2025 at 7:37 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The road was closed at Finderne Avenue NJ — Union Avenue in the Finderne Section of Bridgewater Township has reopened following a disabled tractor trailer on Tuesday morning The road was closed at Finderne Avenue around 6:10 a.m "A tractor trailer became disabled while traveling north on Finderne Avenue at the intersection of Route 28 blocking the east and westbound lanes," said Bridgewater Police Lt Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2024) – Authorities were dispatched to the scene of an automobile accident that occurred on Wednesday morning and ended in injuries The Bridgewater Police Department was called to the scene at around 7:00 a.m Official reports indicate that a 2017 Mazda 3 was traveling in the area of Finderne Avenue and 4th Street when it became involved in a collision with a 2012 Honda Pilot The Finderne Volunteer Fire Department and paramedics from the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital responded to provide assistance Two people had to be extricated from their vehicles Both of the victims were transported by EMS to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital for emergency medical treatment of injuries The victims were identified as Marta Castillo De Rivera of Plainfield The Bridgewater Township Police Department is currently investigating the accident Car accidents in New Jersey result in thousands of injuries annually with some individuals sustaining severe injuries that profoundly impact their lives these accidents can hinder work and affect cherished activities with loved ones with many forced to bear high medical costs due to negligence enabling them to recover with peace of mind With extensive experience aiding injured individuals in the state of New Jersey we are dedicated to providing compassionate and knowledgeable legal support We offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your case ensuring you understand your rights and options Our team will work diligently to help you maximize your recovery Let us be your trusted advocates during this challenging time Brooklyn, NY (March 26, 2024) – A call was made to police in Brooklyn concerning a fatal traffic accident... read more Brooklyn, NY (January 12, 2023) – A fire was reported to officials in Brooklyn on the afternoon of January... read more Cumberland Co., NJ (June 28, 2024) – A driver lost their life, and four minor passengers were hurt when... read more Readington, NJ (July 04, 2022) – A house fire in Readington Township resulted in the death of two people... read more Atlantic County, NJ (February 20, 2024) – A man from Galloway lost his life in a head-on collision that... read more Staten Island, NY (November 28, 2024) – An injury car crash occurred on Wednesday in the Heartland Village neighborhood... read more Newark, NJ (December 28, 2022) – A traffic accident took place in the Fairmount section of Newark that resulted... read more Newark, NJ (December 29, 2022) – The police and firefighters responded to the scene of the crash that took... read more Brooklyn, NY (November 21, 2024) – An injury multi-car crash occurred early Thursday morning on the Brooklyn Queens Expy... read more Kearny, NJ (April 21, 2023) – A motorcyclist, age 45, lost his life in a traffic collision in the... read more Notes: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified If you identify any false information in the story or want the post removed and we will correct the information or remove the post Disclaimer: As a member of the local community we at Metro Law strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state We are extremely saddened by these accidents We hope awareness of these dangers allows our community to take precautions and avoid these accidents This information is not medical or legal advice We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident The photos depicted in this post are not from the actual accident scene 2025 at 11:26 am ETThe application is seeking to expand a gas station and add a food mart at 24 Finderne Ave (Google Maps)A rendering of the proposed expanded food mart (Bridgewater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment)BRIDGEWATER NJ — A proposal to expand a gas station off Finderne Avenue and add a new food mart in Bridgewater was met with safety concerns I've seen two people killed right opposite the gas station," said Anthony Cortese who lives around the corner on Bridgewater Avenue In 2020, a woman crossing Finderne Avenue was fatally hit by two vehicles. In 2022, a 11-year-old Bridgewater girl was fatally hit by a pickup truck while riding her bike in the area The Bridgewater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment heard the application by Gurmukh Oil previously received approval to expand the convenience store from 593 square feet to 1,097 square feet back in 2017 A building permit was issued in 2019 with the condition that one wall remain standing since the property was non-conforming all four walls of the structure were removed and new dispensers have been installed on the property Now the new owner and applicant is asking to keep the existing approval from 2017 the same where they want to increase the size by 153 square feet to a total of 1,250 square feet Zoning Board Chairman Jeffrey Foose noted the property already has a zoning violation and the Township Zoning Officer wrote a letter to the Board alerting them to this "the area under construction has created a dangerous situation," read Foose at the meeting "The Zoning Officer has jurisdiction and he is saying that there’s a dangerous site condition," said Foose "And you have to be very gentle with this neighborhood They’ve had tremendous tragedy in the last few years I don’t want to create another dangerous situation And God forbid anything as terrible happens again - I certainly don’t want any hand in that Simon agreed to have a safety fence installed on the property the following day to address the issue Cortese questioned the applicant about what they would be doing about safety "I formally would take my gas can and walk across Finderne Avenue to get gas for my lawn mower I no longer do that because Finderne Avenue is now a raceway It’s not what it used to be," said Cortese who lives off Second Street requested that a traffic study be performed for this application "Finderne Avenue is one of the most heavily trafficked roads; it's a two-way street across four lanes," said Jardine who noted that the gas station has an entrance and exit on Finderne Avenue Jardine raised concerns if traffic from the gas station backed up on Findene Avenue causing drivers to cut around on side streets "It is these types of situations that back up traffic causing cars that are already going too fast with no lights to cut through these streets at high speeds putting our children at risk," said Jardine The meeting was stopped due to time and the application will continue to be heard at the May 13 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting at 7 p.m at the Bridgewater Township Municipal Building at 100 Commons Way To view the full application click here BRIDGEWATER – The multifamily housing boom in Central Jersey may not be bypassing this township The township Zoning Board of Adjustment will have a public hearing on Tuesday on a plan to build 22 townhouses in the Finderne section has proposed the townhouses in four buildings at 19-21 Mount Pleasant Ave next to the Mount Pleasant Villas apartment community not far from the intersection of Finderne Avenue and East Main Street Mount Pleasant Villas is in the township's affordable housing plan and has 44 low-income units and 40 moderate-income units Access to the townhouses would be through a portion of Mt The three-bedroom townhouses will occupy four buildings Two of the buildings will have four units while the other two will have seven units Local: Nestlé in Bridgewater marks milestone in advancing nutrition and sustainability The application requires a use variance because townhouses are not a permitted use on the 1.24-acre property which is zoned for single-family homes To the west and north of the project are single-family homes have been approved for single-family homes by the township Planning Board The project also requires variances for density – zoning permits 4.35 units per acre while the proposal calls for 11.3 units Variances are also needed for floor area ratio Tuesday's meeting is only on the use variance The meeting will also include a public hearing on the proposal of 1200 Route 22 Land Investors and 12 Route 22 Holding to build a 179,973-square-foot warehouse behind an office building on eastbound Route 22 between Adamsville Road and Woodside Lane A hearing on a proposal to demolish an office building on westbound Route 22 between Vosseller and Thompson avenues and build a self-storage facility has been postponed until Jan Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties please subscribe or activate your digital account today 2024 at 3:47 pm ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — Multiple emergency responders were called to battle a large shed fire in Bridgewater on Sunday At 4:16 p.m., Finderne Fire Department was called to Billian Street for a brush fire the fire was upgraded to a working shed fire with several structures heavily involved in the fire and Bridgewater Police Department also came out to help which covers the southeast section of Bridgewater Township Volunteers are offered complete protective gear If interested in joining or have any questions, contact the department through their Facebook page facebook.com/FinderneFD Home   News   Article A call is going out for help to keep the local countryside beautiful Dunphail and Edinkille are being invited to take part in the fifth annual Finderne Litter Pick coinciding with Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Spring Clean Scotland confirmed the Finderne litter picks started during lockdown when more people on its beautiful walks started noticing the litter problem 25 volunteers packed 56 black bin bags and 27 clear bin bags (for recyclable materials) Lisa said: “Being part of a collective effort across Finderne is motivating and has more impact It makes a huge difference to our walks and roadsides “There is a lot of littering and fly tipping in parts of the area fast food wrappers and vapes at the roadside It comes down to laziness or wanting to hide unhealthy habits “It’s mind-boggling that people don’t discard their refuse at home or at the Waterford Recycling Centre in Forres.” Spring Clean Scotland is an annual campaign to encourage Scots to tackle litter A total of 45,000 volunteers took part in last year’s event across all 32 local authorities With support from Finderne Development Trust and Moray Council Lisa sets up local volunteers with bin bags grabbers and bag rings encouraging them to conduct the pick at the most convenient time for them Moray Council collects the litter from designated locations Areas covered so far include the Divie Bridge and Logie to Dunphail and Half Davoch to lower and upper Rafford and Califer Hill Lisa finished: “If you have ever seen litter on a favourite walk or picnic area in Finderne please consider volunteering with us to keep our little gem beautiful and taking part together is a great way to make a difference and connect with like-minded neighbours who care about our wildlife and planet.” Email Lisa at beehomecottage@gmail.com or text her on 07981177625 2024 at 9:34 am ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Dunellen Defender Fire Company #1)(Dunellen Defender Fire Company #1)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER and Hunterdon counties all worked for hours to extinguish a multiple-alarm forest fire over the weekend in Bridgewater Township Green Brook and Dunellen fire departments were called to Route 22 in Green Brook for a brush fire Firefighters could not find the fire at the location and began driving west on Route 22 toward Bridgewater N Mountain Avenue in Bridgewater and Morning Glory Road in Warren were closed The departments that came to help or were covering for additional calls included: BRIDGEWATER – The death of an 11-year-old girl killed by a vehicle while riding her bicycle at the intersection of Fulton and 3rd streets earlier this month has prompted an online petition calling for more traffic safety measures in the Finderne neighborhood A Change.org petition has generated more than 2,100 signatures of the 2,500 goal since it was created by township resident Maikol Vargas "For over the last six months there has been a wave of car crashes and serious injuries in the intersections of Fulton Ave in 1st "The cause of this is due to reckless driving habits of local residents." Fulton Avenue is one block east of Finderne Avenue south of East Main Street is one of the most heavily travelled roads in Bridgewater "The speed limit is 25 and the stop signs are ineffective as I myself and dozens of witnesses can tell you people blow right through the stop signs without regard for human life," Vargas's petition continues "Speeds of 65 mph going down and up on this area has become common Earlier: Bridgewater student killed while bicycling was 'full of love and light' Messages left for Bridgewater police about the alleged car crashes have not been returned The petition says many children live in the neighborhood of duplexes and single-family homes behind Burger King at the intersection of Finderne Avenue and East Main Street Victoria Bastos was riding her bicycle with a friend when she was struck at the intersection of Fulton and 3rd streets by a 2021 GMC Sierra pickup truck a student at Hillside Intermediate School, was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset A GoFundMe campaign launched by Andrea Dinis Henriques has raised more than $71,500 of the $75,000 goal for the child's funeral The petition urges township officials to install speed bumps and marked crosswalks to protect children and pedestrians and reduce motor vehicle crashes "I do not want to see another family lose their child which is why this cause is so important because we want to prevent this from happening again," Vargas wrote in an update to the petition "I’ve spoken to many of the neighbors and we all agree speed bumps & removing parking spots that create blind spots will make a major difference." Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime 2024 at 9:04 am ETVolunteer firefighters extinguished the fire on Sunday (Finderne Fire Department)Volunteer firefighters extinguished the fire on Sunday NJ — A kitchen fire was reported at a Bridgewater home on Sunday morning Firefighters arrived to find a working well-involved kitchen fire and called Somerville Fire Department for help The fire was quickly placed under control and the scene was turned over to the Bridgewater Township Fire Marshal’s Office for investigation "The fire is currently under investigation and I am unable to comment on this at this time," said Bridgewater Police Lt 2024 at 8:58 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Construction Work (David Giuliani/Patch)BRIDGEWATER NJ — Construction is scheduled on Finderne Avenue causing lane closures and delays on Tuesday The northbound lanes of Finderne Avenue by the Van Veghten Bridge will be closed until around 3 p.m. The southbound lanes will be condensed to one lane in order to allow northbound traffic to pass Drivers should expect delays in the area and should seek an alternate route 2024 at 11:06 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The crash was reported around 7 a.m NJ — A serious motor vehicle crash with a double extrication is being reported on Wednesday morning in Bridgewater a crash was reported on Finderne Avenue near the intersection of 4th Street The vehicles involved in the crash were a 2017 Mazda 3 operated by Edward Carbonaro of Bridgewater operated by Marta Castillo De Rivera of Plainfield said Bridgewater Police Traffic Safety Sergeant Dan Hennessey Members of the Finderne Volunteer Fire Department and Robert Wood Johnson Hospital’s Paramedics also responded to the scene to render aid All parties involved in the crash were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick to be treated for their subsequent injuries North Main Street in Manville was also closed northbound into Bridgewater temporarily for the police investigation The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Bridgewater Township Police Department Traffic Safety Bureau and no charges have been filed at this time Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Officer Joseph Greco of the Bridgewater Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit at 908-722-4111 ext 2024 at 2:36 pm ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — A car trying to enter the Bridgewater Diner's parking lot caused a rollover crash on Route 22 East on Friday morning a 2017 Honda Accord being driven by a 32-year-old woman from North Brunswick was in the left lane of Route 22 East when it hit a Jaguar being driven by a 43-year-old woman from Old Bridge The Honda rolled over and hit three parked cars in the diner lot The driver of the Jaguar was found to be at fault in the crash and was issued a summons for unsafe lane change and careless driving The driver of the Jaguar had a minor injury to the head Volunteers are offered complete protective gear, free training, LOSAP (Length of Service Award Programs), a pay-per-call incentive, a life insurance/disability plan, and an in-house gym.If interested in joining or have any questions, contact the department through their Facebook page facebook.com/FinderneFD 2024 at 9:11 am ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BOUND BROOK NJ — Authorities are investigating a house fire at a Metape Circle home in Bound Brook on Sunday Bound Brook Police went to 269 Metape Circle North where they were initially met with heavy smoke conditions coming from the roof of the home and saw flames coming from what appeared to be the kitchen Officers quickly ascertained there was no one inside and turned the scene over to the Bound Brook Fire Department The fire drew help from Bound Brook Rescue Squad Finderne Rescue Squad and the Somerset County OEM Fire Mutual Aid Coordinators Mutual aid helped with both fire suppression and overhaul until about 5 p.m "Thanks to a quick response from first responders the home was able to be saved," said Colombaroni Bound Brook Fire Marshall’s office will be conducting the investigation Anyone with information regarding this fire is asked to call the Bound Brook Police at 732-356-0800 or the Somerset County tip line at 1-888-577- TIPS (8477) Finderne Fire was called to the Finderne Heights apartment complex off Dartmouth Avenue for a fire reported on the second floor of a building according to the volunteer fire department Firefighters worked for about 45 minutes to clear the scene There were no reported injuries and the fire is under investigation by the Bridgewater Township Fire Prevention Bureau 2023 at 11:23 am ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — Finderne volunteer firefighters rescued a trapped driver following a crash on Monday morning on Route 22 in Bridgewater A black Chevrolet Cruze was driving east on Route 22 when the driver tried to exit onto Finderne Avenue southbound when it crossed over into the northbound lane of Finderne Avenue That's when the Cruze hit a white Chevrolet Traverse that was stopped waiting to drive onto Route 22 The driver of the Cruze had minor injuries but was stuck in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Finderne Fire Department The roadway was shut down for about an hour and has since reopened The Bridgewater Police Department is investigating the accident 2024 at 6:10 pm ETA crash on Finderne Avenue on Jan (Finderne Fire Department)A crash on Finderne Avenue on Jan NJ — Emergency responders rescued a trapped Bridgewater woman in a building after police say a tractor-trailer crossed into oncoming traffic before crashing into multiple cars and the building on Tuesday the Bridgewater Police Department was called to the area of 21 Finderne Ave for a report of a motor vehicle into a building Officers determined that a 2012 Mack Truck NY was driving north on Finderne Avenue when it crossed over the solid double yellow lines into the southbound lanes of travel Jefferson then hit a 2006 Ford Ranger operated by a 33-year-old Bridgewater woman Jefferson continued driving north in the southbound lanes when it left the road and hit several parked vehicles and a building at 21 Finderne Ave. was trapped in the building and rescued by officers on the scene Jefferson along with the driver of the Ranger and the trapped woman were taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital (New Brunswick) for their injuries The crash is being investigated by the Bridgewater Police Department Traffic Safety Unit Any witnesses to the crash are asked to call Officer Ryan Veneman at the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908-722-4111 ext 4083 or email him at rveneman@biridgewaterpd.com or the Bridgewater Police TIPS line at 877-660-INFO (4636) 2024 at 10:46 am ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — New details have emerged after an SUV crashed into a home causing a gas line to rupture on Thursday A preliminary investigation found that a 2019 First Student School Bus operated by Cynthia Estes was traveling west in the left lane of East Main Street in the area of Thomas Street and hit a 2018 Nissan Rogue that was traveling in the right lane the Nissan Rogue veered sharply to the left crossed over the left lane PSE&G responded immediately and secured the gas to the house The driver of the Nissan Rogue was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital (Somerset) for injuries sustained as a result of the crash or the occupant of the residential structure sustained injuries as a result of the crash The school bus was serving the Bridgewater-Raritan school district and coming from Hillside Intermediate School This crash remains under investigation and any witnesses of the crash are asked to contact Officer Jon Han at 908-722-4111 ext 4110 or the Traffic Safety Unit at 908-722-4111 ext 2024 at 4:36 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Crash at the intersection of Finderne Avenue and East Main Street in Bridgewater NJ — A Somerset man was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into another car on Saturday night officers went to the intersection of Finderne Avenue and East Main Street for a report of a motor vehicle crash Officers determined that a 2020 Kia Optima was traveling north in the left lane of Finderne Avenue Upon approaching the intersection with East Main Street Massaquoi made a left turn and hit a 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI which was traveling south on Finderen Ave the 2013 VW Golf ran off the roadway and hit a utility pole Massaquoi was arrested at the scene for DWI and issued the following summonses for driving while intoxicated (DWI) failure to yield the right of way at an intersection Massaquoi was released with a pending court appearance The Board of Fire Commissioners raised the pay per call to $8 per call for 2024 2023 at 3:47 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Finderne Fire Department and Bridgewater Township Code Enforcement responded to the scene NJ — A car crashed into a liquor store in Bridgewater on Friday afternoon the Bridgewater Police went to the Bridgewater Liquor Warehouse at 573 Union Ave for a report of a vehicle that hit the building An investigation found that a 2003 Nissan Extera driven by Brony Morales Alvarez of Bound Brook No injuries were reported at the time of the crash Alvarez was issued a summons for careless driving The building was determined to be safe and was allowed to remain open BRIDGEWATER – A 77-year-old township woman died Sunday after she was struck by a car as she was crossing Union Avenue (Route 28) near Finderne Avenue Maria Arevalo Zuniga was crossing Union Avenue to a bus stop at about 9:55 a.m Sunday when she was struck by a 2015 Honda driven by David Kumar Bridgewater police are continuing to investigate the crash Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Cole Taggert of the department's Traffic Safety Unit at 908-722-4111 The Finderne Rescue Squad and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital paramedics responded to the scene Zuniga was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where she died about seven hours later Two men have been charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in a shooting in Bridgewater’s Finderne section in March 2022 are also both facing charges of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said Friday The first-degree crimes of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder carry 10-year minimum prison sentences Second-degree crimes can result in five to 10-year sentences Bridgewater police responded to Sunny Slope Road after a 911 call from a victim reporting gunshots fired at their vehicle Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Bridgewater Township Police Department determined that Thomas and Talbert allegedly were involved in the shooting in New Brunswick and Talbert was arrested Aug The prosecutor's office did not release a motive for the shooting McDonald thanked the agents from the FBI Newark Field Office based in Branchburg the New Brunswick Police Department and North Brunswick Police Department for their assistance with the investigation Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908- 722-4111 or via the STOPit app Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential A new rural bus service funded by the community it serves is starting next week the 940 will run four times daily between Forres and Logie Steading via the Half Davoch road replaces a service which ran on a similar route but was discontinued when the school bus contract was renewed Edinkillie Community Association (ECA) secretary Moira Dennis confirmed at a time when local bus services are under greater pressure than ever She explained: “Funded by the Finderne Development Trust (FDT) which distributes the community benefit fund generated by the Logie windfarm the bus was originally proposed by members of the ECA who feel public transport is a basic necessity for rural areas we persuaded FDT to fund an eight-week trial running a hired minibus driven by local volunteers to test demand “The trial showed there was interest in a regular timetabled service with paid drivers rather than for a volunteer-led dial-a-ride option the plan is that the Edinkillie bus may be booked by groups or individuals at weekends or in the hours between its daily timetabled runs These extra runs will be staffed by trained volunteers.” The 16-seater will accept Young Scot and 60+ cards so travel for those groups will be free Weekly rates for other groups are available - the starter price for a weekly pass is £20 The timetable has been designed to allow people to use it to travel to work or for Forres Academy pupils to stay for after-school clubs or to see friends The bus will give greater freedom to students at the Glasgow School of Art campus on Altyre estate It can be flagged down at any point on its route through Edinkillie and Half Davoch and will use existing bus stops within Forres The turnaround point in town will be at Lidl on the Greshop Industrial Estate Government payments calculated per kilometre travelled will help sustain the service although its long-term survival will depend on it being used email Keith Rushton on keitherushton@yahoo.co.uk or Moira Dennis of Edinkillie Community Association via moiradennis24@gmail.com or 07792 831095 2024 at 3:05 pm ETFire damage at the apartment building off Schindler Terrace on Tuesday morning (Alexis Tarrazi/Patch)Fire damage at the apartment building off Schindler Terrace on Tuesday morning NJ — A Lithium-Ion battery from an electric bicycle caused a fire at an apartment building in Bridgewater on Tuesday morning the Bridgewater Police Department along with the Finderne and Hillsborough fire departments and Robert Wood Johnson Rescue Squad / Paramedics went to Schindler Terrace for a report of an active structure fire Officers were able to evacuate the residents and a cat from inside RWJ Rescue Squad treated two people from the building on the scene and took them to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital (Somerset) for evaluation East Main Street was closed between Finderne Avenue and Adamsville Road for responding emergency personnel The preliminary cause of the fire is due to an Ion-Lithium battery from an electronic bicycle; however The Red Cross of New Jersey also went to the home to help a family of seven with Red Cross emergency assistance for things like temporary lodging 2021 at 5:06 pm ETFinderne Firefighters putting out a fire on I-287 (Courtesy of Finderne Fire Department)Finderne Firefighters putting out a fire on I-287 (Courtesy of Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — A car ignited into flames on I-287 in Bridgewater on Friday morning Finderne Firefighters went to the highway at milepost 13 around 10:30 a.m A Nissan Altima caught fire in the right shoulder The people inside the car had gotten out before emergency responders arrived Finderne Fire Department is entirely volunteer-run and is always in need of volunteers responds to about 400 calls per year and currently operates three Engines Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. 2024 at 10:51 am ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — A driver was injured after his Jeep crashed and became engulfed in flames on Friday a 38-year-old man was driving west on Frontier Road in a 2010 Jeep Liberty The driver hit a concrete/stone archway on the side of the road which caused his vehicle to overturn said Bridgewater Police Captain Kevin Tennant The driver had a minor injury to his left hand because of the crash 2021 at 4:26 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Thomas Marshall Sr volunteered in Bridgewater Township for more than 44 years between the Finderne Rescue Squad and the Finderne Fire Department NJ — A motorcade and bagpipe tribute honored Finderne Firefighter Thomas Marshall Sr who was laid to rest on Monday with a full Firemen's service Berkeley Heights Police Department and Piscataway Police Department escorted the motorcade to the cemetery on Monday worked for the Department of Public Works for 16 years He began his career with Bridgewater in the Parks Division and then moved on to the Buildings and Grounds Department and became Foreman of the division He was responsible for the maintenance at all of the Township buildings 2024 at 6:39 pm ET(Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department)(Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department)(Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department)(Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)SOMERVILLE NJ — Firefighters from all over Somerset County are helping to extinguish a four-alarm fire at a three-story building in Somerville located on the corner of W Main Street and South Bridge Street in Downtown Somerville Firefighters are still at the scene as of 6:30 p.m "One ladder pipe in operation, still have fire showing from the C side, conditions improving," according to CJFireBuffs Many roads in the area remain closed for emergency apparatus See video by Finderne Fire Department of the fire below: BRIDGEWATER — A Somerset County man barricaded himself in a condo and held a woman for hours until SWAT was forced to breach the residence is charged with second-degree aggravated assault third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful weapon possession, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said Bridgewater police got multiple 911 calls from a woman's concerned family members Friday morning around 7:19 a.m. The callers said that the woman was being held against her will inside a residence at the Finderne Heights condos on Columbia Drive Officers arrived at Blakey's apartment to find that he had barricaded himself inside with the victim; Blakely was threatening to hurt himself and the woman He had also used furniture to block to front door The Somerset County SWAT team and other county agencies were called to the scene They set up outside the condo and tried to negotiate with Blakey the woman began screaming from inside the condo SWAT officers set off an explosive charge on the front door to get inside She was bleeding from stab wounds to her face and hand He was bleeding from his arm and first responders had to use a tourniquet to save his life. The bleeding had been caused by self-inflicted stab wounds Blakey and the woman were both taken to a trauma center Blakey was still there as of Saturday morning Blakey will be taken to Somerset County jail Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom A four-hour SWAT standoff at the Finderne Heights condos in Bridgewater on Nov. 10, 2023 ended violently, authorities said.\nRead More Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom - Popularity rating: 26%\r\n- Fame rating: 42% (Rank: #40) is a West Coast beverage retailer with more than 160 stores in California Founded in 1994 in the San Francisco Bay Area 2016 at 3:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}BRIDGEWATER NJ — Finderne Rescue Squad Founding Member and Ex-Captain George Lazo passed away on Monday "George was an extraordinary man who touched many people's lives and will be deeply missed. George, may you rest in peace and watch over us as we continue on with the legacy that you helped to create," Finderne Rescue Squad posted He was a 1945 graduate of Hazleton High School George retired from General Motors Delco Remy Battery Plant in New Brunswick NJ where he worked for 30 years retiring as Chief of Security George was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Somerville and St He was a Charter member of Finderne First Aid & Rescue Squad which was formed in 1965 He served numerous positions in the Rescue Squad He also helped to oversee the location & construction of the current squad building He was a life member of the Somerville American Legion Post #12 & was a former member of the Finderne Fire House George was a member of the Bridgewater Senior Citizens summers & many holidays at the family house in the Pocono Mountains in PA George is predeceased by his wife of 54 years great & great -great nieces & nephews Visiting hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m 2016 at the funeral home followed by a 10 a.m Additional funeral services will be held at the Fierro Funeral Home 2016 at the Fierro Funeral Home followed by 9:30am funeral service at St Peter & Paul Byzantine Church in Beaver Meadows Interment will take place in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hazleton (Image via Finderne Rescue Squad) 2023 at 4:30 pm ET(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)(Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — It was definitely a hot day for volunteer Bridgewater firefighters who battled a car fire near the Chimney Rock shopping center on Friday Finderne Firefighters were called Route 22 West and Chimney Rock Road for a vehicle fire The driver of a brown Buick was driving on Route 22 when her car caught fire She took the exit for Chimney Rock Road and then got of the car without injury and Engine 303 extinguished the fire without incident 2023 at 8:34 am ETFinderne Volunteer Firefighters with the rescued kitten (Finderne Fire Department)Finderne Firefighters going into the storm drain (Somerset Regional Animal Shelter)Finderne Volunteer Firefighter in the sewer drain (Somerset Regional Animal Shelter)(Finderne Fire Department)There is a mother cat and other kittens in the area which animal control will be attempting to contain and rehome (Somerset Regional Animal Shelter)Rescued kitten (Somerset Regional Animal Shelter)BRIDGEWATER NJ — It was "a purrrty unique rescue" for volunteer firefighters who were able to rescue a trapped kitten who fell into a drain pipe on Monday night in Bridgewater Bridgewater Township Police and Finderne Volunteer Firefighters were called to the Home Depot on Promenade Boulevard to help with a kitten stuck in a storm drain leading to a nearby sewer in the back part of the building Firefighters borrowed a sewer camera from Home Depot to see where the cat was The kitten was turned over to the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter The shelter will be back to try and get a mother cat and other kittens in the area to rehome them "Please bare with us as we attempt to help these animals find better homes off the streets," said SRAS BRIDGEWATER - The chemical that spilled when a truck flipped on Finderne and Union avenues Wednesday morning has been identified as a corrosive liquid Bridgewater Police Department sent an alert out updating area residents that the road had been cleared and reopened as of 3:20 a.m. Thursday. The truck flipped Wednesday around 8:15 a.m when it hit a traffic light pole while attempting to turn left on Finderne Avenue READ: Students evacuated after Finderne truck accident READ: Motorcycle accident leaves one dead in Bridgewater READ: Wawa opening Friday in Bridgewater The Somerset County Hazardous Materials Response Team as well as the New Jersey State Police Hazardous Materials Response Unit responded to the scene with numerous other emergency responders and agencies The truck was carrying 18 containers of Aminoethylpiperazine according to a news release from Bridgewater police Aminoethylpiperazine is a corrosive liquid that, when inhaled, can cause a burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting, according to a fact sheet from the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The chemical is "extremely destructive to mucous membranes The driver of the truck has been identified by police as Rafael Millasaky He has been charged with one count of careless driving The truck was a 1999 Freightliner tractor-trailer owned by Solid Logistics LLC of Newark police advised area residents and businesses to shelter in place such as the Raritan Valley Montessori School which is less than a quarter-mile from where the truck flipped.  Students who weren't immediately picked up by parents took shelter at New Jersey Eastern Star Home "We're just being a good community partner and helping to house some of the children that had to be moved from the Montessori school," said Diane Baldwin Staff Writer Nick Muscavage: 908-243-6615; ngmuscavage@gannettnj.com 2023 at 2:41 pm ET(Bridgewater Township)(Bridgewater Township)(Bridgewater Township)(Bridgewater Township)BRIDGEWATER NJ — New playground equipment has arrived at Harry Ally Park in Bridgewater Bridgewater's Department of Public Works began installing the new equipment at Harry Ally Park in the Finderne section of town last week "The installation and mulching will be completed this week and our youngest residents can begin to enjoy the new playground features," said the township in an update on Monday Alfred Brown Park will also receive its new equipment sometime over the next week The Township Council unanimously voted to approve two resolutions at the Nov. 10, 2022 meeting to award a contract to Ben Shaffer Recreation for Alfred Brown Park Playground equipment for $59,857.89 and Harry Ally Park Playground equipment for $60,303.86. Read More: 2 New Playgrounds To Be Installed In Bridgewater Parks The life expectancy of the new playground equipment is 20 years and is maintenance-free said Bridgewater's Public Works and Sewer Utility Superintendent Dicky Shimp 2022 at 2:25 pm ET(Courtesy of Finderne Fire Department)(Courtesy of Finderne Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — An SUV burst into flames on Interstate 287 in Bridgewater early Monday morning on Monday on I-287 South at milepost 13.4 in Bridgewater The driver of the Toyota Rav 4 reported mechanical issues prior to the fire said New Jersey State Police Trooper Brandi Slota The right lane was closed for about 30 minutes 2023 at 12:38 pm ETColumbia Drive in the Finderne Heights Condominiums in Bridgewater (Courtesy of Marissa Kessler)Columbia Drive in the Finderne Heights Condominiums in Bridgewater (Courtesy of Marissa Kessler)Updated as of 12:30 p.m NJ — A person who had barricaded themself inside a condo in Bridgewater is now in police custody "One person is in custody and there is no further threat to the community," said Lamey to Patch The incident is still an active investigation and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office will be releasing more information and Officers with the SCPO were on Columbia Drive in the Finderne Heights Condominiums Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office(SCPO) Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr Authorities had closed off the surrounding streets as they handled the situation Check back with Patch as more information is released The restaurant on East Main Street in the Finderne section will be torn down to make room for a small strip mall containing four businesses and a deli which owns Crossroads Bar and Grill at 600 E told the township’s Zoning Board of Adjustment that the business is not living up to his expectation and he wants to redevelop the site Amin said he and his family have worked hard to make Crossroads successful but the building is aging and requires repairs told the board that he wants to use a portion of the new building to operate a deli that would be open from 5 a.m He said he doesn’t know what the other businesses will be formerly known as Main Street and McCarthy’s and Amin said there have been neighborhood complaints who lives on East Main Street across from the restaurant told the board that he hears noise from the restaurant said the deli will occupy the largest part of the new building He said the deli will have 16 seats inside and 20 seats outside The sign on the street will be reduced in size and more landscaping will be added Fennell agreed with Amin that the building is rundown and looks outdated said Somerset County officials want the driveway to be moved further west from the intersection of Finderne Avenue and East Main Street for traffic safety reasons Zoning Board members unanimously approved the application Township officials previously rejected a plan to build a 7-Eleven at the southwestern corner of East Main Street and Finderne Avenue because of traffic concerns Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6609; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com BRIDGEWATER - Young children were seen leaving school in a single-file line after a tractor-trailer flipped at the intersection of Finderne and Union avenues Wednesday morning and police advised all residents in the area to "shelter in place" due to hazardous materials captain of operations at Bridgewater Police Department making a left turn to go south on Finderne Avenue when the load shifted causing the vehicle to overturn on its side UPDATE: Corrosive chemical identified in Bridgewater spill "It was uncertain initially as to whether or not there were any hazardous materials that had leaked," he said "but because of the crash and the fact that it had flipped on its side the decision was made to contact hazmat to come out just as a precaution to make sure that everything was intact." READ:  After record-breaking heat, some welcome relief READ: Bridgewater man convicted of sexually assaulting 12-year-old Bridgewater police sent out a news release confirming that a corrosive liquid was being carried in the tractor-trailer that had flipped over a 1999 Freightliner tractor owned by Solid Logistics LLC of Newark  struck a traffic light pole on the west side of Finderne Avenue and rolled onto its passenger side," according to the release "The trailer it is was pulling contained a corrosive liquid Somerset County Hazardous Materials Response Team, along with state and local agencies, are cleaning up the scene, the release said. All traffic from Finderne Avenue, Route 28 and surrounding area would be affected throughout the evening. The Bridgewater police Facebook will be updated as the situation progresses other responding agencies included the New Jersey State Police Hazardous Materials Response Unit; the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; Somerset County Office of Emergency Management; Somerset County Health Department; Bridgewater Police Department Office Emergency Management; state Department of Transportation; Robert Wood Johnson Rescue Squad; New Jersey State Police; Finderne Fire Department; and several others Capt. Richard Shimp was running operations for the township police.  "It was a great coordinated effort between all the entities," Hoey said Although there was no determination of hazardous materials as of Wednesday afternoon there had been a small release of a plume of smoke," Hoey said "Area businesses and residents have been made aware and evacuated if necessary and shelter in place." The truck that flipped over had a blue shipping container on the back that read: CMA CGM eco container bamboo flooring "A bamboo flooring eco-container is a container with a glue-laminated timber made of bamboo (70%) and pine wood (30 %)." The first responders on the scene were not wearing face masks or oxygen tanks "There's not any extended health risk," Hoey said some area businesses decided to evacuate just in case An employee at the Raritan Valley Montessori School which is less than a quarter-mile from the accident said they decided to evacuate at the request of the fire department although school officials don't know what the hazardous materials were Parents came and left with their children and many had to walk on the sidewalk on the side of the street because the road was closed leading to the school although not as close as the Montessori school opened its doors to school officials and students "Whoever needs some assistance here with shelter for now She said that Eastern Star Home received an alert from law enforcement about the accident but that the hazardous materials would not affect the building "They'll be picked up by their parents as soon as people get here The intersection of Finderne and Union avenues were closed. Police were asking motorists to avoid the area It is still unclear when the roads will be opened the Bridgewater Police Department sent out an alert informing residents that only those who live in a one-block vicinity of the accident will have to remain sheltered in place Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com 2022 at 9:02 am ET(Courtesy of Mike Bigelow)(Courtesy of Mike Bigelow)(Courtesy of Mike Bigelow)(Courtesy of Mike Bigelow)(Courtesy of Mike Bigelow)(Courtesy of Mike Bigelow)BRIDGEWATER NJ — Multiple school buses caught fire on Tuesday night in the Finderne section of Bridgewater Township Bridgewater Police arrived first and said there was a working fire involving several buses and a power line down Firefighters worked for about an hour to get the fire under control before turning the scene over to Somerset County Haz-Mat 2013 at 3:43 pm ETThe area of Union and Finderne avenues is closed after a motor vehicle accident snarled traffic Friday mid-afternoon Bridgewater Township Police said the area was closed at the intersection as of around 2 p.m but they do not know when the area will reopen Onlookers report that the traffic on Union Avenue is currently backed up to around Foothill Road Finderne Fire Company and Finderne Rescue Squad was on the scene Patch will update as more information becomes available 2014 at 1:02 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Six local volunteers have completed training at Somerset County Emergency Training Academy and are ready to step up their service Finderne Volunteer Fire Co.; Edward Daly and Paul Zelenty and Kimberly Karalovich and Janielle Roper marked their completion of the Firefighter I training at the academy's graduation Thursday 2013 at 2:03 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Christmas was cut short for volunteers at Finderne Volunteer Fire Company when crews joined in to help fight a Hillsborough residential fire Wednesday.Hillsborough Police said a vehicle parked in the garage of a Wesley Road residence is believed to have caused a fire that led to substantial damage to the residence Officials said the fire is not considered suspicious.In addition to police and volunteer firefighters responding building department and fire safety staff were at the scene Firefighters from Neshanic Volunteer Fire Co. and the Somerville EMS and Somerset County Fire and EMS Coordinators also responded 2023 at 10:09 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}See Niche's latest rankings for 2023: (Shutterstock)BRIDGEWATER NJ — Bridgewater Township was named as one of the best places to live in America and the Garden State for 2023 according to a new set of rankings released by Niche Sections of the township were broken down on the list Martinsville was ranked as the 11th best place to live in New Jersey out of 641 and the 220th best place to live in America out of 17,916 Bradley Gardens was ranked as the 47th best place to live in New Jersey out of 641 and the 608th best place to live in America out of 17,916 Green Knoll was ranked as the 86th best place to live in New Jersey out of 641 and the 1,231st best place to live in America out of 17,916 Finderne was ranked as the 201st best place to live in New Jersey out of 641 and the 3,470th best place to live in America out of 17,916 The "Best Places to Live" rankings include cities Niche defines a place as a "non-rural town" with a population of 1,000 or more Niche also separately ranked the best cities The platform released the 2023 Best Places to Live in America list on Monday Here's how Niche graded each section of Bridgewater Township in the following categories: Martinsville received an overall Niche Grade of A+ for 2023 Martinsville also ranked as the number 1 best place to live in the Somerset County area the 14th best place to raise a family out of 639 and the 43rd best public schools out of 573 in New Jersey Bradley Gardens received an overall Niche Grade of A+ for 2023 Bradley Gardens also ranked as the 7th best place to live in the Somerset County area the 38th best place to raise a family out of 639 and the 52nd best public schools out of 573 in New Jersey Green Knoll received an overall Niche Grade of A+ for 2023 Green Knoll also ranked as the 10th best place to live in the Somerset County area the 67th best place to raise a family out of 639 and the 46th best public schools out of 573 in New Jersey Finderne received an overall Niche Grade of A for 2023 Finderne also ranked as the 23rd best place to live in the Somerset County area the 136th best place to raise a family out of 639 and the 51st best public schools out of 573 in New Jersey The top 10 best places to live in New Jersey are: You can see the full Niche "Best Place to Live" rankings for 2023 here. 2023 at 9:35 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Finderne Fire Department shared a video of the fire NJ — An intense house fire in Hillsborough claimed the life of a family dog and caused neighbors to be evacuated on Monday night the Hillsborough Township Police Department and firefighters went to 667 Hillsborough Road for a report of a structure fire Authorities found the attached garage of the home was fully engulfed in flames and heavy dark smoke The fire quickly spread to the main area of the home before Hillsborough Township Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire The home and adjacent homes were evacuated during the fire and there were no injuries sustained The homeowner's dog was trapped in the home and did not survive The fire is not considered suspicious but remains under investigation by detectives from the Hillsborough Township Police Department and the Hillsborough Township Bureau of Fire Safety The following agencies responded: Hillsborough Fire Marshall Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2012 at 9:52 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}He was a seven-year veteran of the "It was the enjoyment of doing things for other people," said Finderne Fire Chief Rich Armstrong Schupper died Monday after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer and he was someone the younger guys would look up to," Armstrong said and it was that dedication that he brought to the fire service." A 25-year worker for the Bound Brook Public Works Department Schupper was a fireman with the Bound Brook Fire Department for 17 years before he moved to the Finderne Fire Company Armstrong said Schupper had already been living in Bridgewater for a while when he decided to move to a Bridgewater fire company "And he was still semi-active with Bound Brook at the time," Armstrong said "He worked for the public works department so he was in town during the day and he would assist them as they needed help." Armstrong said Schupper was a Navy veteran "What I believe he brought to the fire company was strength of character," said Allen Kurdyla township council president and member of the fire company "He had a family he was extremely dedicated to he felt commitment to his community to serve and he brought a tremendous amount of integrity to his service." In addition to being a member of the fire company then took a year off and was elected to the position again just before his cancer diagnosis last year assisting the chief in whatever projects he had in mind," Kurdyla said "The captain is the guy you rely on to keep things in order." "That didn't take into account his command responsibility at fire scenes," he added "He could be the individual who directed in the command structure The training was the most important to Schupper as his friend loved answering questions from younger members of the fire company "He took pride in talking to the younger members," he said "He would talk about the different types of fires he had fought what it was like when he first joined the fire service the different types of gear and safety equipment and taking a leadership role." "He was molding young members into becoming firefighters," Armstrong added James Bentz—assistant fire chief at the Finderne Fire Co. who said Schupper was like a brother to him—said Schupper brought his experience to the fire company "He liked to work with younger members to train them in the right ways once they got through fire school," Bentz said "He would take them and train them about the different things in the field." Armstrong said he remembers fighting fires with Schupper then heading back to the fire company to talk about past stories and connect with others But aside from being part of the fire company Schupper was a family man who was just as dedicated to his family and his work life and he understood his family was his first priority and his responsibility to his work was primary," Kurdyla said "And along with fulfilling those obligations he did an excellent job as a member and officer." "You see a lot of people come through and they don't have things in order but the best guys have their priorities correct work and then the fire department," he added "The one thing that was true about Jim is that he was reliable and you could count on him." they are reeling from the loss of this skilled and treasured firefighter Armstrong said the company was shocked when they heard the news of Schupper's cancer diagnosis last year "Sometimes that stuff you can't put into words the initial shock of hearing the news," Armstrong said "And even the whole time that he dealt with the disease fight and grit that he did every day being a fireman "He had strength and courage that is far and above most people I know," he added it is especially difficult to deal with the diagnosis "It hurt because we knew we were going to lose an officer." the fire company members are just trying to support each other and the family Schupper left behind trying to stay strong for his family and making sure everyone is OK," he said We have always been in contact with each other over the past few days." Armstrong said Schupper will receive a full fireman's funeral Friday complete with an honor guard and the coffin being carried on one of the pieces of apparatus "There's only one way to send off a brother fireman Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m Schupper will be buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Hillsborough memorial contributions may be made to the Finderne Volunteer Fire Company Bound Brook Fire Department or Elizabeth Schupper's Scholarship Fund via Debra Schupper at 6 Manville Blvd And some local organizations are still holding events that were initially to help Schupper's medical bills The Bound Brook Moose Lodge was planning a golf outing June 8 with half of the proceeds going to the family "We did receive word that they will still go forward with that with half of the proceeds going to the family," Armstrong said Saturday to raise money for Schupper and his family—now the event will be held in his honor they will remember the great work Schupper did as part of the company "It was an honor to serve as an officer with him," Bentz said .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Tiffani N. Garlic/The Star-LedgerEd Murray/The Star-LedgerA fire caused property damage to a Bridgewater townhouse complex.BRIDGEWATER — Two fire fighters were injured by falling debris during a four alarm fire in Bridgewater early this morning Mangino said the blaze started at 3:30 a.m with heavy fire on the second and third floors Bridgewater police and Mangino evacuated the four families safely and directed them to the American Red Cross for assistance A Somerville firefighter was hit on the back with debris and was transported to Somerset Medical Center while a Finderne firefighter was treated on scene after a portion of the ceiling came down on him Their conditions were unknown and authorities did not release their names Finderne and Bound Brook Rescue Squads were able to get the flames under control in an hour-and-a half “It was a very labor intensive fire and with the humidity outside we were going through manpower quite often,” he said Luis Acosta and his wife Brenda were asleep on the top floor when he said they were woken up by fire breaking their bedroom window Ushered out in his pajamas and a pair of sneakers Acosta said the fire didn’t get bad until everyone was out of the house but they were all cooperative and very nice and asked us what was important for us to get out of the house,” he said commending the fire departments for getting everyone out safely and retrieving necessary items including identification but once everything is said and done they did a good job,” he said Acosta said the Red Cross had arranged rooms for displaced families at the Days Inn on Route 22 but Mangino said iit appears to have started on the second floor Bridgewater police said the roadway between Polhemus Lane and Morton Street will be blocked off until emergency services clears the scene Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices 2018 at 10:15 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}BRIDGEWATER NJ — Bridgewater Township and Raritan were recently voted among best places to live in Somerset County and in New Jersey That's according to a Niche's 2018 "Best Places to Live" in New Jersey rankings the consumer rankings service assigned a grade Niche's rankings was a bit different for Bridgewater as it broke it down to the various sections within the township — Bradley Gardens It was ranked the 5th best place to live in Somerset County and the 56th best in New Jersey The neighborhood is safe and friendly," a reviewer said Bradley Gardens received the following grades: Public Schools: A+Good for Families: A+Diversity: ANightlife: BHousing: B+ The town has a median home value of $435,800 more than double the national average of $184,700 It was ranked the 12th best place to live in Somerset County and the 108th best in New Jersey "Overall Martinsville is a lovely small town that is spread far enough apart to feel somewhat like the 'country' but close enough together to be able to be a close knit community," a reviewer wrote "It is part of the Bridgewater-Raritain school district the high school is one of the top regional high schools." Martinsville received the following grades: Public Schools: A+Good for Families: ADiversity: B+Nightlife: BHousing: B- The town has a median home value of $511,700 almost three times the national average of $184,700 It was ranked the 13th best place to live in Somerset County and the 117th best in New Jersey "Great place to grow up with good schooling and people.," a reviewer Public Schools: A+Good for Families: ADiversity: A+Nightlife: B+Housing: B- The town has a median home value of $302,800 almost twice the national average of $184,700 It was ranked the 16th best place to live in Somerset County and the 148th best in New Jersey "I live in a suburb separated from Bridgewater by a street," a reviewer said Public Schools: A+Good for Families: ADiversity: ANightlife: AHousing: C+ The town has a median home value of $334,900 Four communities received D+ grades: Irvington the Brookfield section of White Township and the Port Norris section of Commercial Township in Cumberland County The list included sections of towns and city neighborhoods Niche.com took several factors into consideration employment statistics and access to amenities Niche created a standardized score for each factor which was again given a new standardized score To see how every town in New Jersey scored, click here Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here