CHARTER DAY MAY 19, 2007 TO CELEBRATE HISTORY, THE ARTS, MUSIC, & FUN

By June Kennedy

Bernards Township's 13th Annual Charter Day Festival promises to be a fun and festive day with its vendors, displays, service groups and strong emphasis on history. There will be a complete history village!

Expected visitors to the downtown Basking Ridge celebration reach over 10,000, with festivities beginning at 11 A.M., with local, County and State dignitaries present. The Town Crier Hank Barre and the Rural Felicity Fife and Drum Corps will conduct opening ceremonies.

The Brick Academy will be open for the entire day. On the main floor will be many artifacts for the public to view, in addition to touring the building. All visitors to the Brick Academy will be given a complimentary vintage map.

The Academy's lower level will host the Senior Art Show, with more than a dozen water color entries by beginner and advanced students of the renowned artist, Linda Arnold of Liberty Corner, who holds classes at the Community Center. The exhibit is sponsored by the Bernards Township Parks and Recreation Department.

On the same floor will be an exhibit by the Friends of the Kennedy Martin‑Stelle Farmstead, which is located on King George Road. There will be a representative of the Friends to answer questions, in addition to a model of the complex, photographs and literature. The Kennedy‑Martin Stelle Farmstead was listed on the NJ State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2002.

In Westminster Hall of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church will be a Student Art Show featuring art of mixed media from local schools. George Fricke, Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church historian, will be available for tours of the historic churchyard. There will be fire and first aid exhibit areas on the main thoroughfare.

In addition to the Academy's emphasis on history, a Sutler's village and Revolutionary war Encampment will be located on the Green/Gazebo property, North Finley Avenue and Allen Street, to the rear of the Academy. The 18th century village will include master storytellers and musicians. The 4th New Jersey Regiment, a reenactment group presenting experiences from the 18th Century, will set up a small village and stage connected with a straw path guiding visitors through various offerings.

The History Village consists of approximately 22 people who will present some events hourly, with others provisational. Historical items will be sold. Rural Felicity, a 7-piece musical troupe with expertise in colonial music, will continue to play throughout the day in the Gazebo.

Entertainment of the day will include The Infernos, a musical group performing for the evening dance portion, sponsored by VERIZON. The Battle of the Bands event, sponsored by the Copper Springs Tennis Club, will take place from 4 to 9:30 P.M. at the Henry Street Stage.

Other entertainment throughout the day will include the Banjo Ragtimers, a Dixieland Jazz Band, jugglers, a magician, stilt walkers, a magic show, and lots of balloons.

The Oak Street School field will be the scene of rides, attractions, and a including a moonwalk.

The day commemorates the 248th anniversary of the May 24, 1760 granting of a Charter by King George II of England, establishing Bernardston Township. This act was as a courtesy and in appreciation for the services of Francis Bernard, Royal Governor of New Jersey 1758-1760, who was leaving to become Royal Governor of Massachusetts.

The day promises to be one filled with crafts, games, rides, music, art, food, vendors, historical displays, local school and organizations' participation.

Basking Ridge will be the "in place" to be on Saturday, May 19. What better way to celebrate the Township's history than by living it? Happy Birthday, Bernards Township!

For additional information regarding exhibits or to request booth space for the Basking Ridge Charter Day Festival, please contact:

Basking Ridge Parks & Recreation Dept.
1 Collyer Lane Basking Ridge 07920
recreation@bernards.org
Tel: 908-204-3003