BRIDGEWATER – A state Administrative Law judge has thrown out five special liquor license conditions on the operation of the Green Knoll Grill because the township did not provide any evidence why those conditions were necessary Administrative Law Judge Gauri Shirali Shah's Aug 28 ruling is the latest chapter in the two-decade tension between the popular Route 202-206 bar and restaurant and the township The conditions on the establishment's liquor license voided by the judge include: The judge also modified a special condition prohibiting live music on the patio after 9 p.m The business had argued that customers often leave at 9 p.m when the music stops and go to other establishments where live music is permitted until 10 p.m Before the case reached the Administrative Law judge the director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) had already rejected special conditions requiring security guards to be present at certain times requiring customers to wear wristbands and requiring certain training for security guards More: Bridgewater, police department sued by Green Knoll Grill security guard over arrest The ABC director had also thrown out restrictions not allowing live music on the patio from 2 to 4 p.m on Saturdays.The judge let stand other special conditions including all employees must undergo training in the sale and serving of alcoholic beverages and maintaining a visual buffer between the highway and the patio area Lisa Balducci and her husband have owned the Green Knoll Grill next to a BMW dealership and a private home The judge's ruling notes that neither the dealership or the private homeowner have complained about noise or customers at the restaurant Balducci said that since the pandemic the business's customer based has changed Friday and Saturday nights when there was a DJ But now the customers are 35 and older and prefer live music both inside the restaurant and on the patio A bar and restaurant has been open on the property for more than eight decades More: Tobacco shop owner sues Bridgewater over permit denial. Here's why The Township Council began receiving complaints in 2003 from residents of the Crossroads community across the highway about the music That's when the Township Council first placed special conditions on the liquor license more special conditions have been added or modified Crossroads residents presented the Township Council with a petition about the noise the judge wrote that a special condition placed on a liquor license "must be based on something more than mere speculation and must be specific reasonable and narrowly tailored to accomplish its purpose." the nature of Green Knoll's business has changed since the pandemic and the business has not received any code violations in the last two years and the police have not been called That "undisputed change of circumstance," the judge continued should have been considered by Bridgewater in imposing special conditions on the liquor license renewal "Bridgewater provided no rationale at all for the conditions it imposed on Green Knoll," the judge wrote The township argued at the hearing before the judge that the lack of complaints could be attributed to the previous special conditions on the liquor license But the judge wrote "this argument is speculative at best and not supported by the facts that there were complaints in 2013 and 2015 when these very special conditions already existed." BRIDGEWATER - There's something 1960s-like about young people spending the summer traveling the country and the band of Gen Z activists who popped into this Somerset County town Monday evening had politics in mind this excursion has the rather dramatic name of a "Tour to Save Democracy." it is a tour to drum up votes for Democrats nationwide and to "flip" the House The group is visiting GOP-held congressional districts that Democrats think they can win this fall which spans six counties in central and western Jersey One thing's for sure - the crowd didn't disappoint About 300 people signed up to attend a rally at the Green Knoll Grill on Route 202 most of them showed up to enjoy political rhetoric the founder and executive director of the tour said so many Republican positions are "unacceptable to my generation." He ticked off GOP opposition to abortion rights gun control and strong steps to combat climate change demographers consider those born in 1997 and later as Generation Z That makes the oldest member of that group 27 Many studies suggest that young people simply do not vote as regularly as older Americans do So the mission here seems twofold - get young people to vote and also Three of the region's leading Democrats spoke: Andy Kim who is running against Republican incumbent Thomas H who does not face strong opposition this year said Republican control of government could mean a national abortion ban in addition to cuts in education funding a preschool program that dates back to the Johnson Administration Kim certainly had his audience in mind when he said there's a "hunger" and need in politics for a new generation a lengthy (it's about 900 pages) conservative blueprint for reforming all aspects of government "They're not trying to hide the crazy," he said Altman's race against Kean is getting national attention she has to do well throughout the district she has to make at least some inroads in very Republican Sussex and Warren counties She says that when she talks to people throughout the district about had another generation in mind - baby boomers She said it was the baby boomer generation that fought for abortion rights and also for such things as Title IX which mandates equal treatment for women's sports in schools who played basketball in high school and college said she would not have been able to do that without the work of boomer women I would like to receive emails from Insider NJ 2024 at 2:14 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}An Office of Administrative Law Judge Gauri Shirali Shah ruled on Thursday night in the legal issue NJ — An ongoing battle for the past 10 years between Bridgewater Township and Green Knoll Grill has come to a close An Office of Administrative Law Judge Gauri Shirali Shah overruled the special conditions imposed by the Township on the restaurant to limit when music is allowed outside on the patio Shah claimed the conditions were "not supported." The ruling states "that special condition 2 is modified to permit outdoor music until 10 p.m in accordance with Township of Bridgewater’s Noise Ordinance." "This is consistent with the town ordinance which is something we wanted - which is to be treated equally with the other establishments," said Attorney David Cassidy who represents the restaurant "[The ruling] eliminated several of the conditions this will put an end to any sort of back and forth with the town and we'll have an opportunity to operate under this in the future." "We just wanted to be treated the same," said DiChara He stood by us and is the one attorney who really believed in us." Cassidy said he will work with the Township to get the conditions physically removed from their liquor license "We will continue to monitor all high-volume businesses in our town including but not limited to Green Knoll Grill for compliance with local ordinances and license conditions and to protect the quality of life for residents in their immediate vicinity," said Bridgewater Deputy Township Administrator Wells Winegar DiChara is hoping with this ruling the fighting with the Township will come to an end "We want to put this to rest and move on," said DiChara I just want to be treated the same as everyone in town and be held to the same standard." ABC 06300-23 Mish-J.O. Invsmt Corp v. Twp of Bridgewater - ID by Alexis Tarrazi on Scribd 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. BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Supporters of President Donald Trump are organizing a watch party to celebrate the presidential inauguration The event will take place at the Green Knoll Grill on U.S with festivities planned throughout the day The organizer, Terry Beck, a longtime Trump rally leader in Bedminster, said the event was planned to provide a gathering place for Trump supporters in New Jersey after she noticed no other watch parties were scheduled in the area “We’ve already gotten 4,600 views on the flyer and we’re very excited about that,” Beck said The day will begin with an inauguration watch party inside the Green Knoll Grill where attendees will have reserved tables to enjoy food and drinks while viewing the ceremony on several televisions some attendees will participate in a Trump parade featuring decorated vehicles that will drive to and around Trump’s Bedminster golf course before returning to the Green Knoll Grill Other attendees will participate in a flag-waving celebration along Route 202 outside the restaurant the owner of the Green Knoll Grill has welcomed attendees to continue their celebration into the evening with Beck noting the event has drawn significant interest among local Trump supporters © 2008-2025 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd The Bridgewater rally attracted about 200 attendees A bus tour promoting youth involvement in politics stopped by Bridgewater on Monday night to endorse Sue Altman in her tight battle for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district The Tour to Save Democracy hosted the event at Green Knoll Grill Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) also spoke in support of Altman and Kim as the speakers focused on issues like abortion rights Altman took the fight to her Republican opponent She said she would protect LGBTQ+ rights and abortion rights and fight climate change “This man is so deeply out of step with New Jersey’s values,” Altman said while members of the audience shouted “He’s weird!” and “Weirdo.” The “weird” line of attack partly stems from a TV appearance from Minnesota Gov the newly named Democratic vice presidential nominee who said last month that former President Donald Trump and Sen JD Vance are focusing on “weird” culture war issues divide voters Kim told a story of being disheartened in 2022 while watching Republicans on the House floor celebrate the reversal of Roe v which Republicans have worked to distance themselves from is a continuation of similar efforts to undermine abortion access and IVF “They’re not trying to hide the crazy,” Kim said the 20-year-old director of the Tour to Save Democracy said he started lobbying politically after his cousin Alex Schachter was killed in the 2018 high school shooting in Parkland Gun regulations were on the mind of many at the rally: Sherrill told a story of a man she met on a train wearing an NRA sweatshirt who said the government didn’t have the authority to mandate the secure storage of firearms in homes “That’s not how you securely store firearms And while Altman prepares for next month’s debate against Kean she’s keeping her eyes on the congressional seat: The Open House will allow the community to meet the firefighters There will also be ladder bucket rides and kids activities The event is free and will be held from 11 a.m The Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Department responds to more than 600 calls a year providing fire protection to life and property in the Township of Bridgewater. For more information visit gkfc.org or facebook.com/Greenknollfiredepartment or call 908-707-4128 2024 at 12:12 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Santa Claus will once again be making his way through Bridgewater Township atop a fire truck for the 2024 holiday season NJ — Santa Claus will once again be making his way through Bridgewater Township atop a fire truck for the 2024 holiday season Santa will drive through everything between Union Avenue and E Main Street starting at Chimney Rock Road working west toward the Somerville border Santa will come through everything north of Union Avenue starting at the Somerville border working east This will include all neighborhoods off Thompson Avenue to escort Santa around the Green Knoll primary area No presents will be delivered during our Santa run this year the run will be held on Saturday Santa will arrive on a fire truck with lights and sirens and spend a few minutes with your children and grandchildren before posing for a few pictures To sign up, fill out the registration form here All of these fire departments serve the Bridgewater Township area and are completely volunteer-run They need your help to continue helping residents Check with your local fire department to find out how you can volunteer BRIDGEWATER - Less than a month after his lawsuit was dismissed in a federal court a security guard at the Green Knoll Grill has filed a state Superior Court suit against the township and police department allerging he was falsely arrested in connection with an incident at the Route 202-206 restaurant in 2016 The federal suit brought by Lawrence DiGiesi was dismissed March 27 by United States District Judge Georgette Castner on the grounds that the suit was filed three years after the incident exceeding the federal two-year statute of limitations Castner ruled that DiGiesi's claims can move forward in Somerset County Superior Court Digiesi had been charged with assaulting the son of a retired township police officer during an incident at the Green Knoll Grill on March 13 He had been found not guilty of third-degree aggravated assault in a bench trial before Superior Court Judge Kathy Qasim in June 2017 The Superior Court lawsuit claims that if the other person in the incident had not been the son of the retired officer money and resources defending himself against frivolous charges." More: What will happen to the vacant Ethicon property on Route 22 in Bridgewater? DiGiesi also claims that because the son of a retired township police officer was involved the investigation should have been transferred to another police department Bridgewater denied the allegations in its answers to the federal suit DiGiesi had been employed as a security guard at the restaurant for two years prior to the incident and had attended a training session provided by the police department and Green Knoll Grill The lawsuit says the other person and a companion bypassed the restaurant's main entrance and came through a back door When asked for identification by other employees the man and his companion "became visibly upset" but were allowed entry the man blew smoke in the face of another security guard and yelled at other employees DiGiesi than asked them to leave "multiple times" and escorted them out DiGiesi then told the man he would not be allowed to return to the restaurant later that night But then man "became enraged," according to the lawsuit bumping into his chest and struck him in the face causing him to "stagger backwards," trip over a curb and fall The man's companion then phone the police department and reported that the man had been assaulted DiGiesi was indicted on the third-degree aggravated assault charge The man suffered a broken ankle and required surgery a police officer testified before the grand jury he was found not guilty by Qasim who ruled "it wasn't (DiGiesi's) purpose to cause injury to this victim 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 1:29 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)BRIDGEWATER NJ — Visits and pictures with Santa Claus are treasured traditions for many Bridgewater families kids have several chances to see jolly old St Santa is also holding court at several shopping malls in the local area Santa will be available for photos in a new home in the Bridgewater Commons set amidst 25 garland-topped light curtains (each adorned with thousands of white glistening lights) and candy-cane-inspired twists cascading from high above Kris Kringle will sit in a grand velvet chair in front of a redesigned set that includes a majestic new 30-foot tree with a 5-foot topper additional 10-foot trees and scenic elements as well as new "Elf Training" interactives on the line to entertain kids (and their parents) while they wait Photo packages will be available for purchase Reservations for photos will be available Monday through Thursday from Nov Fridays through Sundays during that period will be walk-ins only From Dec. 13 through Dec. 24 also will be walk-ins only. For more information and to make a reservation, visit www.bridgewatercommons.com In addition to helping those in need at Santa’s birthday party BRIDGEWATER - Among the many iconic locations in historic Somerset County is one that’s stood the test of time — Bridgewater’s Green Knoll Grill Evolving through a range of incarnations since it was first established in the 1920s the 90-year-old bar and restaurant on Route 202/206 has outlasted many of its competitors over the years and continued to be a destination of choice for those looking for classic pub fare and lively social exchange Thanks to recent renovations to the site’s interior and exterior as well as new additions to its menu the Green Knoll Grill is poised to start a new chapter in its colorful legacy and welcome a new generation of customers READ: A spot for upscale dining or a cold brew at Capital Craft READ: Roy Rogers fast-casual franchise expands in Central Jersey READ: Head to Beneduce Vineyards for local wine with a view Owned for the past 20 years by Joseph and Lisa Dichiara the Green Knoll Grill held great appeal for the couple from the beginning According to Bridgewater native Lisa Dichiara had been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years and had owned a variety of different eateries around the Garden State when he learned that the Green Knoll Grill was up for sale “He loved the Bridgewater area and saw many possibilities in the venture,” she said of the 1997 opportunity “He had a vision for the Green Knoll Grill Under the couple’s management and with the support of a consistent menu the addition of big-screen TVs for watching sports the Green Knoll Grill drew enthusiastic crowds over the years But as the 20th anniversary of the couple’s ownership approached this year they decided that it was time to up the ante “We’re a solid family business that’s been here for 20 years and we really wanted to do something different to commemorate that,” Dichiara said “We’d done small renovations all throughout our 20 years here but felt that the Green Knoll Grill needed a more extensive uplift to ensure that it remained a busy happening place,” a project which has since involved both the culinary and aesthetic side of the operation “we repainted the building inside and out with fresh new gray tones and installed all new lighting and hardwood floors as well as additional TVs and new tile around the bar,” she said the space was outfitted with all new patio furniture and matching red umbrellas as well as new sofas at its renowned Tiki Bar and the couple recently installed a second 12-seat tiki bar in a space that formerly housed a children’s playground area along with the addition of a new biergarten encompassing the new tiki bar that offers a range of adult-friendly games like corn hole and KanJam “create the perfect opportunity for a great outdoor dining and lounge experience,” she said “we’re also offering ‘crafts and drafts,’” said Dichiara referring to a number of modern new dishes on the menu that feature fresh local ingredients and have already proved to be crowd-pleasers Among those are a variety of hand-crafted burgers a popular new fried Southern Comfort chicken sandwich served with mashed potatoes and spicy coleslaw Daily themed specials include Mexican Monday Wine Down Wednesdays (featuring half-price bottles of wine and half-price wraps at lunchtime) Burger Madness Thursdays (featuring $6.95 burgers with fries) and Fat Cat Fridays (featuring $9.95 Fat Cat sandwiches) “we have a wonderful new culinary team which loves to try new things and we’re able to be more creative than ever.” The "crafts and drafts" theme also applies to the bar menu at the Green Knoll Grill’s new biergarten which features a variety of popular craft beers including North Bergen-based New Jersey Beer Company’s ‘LBIPA’ and California-based North Coast Brewing’s ‘Scrimshaw Pilsner.’ Colorful new cocktails at the outdoor tiki bar include the tropical Funky Monkey Dichiara said that the Green Knoll Grill remains a family place complete with an all-new array of ‘Kid’s Night’ specials on Tuesdays “We’re also heavily invested in sports-related events,” she added “We’re a favorite spot of several members of the New York Giants and New York Mets and will be hosting a meet-and-greet at the restaurant with former Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden on May 23 from 7 to 9 p.m.” Supported by more than a dozen employees whom they consider “a vital part of our family,” Dichiara who oversees front-of-house activities and other management duties while her husband oversees kitchen activities and other functions are excited to usher in a new day for an iconic location “The Green Knoll Grill isn’t a pitstop but a fun new destination and our favorite part is seeing happy “We live for and truly care about our customers and we’re excited to welcome new faces too!” The Green Knoll Grill is at 645 Route 202/206 in Bridgewater and can be reached at 908-526-7090 or by visiting greenknollgrill.com the Green Knoll Grill will host a meet-and-greet at the restaurant with former Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden 2024 at 9:52 am ETFranklin Township house fire on Nov (Millstone Valley Fire Department)Electric car fire on I-287 in Bridgewater on Oct 31 (Hillsborough Twp Station 37 Fire)Deck fire in Bedminster on Nov (Far Hills)Camper trailer on fire on Amwell Road on Oct (Flagtown Fire/Rescue - Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Co NJ — It's been a busy week for volunteer firefighters across Somerset County as multiple fires sparked A second alarm was called along with tankers due to there being no hydrants in the area The fire was extinguished and the scene was cleared around 5:30 a.m Engine 302 went to the scene while Engine 301 set up a full site for tankers at the Promenade Firefighters were able to contain the fire in the building to the roof in the rear Mutual aid companies from several nearby communities helped on the scene including Montgomery 46 NJ Forest Fire Service helped with a small brush fire behind the building Hillsborough Police helped with traffic and working with the Fire Safety Bureau on the investigation The New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Stage 3 Fire Restrictions remain in effect for the Somerset County area in response to prolonged dry conditions and increased wildfire activity until further notice "All fires will be prohibited unless contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas, gas, or electricity. No charcoal fires are allowed," according to NJ Forest Fire Service "A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain," said the fire department BRIDGEWATER – The Township Council has renewed the Green Knoll Grill's annual liquor license but not without objection from the Route 202-206 establishment the township and the popular restaurant have had lengthy often contentious discussions about the liquor license stemming from noise complaints from neighbors across the street in the Crossroads community and the number of times police have been called to the business the Township Council renewed the liquor license with 14 conditions Those conditions included a security guard schedule restricted occupancy on the patio and terrace and the time of last call to be served Those conditions are now being litigated in a state Administrative Law Court On Thursday the Township Council renewed the liquor license with the same conditions but representatives of the restaurant were not present at the meeting Council President Michael Kirsh read a letter from David Cassidy saying that the restaurant still objected to the conditions attached to the license Cassidy wrote that conditions were "inappropriate" and "burdensome" to the "law-abiding" restaurant Councilman Tim Ring said that he regretted that Cassidy was not in attendance at the meeting because there was "no opportunity to ask him questions." The Council also approved license renewals for Wegmans please subscribe or activate your digital account 2024 at 9:54 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The event will be held at the Green Knoll Fire Company at 606 N NJ — The first annual Whiskey & Cigar Night fundraiser will be held benefiting the Green Knoll Fire Department The event will be held at the Green Knoll Fire Company at 606 N The event will also include T-shirts available for purchase Advance tickets are $75 per person or $85 per person at the door(only available if not sold out) "Mark your calendars and save the date for a fun-filled night while supporting the Green Knoll Fire Company," wrote the fire company For more information on how to volunteer visit gkfc.org or email green_knoll_fire_co@gkfc.org BRIDGEWATER - A security guard at the Green Knoll Grille has filed a federal lawsuit against the township police department and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office claiming he was wrongfully prosecuted on an aggravated assault charge on a patron who was the son of a former township police officer was found not guilty of the charge in 2017 following a trial in Somerset County Superior Court in connection with an incident at the popular Route 202-206 bar and restaurant on Aug In the suit filed in federal court on July 1 DiGiesi charges he was the victim of a conspiracy "devised and orchestrated" by the police department to prosecute him for allegedly assaulting Michael Dolida the son of former township police officer Kenneth Dolida who retired in 2001 Neither the township nor the prosecutor's office have filed a response to the suit The suit charges that DiGiesi's arrest was "outrageous inexcusable and illegal abuse of power" and violated his Constitutional rights READ: Bridgewater-Raritan: Court overturns ruling parents have to pay $38,329 in tuition The suit also contends that if Michael Dolida's father had not been a township police officer, DiGiesi "would not have had to expend his hard-earned money fighting a frivolous legal battle for simply doing the job he was hired to do." DiGiesi said if the police took the proper action, he would have avoided "the embarrassment of being falsely arrested and having his good name tarnished." when Michael Dolida and his girlfriend stopped at Green Knoll Grille to celebrate her birthday The couple entered the restaurant through a back door and were confronted because they did not show identification READ: Somerset Patriots' fireworks at TD Bank Ballpark in jeopardy As the couple was leaving after having drinks Dolida allegedly blew smoke in the face of a security guard at the door and DiGiesi asked Dolida to leave 22 times DiGiesi escorted him out and told Dolida not to come back that evening But Dolida tried to go back inside the establishment What happened next is at the core of the dispute The lawsuit charges that Dolida came at DiGiesi with an elbow and forearm caused Dolida to move away to the sidewalk "where he apparently tripped on the Belgium Block curb and fell to the ground." But Dolida's girlfriend called police to report he had been assaulted DiGiesi was later charged with aggravated assault DiGiesi was found not guilty of all charges against him  in a trial before Superior Court Judge Kathy Qasim Staff Writer Mike Deak covers court issues for mycentraljersey.com He can be reached at 908-243-6607 or mdeak@mycentraljersey.com 2023 at 4:52 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Lisa DiChiara who has owned the Green Knoll Grill with her husband for 27 years said the ruling was "a great win for the GKG." (Google Images )BRIDGEWATER NJ — A judge ruled that certain restrictions Bridgewater Township placed on Green Knoll Grill regarding its live music seem "arbitrary," and said a one-day suspension issued to the tiki bar and music venue last year was "excessive." Lisa DiChiara, who has owned the Green Knoll Grill (645 Route 202/206 in Bridgewater) with her husband for 27 years said the ruling was "a great win for the GKG" in a social media post A hearing was held on June 12 at the New Jersey's Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Office of Administrative Law before Judge Kim Belin, addressing the one-day suspension issued by the township to the Green Knoll Grill claiming the restaurant violated a noise ordinance in June 2022 Belin reversed the suspension and ordered the township and restaurant to review and renegotiate certain special conditions that require a security guard and wristbands on certain nights stipulations for security guard certification and training for new employees and a schedule of when music is allowed outside on the patio The music schedule in Green Knoll Grill's liquor license conditions includes: Green Knoll Grill owners petitioned that they were being unfairly and inconsistently with other restaurants and bars with outdoor patios Judge Belin also asked the town to review data on how similar establishments are treated and what restrictions may be in place "to determine if there is evidence of bias "...bias requires convincing proof and thus how other establishments are treated is relevant," she wrote "I am thankful the Judge ruled in our favor and more," DiChiara said The GKG also thanked patrons and community members for their support "We will keep you posted," the venue wrote on social media "We look forward to working with the town and being cooperative good neighbor who represented Green Knoll Grill in court said he and his clients are "very pleased" with the decision and that they are hopeful the town will meet with them to resolve the issue "This has gone on far too long and we are committed to ending this tension," he said in a statement "My firm has assisted the GKG in seeking compliance with all rules and regulations and this should be recognized by the Town Representatives for the township did not immediately return Patch's request for comment Friday This story contains reporting from Patch's Alexis Tarrazi all-weather courts with acrylic surfaces that provide extra traction Pickleball players can paddle-up at Colonial Park Tennis Center where the tennis courts are striped for pickleball and portable pickleball nets are available at the facility The Green Knoll Tennis Center is at 587 Garretson Road Colonial Park Tennis Center is at 156 Mettlers Road The following hours of operation and fees apply to both locations: June 21 through Labor Day Monday through Friday Pickleball Fees (Colonial Park Only) Monday through Friday before 5 p.m To reserve a tennis court at the Green Knoll Tennis center Individuals with hearing impairments can use the Relay Service at 711 Green Knoll Tennis Center Offers Tennis Lessons The Green Knoll Tennis Center offers private tennis lessons all year and summer group lessons for people of all ages and abilities To register for private lessons, contact Stephen Dahl at sdahl@scparks.org To learn more about the Somerset County Park Commission, visit https://www.somersetcountyparks.org About the Somerset County Park Commission The Somerset County Park Commission is committed to excellence in promoting stewardship of land and resources providing outstanding recreation opportunities and leisure services and fostering an environment that is service-oriented and responsive to the public’s needs This press release was produced by the Somerset County Government The views expressed here are the author’s own BRIDGEWATER - It was almost the last call for the Green Knoll Grill But when the police department recommended that as a condition of the license renewal for the next 12 months that no liquor could be sold after midnight it was the final straw "Green Knoll Grill feels like it is being singled out," said Pasquale Marago has a "semi-historical status in the township." Marago added that the restriction would be a "death knell" for the Green Knoll Grill."This is unfair," he said adding that not being allowed to serve alcohol after midnight is "over the line.""You're not being singled out," said Township Attorney William Savo adding that the township has received complaints from the public "year after year."Council President Felipe Pedroso said he was "insulted" by the accusation that the township was treating the Green Knoll Grill differently "You're jumping the gun," he said.The proposed restriction came in response to the rise in the number of police calls to the business in the first six months of 2016 police were called to the Green Knoll Grill 11 times But that number had risen to 16 calls so far in 2016 there were two police calls to Fridays at the Somerville Circle and only one call to Buffalo Wild Wings on Route 22."Too many people are having too much to drink," said Councilman Howard Norgalis adding that in his 12 years on the council the Green Knoll Grill has always been "problematic.""We don't seem to get to a point where it gets fixed," Norgalis said.But Marago said Green Knoll Grill has complied with every restriction the township has placed on the liquor license."If this council asks Green Knoll Grill responds," he said.Marago said the bar staff is "very mature"  and knows when to cut off a customer who's had too much to drink.The restaurant recently purchased an $1,100 scanner to check for fake IDs and it now requires two forms of identification he saidThere are 10 to 12 unformed security staffers located throughout the restaurant on Thursday he added.Marago said the security staff will undergo training on the same restraint tactics used by teachers of autistic students.He also said that an off-duty police officer talked to the staff and advised them to call police "when in doubt" about a developing situation.But council members still pressed Marago on the bar's practices.Councilman Matt Moench wondered if the bartenders know when to cut off a customer and whether a private security firm would be better than the restaurant hiring its own security staffers Moench also said the restaurant should have an "ongoing dialogue" with the township throughout the year.'There has to be more staff training," said Councilman Allen Kurdyla The staff should be able to control it." In the end the council unanimously renewed the liquor license with Norgalis saying he was giving the restaurant "the benefit of the doubt."Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com BRIDGEWATER - Just in time for Fathers Day the pitch & putt course at Green Knoll Golf Course on Garretson Road will re-open for the first time since 2019 The nine-hole course was closed for all of 2020 because of COVID-19 where the longest hole is 98 yards and the shortest hole is 46 yards is an inexpensive way for parents to introduce their children to the sport without the expense of buying a full set of clubs. All that's needed is a wedge and a putter The course is open seven days a week from 8 a.m Golfers should bring their own equipment because rental clubs and balls are not available Golfers should sign in and pay at the clubhouse READ: Juneteenth and Flag Day this week: Here's what Somerset County has planned “Golf is a wonderful way to spend some time with family and friends outdoors but sometimes we just don’t have the time to play a full 18-hole course,” said Park Commission President Mark Caliguire “The Green Knoll Pitch & Putt is a great way to get in a quick game sharpen up some chipping and putting skills and still get back home for a Father’s Day barbecue or other activity.” 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. 2020 at 10:30 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Readers overwhelmingly chose Green Knoll Grill as one of Bridgewater's Businesses Of The Year and an establishment that cares for its staff It was nominated by Patch readers more than any other as one of the best businesses of the year in Bridgewater "[Green Knoll Grill] is one of my favorite go-to places in Bridgewater There is no other place like it in the area It has the best outdoor patio with games for everyone We celebrated my son's birthday there and always enjoyed the food," said Jonathan Reina "The staff are always so happy and accommodating The Green Knoll Grill owners make sure all its customers know them and welcome them back which says a lot about a place everyone loves." "This place has been a landmark in Bridgewater since my parent's time It had the largest central Jersey patio and tiki bar It's definitely one of NJ's hottest destinations There's no other place like it The food is outstanding and I vote for [Green Knoll Grill] any day of the week Everyone knows everyone," said Kenny Villatro Many of the employees pointed out how the owners care for the staff "During the pandemic they paid us and we did not have to worry about finding jobs even when there was no government help at that time There is no better place that takes care of their employees like [Green Knoll Grill]," said Vinny Balducci praised his parents for how they took care of the staff during the pandemic my parents paid the staff and NEVER expected them to find other jobs or collect unemployment They never made them wait or fear they had no income They felt they had to support the very people who worked for them for over 15 years and dedicated their lives to them," said Dichiara "[Green Knoll Grill]will always look out for their own and I hope to one day take over the legacy my parents taught me in business." 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Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. 2022 at 1:55 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The free event will be held on Aug (Flyer via Green Knoll Fire Department)BRIDGEWATER NJ — The Green Knoll Fire Department is celebrating 75 years of volunteerism to the community with a big "This is the largest event we have ever had," said Sam Ballow There will also be anniversary T-shirts and pint glasses for sale All proceeds will benefit the Green Knoll Fire Department and first responders are all invited to be judged for an awards ceremony More than 10 companies have already signed up Those trucks will be on display for the public to check out Food trucks slated to come out include Heaven's Cuisine A percentage of sales from the food trucks will be donated to the fire department The public will be parking at the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School and a bus will transport guests to and from the parking lot and the Firehouse Handicapped parking will be located at the firehouse The Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Department responds to more than 600 calls a year providing fire protection to life and property in the Township of Bridgewater The fire department operates seven pieces of apparatus: Green Knoll is always looking for new volunteers. To volunteer or for more information visit gkfc.org or facebook.com/Greenknollfiredepartment 2022 at 3:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Green Knoll Grill located at 645 Route 202/206 in Bridgewater NJ — Green Knoll Grill's ability to play outdoor music is in jeopardy as some residents are complaining about late-night noise Others have started a petition to defend the Bridgewater restaurant The discussion recently came up as the restaurant at 645 Route 202/206 in Bridgewater has its liquor license renewal expected in August some neighboring residents are asking the township council to amend the license to no longer allow outdoor music who live on Village Drive across from the restaurant said at the June 23 council meeting that the Green Knoll Grill has repeatedly played music past the allowable cut-off time "They have an apparent disregard to neighbors in the community and the will of the council when it comes to playing this music," said Victor Caliman Caliman asked the council members to consider revoking the Green Knoll Grill's ability to host outdoor music is allowed to play live music three days a week I only have three days of peace the way you did their liquor license You did not think of the people who live across the street," said Julie Caliman Victor Caliman asked the council to remember the concerns of the families who live across the street when renewing the liquor license told Patch the residents really made the whole situation into something huge and he thinks it is disingenuous "The owners of the Green Knoll Grill are pretty good citizens and they have the most liquor restrictions of any place by far They are not in a residential neighborhood blaring music," said Cassidy Cassidy also noted there have only been five noise complaints in the past year with three of them made by two residents A request by Patch to the Bridgewater Police Department for the number of noise complaints filed against Green Knoll Grill was not fulfilled Cassidy said the Green Knoll Grill has been providing outdoor live entertainment for more than a decade even before the townhomes were built across the street We do not have larger speakers and a lot of the times it is just a small 3-person band performing," said Cassidy "I personally think the town is overlooking the tiki bar as an attraction for Bridgewater." Council President Allen Kurdyla said the Mayor and administration is taking the agreement with the Green Knoll Grill "very seriously" and there have been discussions and will be future discussions on how they would like to proceed Mayor Matthew Moench said he sat outside the restaurant on a Friday night and also alerted police to the issue to increase enforcement Moench noted that the township "can't have an officer stationed out there four nights a week to ensure compliance." Other residents and patrons of the restaurant have started a petition to show their support of the Green Knoll Grill's live music "People have put in false complaints about noises The establishment is on main commercial road with not many houses nearby and the complaints came from a house that was way out of the radius of GKG," according to the petition "Please support GKG in keeping their live entertainment on the patio There are many people that will be affected by this Having live entertainment is part of the experience that they provide for people and so many memories are made from this way Help keep this summer fun and live!" continued the petition The petition has more than 750 signatures as of Friday. To read or sign the petition click here 2021 at 10:03 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Pictured from left are SRAS Manager Brian Bradshaw NJ — The Somerset County Sheriff's Office and Green Knoll Grill of Bridgewater donated $1,000 to the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter on Monday The donation check was part of a fundraiser held at the restaurant at 645 Route 202 on conjunction with the sheriff's office in October to raise money for the nonprofit shelter For more information on how you can adopt an animal from the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter visit www.srasnj.org or call 908-725-0308 The shelter is located at 100 Commons Way in Bridgewater 2022 at 10:12 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Some neighboring residents are asking the township council to amend the liquor license to no longer allow outdoor music at the Green Knoll Grill at 645 Route 202/206 in Bridgewater NJ — The Bridgewater Township Council will be hosting a public hearing on Monday night to discuss Green Knoll Grill's outdoor entertainment and noise complaints from some residents in-person with a live stream in the courtroom located at the Municipal Complex The recent discussion over the restaurant and bar's music came to light at the past few council meetings when some residents voiced their complaints ahead of the renewal of Green Knoll Grill's liquor license Those neighboring residents are asking the township council to amend the liquor license to no longer allow outdoor music at 645 Route 202/206 in Bridgewater The noise issue is being opposed by some patrons of the restaurant and other residents who have started a petition to show their support of the Green Knoll Grill's live music The petition has around 1,500 signatures as of Friday. To read or sign the petition click here Somerset County Park Commission has announced that Green Knoll Golf Course on Garretson Road will close for the winter season at the conclusion of play on Sunday Spooky Brook Golf Course at Colonial Park in the Somerset section of Franklin Township and Neshanic Valley Golf Course on South Branch Road in the Neshanic Station of Branchburg will remain open for play through the winter as conditions permit.The HDGolf Simulator at the Learning Center at Neshanic Valley Golf Course featuring 26 championship courses from around the world will be open for indoor play year around from 10 a.m Saturday and Sunday.Information of all golf facilities may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Park Commission at 908-369-1458 An extensive field of mega-furrows has been recently discovered on the seafloor at the base of the Sigsbee Escarpment in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Bryant Texas A&M deep-tow data and 3D seismic data supplied by WesternGeco Inc show that the scale of these fields far exceeds anything previously observed in the world's oceans The data shows furrow resolution in unprecedented detail and their orientation relative to large topographic features all suggest that the furrows are produced by strong deepwater flow Data from near bottom current meters confirms that strong currents do exist at the base of the Sigsbee Escarpment The furrows and associated environmental processes are dominant features of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico Similar features will probably be found to exist in many other areas of the world's oceans was discovered on the continental rise at the base of the Sigsbee Escarpment (about 3,000 meters water depth) during a 1999 deep-tow survey of the continental slope and rise in the Bryant Canyon area of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico relatively narrow depressions in the seafloor that are generally oriented parallel (along strike) to the escarpment These deep-tow data indicate that individual furrows are about 1-10 meters deep and about 5-50 meters wide The spacing between individual furrows (edge to edge) is ~20-200 meters and the whole field of furrows extends about 10-30 km seaward from the base of the escarpment Data shows that the field of furrows in the Bryant Canyon area runs along about 100 km at the base of the escarpment Deep-tow data and seafloor surface renderings derived from 3D seismic data also show that furrows are present along about 150 km of the continental rise at the base of the Sigsbee Escarp-ment in the Green Canyon and Farnella Canyon areas in the Western Mississippi Fan Fold Belt This is a frontier area for deepwater oil and gas exploration in approximately 2,200-3,100 meter water depths that the field of furrows is continuous between the Farnella Canyon/Green Knoll area and Bryant Canyon (300 km) and may extend along the continental rise to and maybe beyond the Alaminos Canyon area Submarine furrows have been previously observed along the base of the continental slope and along the continental rise in other areas of the world (Brazilian Margin-Flood 1978a,b; Blake Bahama Outer Ridge-Flood and Hollister These observations have generally been based on chance encounters and localized observations in small survey areas The massive extent of the furrows observed in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico is unprecedented the furrows are a dominant morphologic feature of the lower slope/rise and their existence indicates that the surficial processes that form the furrows and related bedforms are quite significant The detail with which these furrows have been resolved is also unprecedented Shipboard multibeam seismic systems are incapable of imaging furrows in water depths of several thousand meters We are able to investigate deepsea furrows over much larger areas and at much higher resolution than was possible before because we have access to a deep-towed seismic system and industry collected 3D seismic data that was not available for previous studies We suspect that when such data is collected outside the Gulf of Mexico it will be found that sedimentary mega-furrows are present on the lower slopes/rises of many other continental margins Sedimentary furrows are one of a series of longitudinal mega-bed forms which can form aligned with the net direction of flowing water and are typically attributed to the development of secondary helical circulation cells that occur above the sediment/water interface (Allen The massive size of the furrows in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico A range of furrow morphologies is observed in the deep-tow data-comparison with Allen's (1969) laboratory results suggests that these morphologies reflect different velocities (sediment texture and other factors undoubtedly play roles also) A fascinating aspect of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico furrows is their long extent and their orientation relative to topographic features on the seafloor Green Knoll is about a 14-km diameter plug of sediment pushed several hundred meters above the surrounding seafloor by underlying salt An individual furrow can be traced continuously in this area for at least 50 km on the 3D surface renderings and is the longest continuous individual sedimentary marine bed form on the surface of the Earth The orientation of furrows about the Green Knoll suggests that the knoll formed an obstacle to the flow of water more prominent furrows) as the flow from the northeast is deflected around and over the knoll An area of few furrows on the southwestern side of the knoll suggests drag-related turbulence and perhaps lower velocity on the western down-current side of the knoll Near-bottom current meters deployed by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) and industry show that the high velocity flow implied by the furrows does occur Several current meters have recorded flow events with velocities of more than 100 cm/sec It appears that the processes responsible for these furrows are active at present Based on the variation in character of these features from offshore toward the escarpment and on the rather good agreement of that variation with the pattern of changes observed in published laboratory studies of submarine erosion (Allen 1969; Dzulynski 1965) the tentative conclusion is that bottom currents responsible for these features have along-isobath components and increase in strength toward the escarpment Such work attributes the furrows to rows of counter-rotating helical currents generally directed along the furrows with rising parts of the helixes over the furrows No direct measurements have been reported to test this concept Laboratory experiments indicate that furrows of different separation and fundamental character occur for different flow rates it is difficult to scale these model results to field conditions Speculation is that the near-bottom speeds of currents responsible for the inshore furrows might be 50 cm/sec or even in excess of 100 cm/sec The furrows and the currents responsible for them may also exist over a considerable part of the yet unexplored base of the continental slope in the Gulf of Mexico and may represent a distinctly different phenomenon than the other classes of currents observed to date and presently under consideration Direct observations of the nature of the furrows adjacent to Green Knoll and the furrows near Farnella Canyon by the use of the deep submergence vehicle Alvin were undertaken in October 2000 Dives of 2,400 meters into the furrows adjacent to the southeastern portion of Green Knoll indicated that the slope of the furrow walls ranged from almost vertical to 45 degrees Active transport of sediment and shells could be observed along a furrow wall Bottom water currents were estimated to be 30-50 cm/sec from ADCP measurements A dive in 3,000 meters water depth in the Farnella Canyon area revealed extensive erosion of the seabed Large flute-like structures exposing bedded sediment layers were common as were large sediment ripples composed entirely of large foraminifera Analysis of 3D seismic data in the Green Knoll area indicates the presence of fossil furrows in the sub-bottom Surface renderings of 3D data cube revealed a field of fossil furrows at a depth of 200 ms below the seafloor Other subsurface expressions have been noted and are now being investigated It is suggested that the formation of furrows is a high-stand event and the filling and burying of furrows a low-stand event The presence of mega-furrows and their association with high bottom water currents in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico in and adjacent to areas of potential large oil production presents a definite engineering constraint relative to the stability of seafloor production facilities and pipelines An exact knowledge of the seabed and the adjacent water column will go a long way in helping to overcome the engineering constraints in operating in such a complex environment The Office of Naval Research provided support of this research WesternGeco allowed the use of their 3D data set of the Green Knoll Area 1969: Erosional current marks of weakly cohesive mud beds Mega-furrows on the continental rise south of the Sigsbee Escarpment New data on experimental production of sedimentary structures 1983: Classification of sedimentary furrows and a model for furrow initiation and evolution 1997: Numerical simulation of Gulf of Mexico circulation under present and glacial climatic conditions 1993: Separation of warm-core rings in the Gulf of Mexico BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Billie Jean is not Michael Jackson's lover and the Green Knoll Grill didn't have permission to play his 1982 hit. That mistake could cost this restaurant to the tune of several thousands of dollars for each of the four songs that Broadcast Music Inc claims the venue played one Friday night in May 2014 Green Knoll Grill is accused of allowing patrons to rock out to the early-1990s Robin S dance hit Show Me Love Elvis Crespo's Suavemente and Lady Gaga's Bad Romance — which gives the Bridgewater watering hole the unlikely distinction of being the defendant in a lawsuit involving the House of Gaga as a plaintiff BMI sues about a half-dozen bars and restaurants in New Jersey alleging copyright violations the music giant took more than 160 businesses to court saying they played one of the 8.5 million songs in its repertoire The violations could be a result of music played on speakers DJs spinning records or patrons screeching out karaoke The copyright laws are so complex that it takes into account the square footage of a public venue and how many sound speakers and television sets a venue has in order to determine whether a license is needed to just turn on the radio or TV Businesses that don't want to risk getting sued will pay for blanket licenses from BMI and the other two performing rights organizations — American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) The three organizations license virtually every song heard on television and radio BMI is so large that it licenses half of all songs played on radio and has agreements with more than 650,000 businesses resulting in $977 million in revenues last year much of which the organization says was distributed to copyright holders of songs The BMI annual rates range from a minimum of $357 for a jukebox to $2.90 for every person allowed in a venue's maximum occupancy for a DJ to $5.85 per person for live music "While some business owners may avoid paying licensing fees for a while it can be much more expensive than the cost of a music license in the long run," the National Restaurant Association While most of these copyright cases are settled out of court one case involving an Italian restaurant in Linden last year allowed the public to see just how costly such lawsuits can be for businesses A federal judge in December ruled that Amici III Ristorante would have to pay $24,000 or $6,000 for each of the four songs BMI said the restaurant played last May The songs were the Rolling Stones' Brown Sugar Elton John's Bennie and the Jets and Your Song unprintable response when asked about the litigation on Tuesday Some other New Jersey restaurant owners that have been sued since last year did not return calls for comment Those who had hired lawyers filed court documents denying the allegations ASCAP says music licensing fees are "one of the many costs of doing business." "Professional songwriters and composers earn much of their livelihoods by licensing the rights granted to them by copyright law," the organization which represents a half-million songwriters and music publishers "ASCAP exists to protect that right by licensing the public performance of our members' music." Bruce Springsteen was aghast when he learned ASCAP added his name to a lawsuit against a Manhattan bar that had played some of his recordings The organization quickly dropped his name from the lawsuit The Somerset County Park Commission’s Spooky Brook Golf Course in Colonial Park in the Somerset section of Franklin and Green Knoll Golf Course on Garretson Road in Bridgewate,r have been named “2014 Groundwater Guardian Green Sites” by the Groundwater Foundation to honor the facilities’ groundwater and environmental stewardship The two facilities join the Park Commission’s Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station and Quail Brook Golf Course Green Knoll and Spooky Brook Golf Courses were designated as “River Friendly” by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority The Groundwater Guardian Green Site program recognizes green spaces including golf courses and residential and business sites for implementing groundwater and surface water-friendly practices Qualification includes selection of appropriate plantings maintaining a no-application zone around surface water and active wells and applying fertilizer based on nutrient needs “This is another well-earned recognition for the Somerset County Park Commission and staff led by John Zujkowski at Green Knoll and Billy Martin at Spooky Brook,” said Darrell Marcinek “We are continually proving that we can maintain the highest quality golfing experience while still protecting the environment around us.” The Somerset County Park Commission operates five public access golf courses, Neshanic Valley in Neshanic Station, Quail Brook and Spooky Brook in Somerset, Green Knoll in Bridgewater and Warrenbrook in Warren Township.Visit www.somersetcountyparks.org for details 2012 at 2:46 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Somerset County Parks Commission is officially reopening its golf courses on Friday morning we present five things to know about the Green Knoll Golf Course in case you have a hankering for a little golf Additional information about the course, as well as facts about membership prices and times of operation are available on the county parks website Nursing home workers in Bridgewater and Perth Amboy plan to picket Monday afternoon to call for adequate staffing health insurance and personal protective equipment The socially distanced rallies at Complete Care at Green Knoll in Bridgewater and Alameda Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare in Perth Amboy will mark the first time members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East will picket since the COVID-19 pandemic began.  The workers will demand basic improvements to their jobs and stop what they say are unfair labor practices according to a news release from the union “I gave birth to my daughter earlier this year and every week I get more bills that my insurance didn’t cover,” Rachelle Washington a certified nursing assistant at Complete Care said in a statement. “Now I’m thousands of dollars in debt. To make matters worse Complete Care cut my hours. Our residents have been stuck inside for months without visitors — they need more care and attention from staff The union claims in the release that when Complete Care took over operations at the Green Knoll nursing home in February 2019 company executives made sweeping cuts to workers’ health insurance Many workers who had depended on employer-provided health coverage could no longer afford it and others who maintained coverage say it is severely lacking despite the coronavirus pandemic which has "sickened many workers at the facility," according to the release Complete Care again took an ax to workers’ benefits by announcing that effective July 1 workers are required to pay significantly more for their health care Green Knoll workers delivered a petition signed by more than 50 employees imploring the company to reverse the announced changes 21 workers and zero residents at Complete Care were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 There were no reported deaths among residents or staff Bridgewater reported 492 COVID-19 cases and 69 deaths This isn't the first time workers at Complete Care will picket. In February 2019, employees of the Green Knoll facility rallied for health insurance and other benefits.  the employer "unilaterally rescinded hazard pay for most workers despite continued cases of COVID-19 at the facility," according to the release.  At least 76 employees there have contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic and two have died Perth Amboy has been hit especially hard by the pandemic there were 2,299 cases and 130 deaths in the city Workers at Alameda Center are concerned about poor staffing levels and the “second class” status of licensed practical nurses who are required to pay significantly more for health care than other staff according to the release. Licensed practical nurses have been fighting the company for a new union contract for three years READ: NJ man’s COVID-19 death was missing from state’s nursing home statistics “Alameda is still standing because we have nurses who care,” said Mara Santos a licensed practical nurses at Alameda Center. “We get one KN95 mask a week but our gowns are like plastic garbage bags I don’t have health insurance because it’s not worth the cost. As a veteran I’m looking to VA benefits to get care for myself and my 10-year-old son.”  Practices at Alameda Center have been questioned previously during the pandemic. A woman claimed her husband was hospitalized and then died of COVID-19 in April but said she was never notified of his condition by the nursing home the majority of whom are women of color, are called heroes —and by any measure they are. Yet during the worst health crisis in living memory they have to fight for even the most basic consideration from their employers,” said Milly Silva executive vice president of 1199SEIU. "We are demanding that Green Knoll and Alameda Center nursing homes cease their unfair labor practices and prioritize the safety and livelihood of their staff who put their lives on the line every day.”  Nick Muscavage is a watchdog reporter for the Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to his investigative work that has exposed wrongdoing and changed state law, please subscribe or activate your digital account today Home  |  Tournaments  |  Courses  |  Equipment  |  Players  |  Rankings  |  About Us  |  Contact Between plummeting temperatures creating less demand for outdoor dining and a 25 percent capacity limit on indoor dining many Central Jersey restaurants are temporarily shutting their doors These local spots are hoping that a pause in service will help them stay open in the long haul restaurants are dealing with typical payroll food and utility costs — costs they can avoid with temporary closures.  Middlesex and Union counties are closed for the time being they hope to re-emerge in a world recovering from COVID-19.  After business slowed significantly due to COVID-19, 22 West Tap and Grill temporarily closed as of Dec. 27, owner Kevin Trimarchi previously told MyCentralJersey.com "Business has slowed down to having six to 10 tables on a Saturday night We would lose less money being closed than being open," he said.  The restaurant opened four years ago and has a build-your-own burger menu and 32 draft beers. Trimarchi is also a partner of Oink and Moo BBQ Market in Somerville READ: Two years after devastating Frenchtown fire, Galasso's Pizza is back Gabriele plans to introduce a new food and happy hour menu as well as outdoor tents and a "plan to make our party room even better." Prior to its temporary closure, Gabriele's Bar & Grill served items such as brick oven pizza and flatbread the Green Knoll Grill has been a local watering hole attracting big crowds due to its 40 big screen TVs huge outdoor space and bar bites like half-pounds burgers and brick-oven pizza much of that is on hiatus at the moment as the indoor portion of the restaurant has been closed since Jan heated tiki bar remains open on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. for drink service only.  "Right now it's not worth it for us to be open indoors — no one can sit at the bar and food has to be turned over for it to be good," said co-owner Lisa Dichiara when it will reopen with a new menu and new games Although Old Man Rafferty's Hillsborough location remains open following a week-long holiday break, Old Man Rafferty's New Brunswick location will be closed until Feb READ: Rahway free Soup Stroll, restaurant week can win you gift cards this month "We must hibernate our restaurants for a short period of time in the coming months to survive and our dilient staff members could use a rest," the website says upgraded and beautified for outdoor dining with climate-controlled patios and contactless mobile ordering.  Brad Wadlow contributed to this report.