STILLWATER TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
BICENTENNIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
A REGULAR MEETING of the Stillwater Township Committee was called to order by Mayor L. Chammings at 6:00 p.m. Mayor L. Chammings stated that this meeting is being held in compliance with the provisions of P.L. 1975, Ch. 231, Secs. 4 & 13 the Sunshine Law and that adequate notice of the meeting has been published in the New Jersey Herald as to the time, place, and date of meetings, and is posted in the usual location of posted notices in the municipal building as well as electronically on the township website.
ROLL CALL:
Town Committee: Committeeman D. Manser, Committeewoman D. Delaney, Deputy Mayor V. Rumsey, Mayor L. Chammings
Recreation Commission: Mrs. Minervino, Mrs. Falotico, Mrs. Trotter, Mrs. DiBattista, Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. Tosti
Absent: Committeeman G. Scott and Mr. Carovillano
FLAG SALUTE: Led by Mayor L. Chammings
DISCUSSION: Stillwater Township Bicentennial Celebration
The Historical Society will start off the bicentennial celebration downtown on Main Street from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. There will be a horse and carriage ride from 11-1, artisans will line the streets to give demonstrations on crafting goods. They currently have 18 artisans that will be dressed up and giving demonstrations. Phyllis stated that she contacted the Stillwater Township School and that they will be doing a time capsule that they will bury during their event.
The Historical Society event will start setting up in the morning. They will all gather in front of the white hall house and have a demonstration of a desk signing as if the town was being founded that day at 11:00 am. They are having a plaque made to present to the Mayor. They will also have a Proclamation made for that day, which the Mayor can read to everyone. They will contact the Township Journal or the Herald to have the press there for pictures. Recreation member G. Richards stated that she has Victorian dresses that she can loan people who want to dress up but don’t have a costume. The Stillwater Township School Principal and some students will present the time capsule. They are having a flag made and will raise the flag at the house. The church bells will ring and the day will be started!
The Historical Society will be giving historical tours, reenactments, living history, and the museum will be open. There will also be a horse and carriage ride up and down main street. Andy & Beth Martin will be giving tours. They are looking for young boys to dress up as newsboys and distribute pamphlets. Recreation member J. Minervino will contact Troop 83 cub scouts to see if there is anyone interested in participating. They will print an itinerary for the day to hand out as people arrive. Andy Martin will work on putting together an informational pamphlet for the Minisink press to print. Committeewoman D. Delaney stated that she would need about two weeks to be able to print the pamphlets. Stillwater Township will pay for the cost to print the pamphlets. The Historical Society is also having glasses made.
The Historical Society also discussed having banners put under the flags on Main Street. Phyllis displayed three different designs that she had drawn up for options for the banners. The banners will be approximately 2’ x 4’ in size and hang vertically on the poles. A permit would need to be approved by JCP&L to hang banners on their poles. Clerk V. Ingles asked Phyllis to note the number on the poles when deciding which to hang banners on, it would be needed for the permit from JCP&L. They would also like to hang a large banner across Main Street. A suggestion was made to put the banners out to be sponsored by residents or have residents purchase a banner to display in front of their homes so that the Historical Society doesn’t need to purchase them all themselves.
The Stillwater Fire Department will sell food on Main Street during 11 am-1 pm. Public attending the event can park at the elementary school and walk over.
The parade to Veteran’s Park will begin at 1:00 pm by Main Street. Trailers/vehicles can park at the Stillwater Fire House and drive their tractor to the school to line up for the parade. Walkers can park at the Stillwater Municipal Office to join and walk the remainder of the way to Veterans’ Park. Mayor L. Chammings and Committeeman D. Manser will coordinate the parade from the application with the county for the road closures, Sheriff’s Department for traffic control, road closure signs from the Sheriff’s Department, and coordinating the lineup downtown and at the Municipal Office. The parade will commence at Veteran’s Park at 2:00 pm to kick start the celebration at the park. The Fire Department will lead the parade and have a vehicle at the end of the parade. They will only be driving the apparatuses as it will be hot and it’s too far for the volunteers to walk if they need to leave for a call.
Vendors participating at Veteran’s Park can begin set up at 10:30 am and must be completely set up by 1:00 – 1:30 pm. Recreation Chairwoman T. Tosti stated that the artisans participating downtown are more than welcome to attend the event at Veteran’s Park as well. She can have a tent set up just for them to continue their demonstrations for families attending the event.
Recreation Chairwoman T. Tosti explained that she will have one stage from All Access hopefully free of charge as they’ve done in the past. Mayor L. Chammings will supply a second stage for the day. The stages and tents will be set up on Friday, June 6th. There will be two bands that will be playing throughout the day at Veteran’s Park. The Snake Oil Willie Band will be there to set up at about 9:00 am. They will perform three, one-hour sets starting at 5:00 pm. The other band, who is still to be determined, will play from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on the second stage. Recreation has a new quiet generator that they purchased that the bands can use for power.
Recreation member H. Falitaco stated that she has four definite food vendors so far. The Sugar Shack ice cream, Joanie’s Diner Food Truck, Defying Gravitea (a gluten-free bakery), El Fogon del Quijote, and possibly Rub it Right BBQ. The Stillwater Fire Department will also be giving food out during the event. They will consider selling beer starting at 4 or 5 pm and will need to apply for a social affairs permit.
The fireworks are reserved with a rain date of Sunday, June 8, 2025. The fireworks will be at dusk from the back of the field. The Stillwater Fire Department will be ready, they will need enough space to drive a truck back there before the show starts.
Recreation Chair T. Tosti stated that she contacted the Stillwater Elementary School to see if they thought the students could write an essay regarding Stillwater Township history. All the essays could be displayed at the park, and a winner can be awarded that day.
In the event of bad weather, the rain date will be called by 3 pm on Friday, June 6th so that adequate notice can be given to the volunteers, fireworks, bands, vendors, etc. Recreation Chair T. Tosti, Historical Society President D. Drumm and Mayor L. Chammings will make the call if the rain date needs to be used.
There will be another Bicentennial Workshop meeting on Tuesday, March 25th at 6:00 pm. All are welcome to join and participate in the planning of the day.
The Historical Society/Recreation Commission will bring a draft for the flyer to the next meeting for approval. The date and times for the event can be posted on socials and the website for now, so people know to save the date. It will also be advertised now that there will be fireworks that evening for residents in the area.
ADJOURNMENT
A MOTION was made by Deputy Mayor V. Rumsey and seconded by Committeeman D. Manser, with all members in favor, to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Ingles
Municipal Clerk
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