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President's Message

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Hillsborough website. On these pages you’ll learn about how our club fulfills our mission of service above self while enjoying the fellowship of a diverse group of men and women who come together to make a positive and lasting impact in our community and the world. Our Club meets at 6:15 PM at The Landing restaurant (311 Amwell R., Hillsborough) on the first and third Wednesdays of the month to share a meal and friendship, plan service projects and hear interesting speakers. For those who cannot attend in-person, we also Zoom our meetings. We welcome new members who share our commitment to our community and wish to participate in local service projects, as well as fun social events. If you are interested in joining us, or simply learning more about our club, please contact me by email at richsalem@comcast.net and we will respond by phone or email. Additionally, you can learn more about the worldwide reach of Rotary at www.Rotary.org. Thank you for visiting our website. We hope to meet you soon.

Rich Salem,

President

Book Donations Fund Rotary Projects

Pictured above from left to right: Rotarian Bob Wagner, Ben Rozenblat, Rich Salem, New Legacy Books representative Mathew Laiacona, Mayor Shawn Lipani, Committee Woman Janine Erickson, and Town Administrator, Anthony Ferrera

Used Book Donations Help FundRotary Club of Hillsborough Foundation

Beginning in April, residents can now turn their used books into a charitable donation by depositing them in the New Legacy Books bin located in the Hillsborough Township Municipal Center parking lot adjacent to the soccer fields. New Legacy Books will collect and resell the donated books and provide a percentage of sales to The Rotary Club of Hillsborough Foundation.

“This partnership with New Legacy Books is one of those rare, win/win opportunities,” commented Rich Salem, president of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough. “Families have an opportunity to clean out their bookshelves while helping to fund a variety of community service projects and charitable contributions led by Rotary.”

“Our Township government immediately endorsed this plan and provided a prime location for the bin,” noted Ben Rozenblat, incoming president of The Rotary Club of Hillsborough. “The funds generated by the book donations will be used to support everything from post-secondary school scholarships to gift cards distributed to local food-insecure families by the Hillsborough Community Action Network”

“We are always happy to partner with the Rotary Club of Hillsborough,” noted Hillsborough Mayor and member of the Rotary Club, Shawn Lipani. “By supporting this fundraising project, we are also supporting our town.”

New Legacy Books was founded as a for-profit business in New Jersey by two Monmouth University graduates who made it their mission to give back to their communities through the sale and redistribution of donated books.

Residents can drive up to the bin, day or night, and deposit their gently used books, including text books, novels, non-fiction, children’s books, cookbooks etc.

Thank You!

Keeping Graduates Safe on Their Big Night

The Rotary Club of Hillsborough recently continued a club tradition by contributing to Project Graduation, the organization dedicated to creating a safe, fun event for Hillsborough High Seniors on graduation night. Pictured above acknowledging the donation are Project Graduation Co-Chair Karen Briegs (left) and Rotary Club of Hillsborough President, Rich Salem. For more information about Project Graduation, contact Karen Briegs or Michelle Bauman at HHSRaiderPG@gmail.com.

Celebrating Hillsborough History With Girl Scouts

Above: Girl Scouts from Troop 60143 show off their "Letterbox" History Project

On a recent Wednesday evening, the Rotary Club of Hillsborough was treated to an enjoyable and highly educational Zoom presentation by three Troop 60143 Girl Scouts - Marisa, Kathleen and Elina - who created a “Letterbox” scavenger hunt in Hillsborough highlighting many of the Town's historical sites in recognition of Hillsborough’s 250 anniversary. The project encourages residents to seek out selected historical landmarks where they can find special letterboxes with an interactive component. The project was funded, in part, by a contribution from the Rotary Club of Hillsborough. Link to project website: (https://gshnjsu72.blogspot.com/2020/12/girl-scout-silver-award-challenges.html?fbclid=IwAR2g2Kx8QOFuxAweDKp7Ax1Q8pogP4ReqmtoCYUKu8qhj4s7TZpBRnt8WjA )

Bringing Holiday Cheer to Those in Need

On Friday, December 18, the Rotary Club of Hillsborough continued its long holiday tradition of supporting the efforts of the Hillsborough Social Services department by donating thousands of dollars of gift cards and helping to sort donated gifts for Hillsborough families in need.

Rotary Honors Veterans at National Ceremony

On Saturday afternoon, December 19, members of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough joined hundreds of local residents at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Hillsborough to participate in a nationwide ceremony to remember and honor veterans, both living and deceased, for their sacrifices in defending our freedom. Manville Mayor Richard Onderko presided over the ceremony, which opened with the presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 193, the Pledge of Allegiance by Girl Scout Troop 60171, and a moving rendition of the National Anthem by Dustin Ciano on trumpet. Manville High School student Cami Toth sang God Bless America and Father Stan Slaby of Christ the Redeemer Parish delivered the invocation and closing benediction. The ceremony included remarks from veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. After the playing of Taps, attendees laid memorial wreaths on veterans’ graves.

Girl Scouts Complete Silver Project

With a little monetary support from the Rotary Club of Hillsborough, Chiara and Alexa (pictured below), scouts of Troop 60143, were able to complete their Silver Award project, which is the project required of Girl Scouts seeking the highest scouting honor. The scouts created 40 Halloween costumes, 14 blankets, and constructed a cart with a variety of art supplies, all to help raise the spirits of young hospitalized children. Go Girl Scouts!

Zoom Into Rotary

The Coronavirus may have temporarily changed the way we meet, but the Rotary Club of Hillsborough continues to conduct our bimonthly meetings via Zoom. We welcome those interested in learning more about our Rotary club to join us - virtually for now - on any third Wednesday of the month.

Please contact me with your preferred email address at richsalem@comcast.net and I will forward the Zoom link the afternoon of our next public meeting. In the interim, have a look around this website. You'll find some examples of how we give back to the community throughout the year and enjoy fun social events as well.

There is no better time to give back to our community, and no better place to do so than with your neighbors and friends in Rotary. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Rich Salem

President

Rotary Club of Hillsborough