resume—participation in the Olympic trials this year in Omaha, Neb. Michael Vernoia, 21, participated in this year’s trials in swimming after qualifying in a competition last year in the 200 and 400 freestyles. “You have to get a certain time, and then you qualify to go to the meet,” he said. “It was a really cool experience, and I was happy to go and do it.” Vernoia took to the pool among 900 swimmers from around the country, knowing that only 25 would be selected for the U.S. Olympic team. He said the swimmers who qualify finish in the top-two in their events. Although Vernoia only finished 60th in the…

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5 Things

5 Things to Know About YMCA Solar Project

Check out our list to help get your day started.

The Bridgewater YMCA will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday while the electricity is turned off for the final phase of the county's solar panel project at the location. So to keep everyone apprised of the project, we present five facts to know about the solar panel project. *Just a note, the Hillsborough and Somerville branches of the Somerset Valley YMCA will remain open all day.

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Bridgewater Resident Helps African Orphanage

Children's Nest Trust holds event at Bridgewater YMCA.

Representatives of the Children's Nest Trust held a fundraiser Saturday at the Bridgewater YMCA to raise money to help rebuild an orphanage destroyed by a fire. The event included vendors, live music, a DJ and other activities. The event was organized by Arielle Benard, of Bridgewater, to help a friend who is working at the orphanage in Africa.  "The orphanage helps children with HIV or AIDS or their parents died of HIV or AIDS," Benard said. "They just had an arson attack that burned the building, and thankfully no one was harmed."  The orphanage has 67 children who live, receive medical attention and go to school there. The goal of the event was to raise $2,000 with matching funds coming from a contribution Impact Television LLC.  "That …

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Bridgewater Woman Hosting Fundraiser for Orphanage

The Children's Nest Trust in Africa lost part of its building to a fire.

It was the work of arson that burned down a large part of an African orphanage helping children affected by HIV and AIDS—and now one Bridgewater resident is trying to help give them back what they lost. Arielle Benard, of Bridgewater, is holding a Children's Nest Trust fundraiser June 16 at the Bridgewater YMCA to raise money to help rebuild that home. According to Benard, the Children's Nest Trust is an orphanage in Zambia providing housing and education for children either with the disease or who have primary caregivers who passed away from it. But now, she said, the trust is in trouble. "On April 10 of this year, an arsonist burned down one of their two houses, and the goal of this fundraiser is to help rebuild that house," she said. …

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Microsoft Workers Take Time to Volunteer

Employees of the Bridgewater store volunteer at the YMCA.

The Somerset Valley YMCA hosted 36 volunteers from Microsoft’s Bridgewater Commons Mall retail store at the Bridgewater Family YMCA branch on May 4. “Our employees are having a great experience. Being actively involved in the community is a key part of how Microsoft Store operates. We are thrilled to be at the Bridgewater Y,” said Nicole D. Owens, community development specialist with the Microsoft Store. This is the first retail location for Microsoft in New Jersey and in the Northeast. Even before it opens its doors, all of the Bridgewater Microsoft Store staff spent a full day with SVY doing various projects—expanding the sand volley ball court, planting flower beds, building a deck in the high ropes area and re-painting the pavilion’s …

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YMCA Promotes Good Health With Games, Activities

Bridgewater facility also provides information about upcoming camps.

The Bridgewater YMCA held a Healthy Kids Day Saturday to promote summer programs and good health of children.  A number of activities were offered as well as organizations promoting good health and activities. During the day, children were given the opportunity to make craft projects, get an archery lesson or play volleyball. Different groups presented information about the Somerset Valley YMCA's summer camp, dental care and teen smoking. Here are photos of the Hillsborough YMCA and Basking Ridge YMCA Healthy Kids days.

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