2018 2019 Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
2018 - 2019
Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Table of Contents
Hillsborough Facts and Stats
Route 206 Bypass
Hillsborough Town Center Main Street
Awards and Recognitions
Residents
Township
Township Employees
Schools
Veterans
Public School System
Finance
Business Advocate and Development
Sustainable Hillsborough
Community Engagement
Township Events
Parks and Recreation
Schools
Weddings
Community Policing
Social Services
Library
Open Space
Tourism
Press Releases
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Hillsborough Facts and Stats
★ Officially incorporated in 1798 by the New Jersey Legislature, Hillsborough was
one of the original 104 townships in the state. The Township has deep historic roots
with dozens of Revolutionary War and historic Princeton sites in the surrounding areas.
★ The Township covers 55 square miles and has 40,000+ residents. It is centrally
located within the state and is part of Somerset County. It is approximately 52 miles
from Manhattan, the nation’s largest metropolis, and 55 miles from Philadelphia, the
nation’s fifth largest metropolis. It is also within driving distance to the famous Jersey
Shore.
★ Hillsborough is located within 20 miles of some of the state’s outstanding
universities and colleges - Princeton University, Rutgers University, Rider University,
The College of New Jersey, Thomas Edison State University, Mercer County
Community College, Middlesex County College and Raritan Valley Community
College.
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Route 206 Bypass
★ Envisioned as early as 1974, the bypass is expected to alleviate the chronic
weekday and weekend congestion on the major north-south state highway. Phase 1 of
the project was completed in 2013 and Phase 2 in 2015. NJDOT is actively working on
the project and the final phase is anticipated to be completed by 2020.
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Hillsborough Township was honored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action’s
“New Jersey’s Leading Infrastructure Projects” for its efforts in supporting the Route
206 Bypass project. The recognition highlights innovative initiatives that have
significant impact to the state’s economy and those that foster collaboration to see them
come to successful completion.
★ Once the bypass is open, it will allow the Township to implement its master plan
to build a Town Center Main Street environment.
Hillsborough Town Center Main Street
★ First envisioned in 1999, Town Center Main Street environment will be a
pedestrian-friendly focal point for employment, recreation and commerce. The vision is
for residents and visitors alike to experience a strong sense of community while they
frequent the Main Street area.
★ Over the years, Township Ordinances have been passed that built upon the
overall Town Center vision. Recently, in anticipation of the bypass completion,
Ordinance 2018-15 was adopted amending the Township Code with more specific
definition around the Town Center Main Street area.
★ With the anticipated Route 206 Bypass completion, as well as other Somerset
County designated Route 206 planned improvements, the Township will be able to see
the vision of transforming the old section of the 2-lane highway into a Main Street area.
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Awards and Recognitions
★ Residents Awards and Proclamation Recognitions in 2018 and 2019
44 to Hillsborough School teams, teachers and organizations
40 to Non-Profit and community organizations
32 to Eagle Scouts and Girl Scouts
56 to individual Hillsborough residents
★ Township Awards and Recognition
Recognized 4 times as one of Money Magazine’s A
merica’s Best Places to Live
Recognized 2 times as one of New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s Best Places to Live
in New Jersey
Recognized by New Jersey Family Magazine as B
est Towns for Families, 2019
Recognized by Niche as one of the Best Places to Live in America, 2019
Recognized by StreetWise as one of the Safest Towns, 2 019
Voted by the Courier News readership as the 2 018 Courier News Somerset County
‘Best Of’ Police Departments, an honor we have since 2014
Received our fifth New Jersey Smart Workplaces Premium Award in 2018
Received New Jersey Alliance for Action’s “New Jersey’s Leading Infrastructure
Projects” award, 2018
Received the Sustainable New Jersey Award for 9th consecutive year
Received Municipal Innovation Award for ‘Going Green’, 2019
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Award Winning Schools
Hillsborough High School was ranked #50 in the state on New Jersey
Monthly Magazine’s list of 2018 top high schools and voted as the 3rd
highest-ranked high school in Somerset County by New Jersey
Department of Education School Performance Reports.
Hillsborough Elementary Schools voted as the highest-ranking elementary
school by New Jersey Department of Education School Performance
Reports
Niche ranked Hillsborough Township Public Schools as the 22nd best
school district in the state, the 3th best place to teach in the state and the
26th best school district in the state for athletes. Additionally, they ranked
our school district 171th in the country for athletes.
★ Township Employees Awards and Recognitions in 2018 and 2019
Anthony Ferrera, Township Administrator, named Administration /
Municipal Manager of the Year by New Jersey Municipal Management
Association
Dr. Belnay, recently retired Hillsborough Health Officer, received the Dr.
Thomas R Davy Academic Achievement Award by the New Jersey Municipal
Management Association
Pamela Borek, Hillsborough Town Clerk, received Somerset County Woman
of the Year in the government category and M
unicipal Clerk of the Year by
the Municipal Clerks Association of New Jersey Inc.
John Fielder, Hillsborough Building Department, received C onstruction
Official of the Year by the Municipal Construction Officials of New Jersey
organization
Hillsborough Employee Activities Recognition Team (H.E.A.R.T.)
arranges events to recognize Township employees’ hard work and
dedication. Such events are Potluck Super Bowl lunch, special “food”
days, American Heart Association Go Red day, Take Your Children To
Work day, Administrative Assistance Day and holiday celebrations.
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Veterans Recognition
Hillsborough has tremendous respect for our Veterans. We honored them by
naming the street running through the Municipal Complex “Veterans Way” and
creating a Garden of Honor to salute all those who currently serve and have served
our great nation. We also host a Veterans Wall of Honor on our township website
and each year we hold a Memorial Day Commemorative Program to honor those
veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
Hillsborough has been designated a Purple Heart Community by the Military
Order of the Purple Heart, one of the first in Somerset County.
8
Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Public School System
★ Hillsborough Township Public Schools is home to over 750 teachers and
approximately 7,300 students in grades PreK-12.
★ The Township has six Elementary Schools serving students from kindergarten
through grade 4; one Intermediate School serving students from grades 5 and 6; one
Middle School serving students from grades 7 and 8; and one High School servicing
students from grades 9 through 12.
★ The schools have programs and activities such as interscholastic-competitive
sports programs, model peer mentoring programs and well over 80 other
extracurricular activities.
★ Approximately 92% of the Hillsborough High School graduating class of 2018
went on to college with the remaining 8% attending business or technical schools,
joining the military or becoming employed.
★ The High School has 23 Advanced Placement (AP) courses as well as honors and
college prep classes. Eleven courses offered at Hillsborough High School can be taken
as part of a Concurrent Enrollment Program in partnership with a nearby community
college. This provides participating students the opportunity to earn college credits
while still in high school.
★ Hillsborough Township Public Schools gives every student in grades 5 through
12 a Chromebook which is provided by the school district. This 1:1 initiative was
piloted in 2011-2012 school year. 2018-2019 makes the 5th school year of full
implementation of this initiative. Additionally, students in grades 1 through 4 receive a
personal district-supplied Chromebook for in-school use.
★ Hillsborough Township participates in the New Jersey Municipalities' Louis Bay
II, Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition. The purpose of this scholarship
program is to advance the virtues of elected and volunteer positions in municipal
government while raising awareness of municipal government in general.
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Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Finance
★ Our Township Committee is committed to fiscal responsibility. 2018 was
Hillsborough’s eighth consecutive year of maintaining a budget that is under the 2%
levy cap.
★ Hillsborough Township Committee Members’ philosophy is to provide a level of
service that meets the expectations of the taxpayers while maintaining a business-like
approach. Our S&P Bond Rating has been AA+ since 2014. This rating is representative
of a high quality, very low credit risk organization.
★ Our fiscal efforts include scrutinizing spending levels and working diligently to
balance changes in revenues in light of mandatory spending increases. We have the
lowest per capita spending of the 4 area municipalities.
★ The township applies a P
ay-As-You-Go p lan for routine capital purchases. This is
a debt reduction plan that maintains the policy of paying more of our annual debt
requirements in order to pay the debt off sooner and save interest costs. Additionally,
we do not borrow money for routine capital projects.
10Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Business Advocate & Development
★ The O ffice of the Business Advocate and Development works with the Township’s
new and existing businesses to support commerce and development; acts as a liaison
between the Township’s Economic and Business Development Commission and the
commercial industry within the municipality; and gathers & disseminates information
as well as regulatory guidelines.
★ A new tool, Hillsborough Business & Investment Assistant, has been implemented
that will provide businesses, entrepreneurs and investors with online information and
advice in an easy to use format in both English and Spanish. It will also assist them in
navigating through the start-up process within the Township.
★ Hillsborough recognizes both new and existing businesses. We conduct Ribbon
Cutting ceremonies for new businesses and honor businesses that have been established
in the town for 25 years or more with a C
ertificate of Recognition. We have many new
and long-standing businesses in the Township. Below are just a couple of the
businesses recognized by the Township.
★ The Township has started a H
illsborough Harvest program that showcases our
local farmers. The program encourages businesses and residents to frequent our local
farms and enjoy the crops and products. The goal is to strengthen the local family
farming economy, promote healthy living and protect the environment.
11Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ The Township has a S hop Hillsborough Program which is a collaboration between
participating local merchants and Hillsborough Township. It is open to both residents
and non-residents and encourages support for our local merchants while providing
card users discounts for products & services and credits or refunds. Hillsborough
property owners receive property tax credit by using the card and non-property owners
receive rebate checks for their program credits.
★ The Township has a H illsborough Rewards Credit Card Program which is a
collaboration between local financial institution, Affinity Federal Credit Union, and
Hillsborough Township. The no-cost credit card program allows individuals or
businesses to sign up for the special Hillsborough Township Rewards Visa Credit Card
that gives back a portion of every charge, in the form of grants, to non-profit local youth
and senior citizen groups. Through this program, almost $80,000 in grants has been
awarded to community based non-profit organizations that serve the Township.
12Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Sustainable Hillsborough
★ The Township first achieved Sustainable Jersey Certification in 2009 and, at the
time, was one of only 28 towns of the 240 registered municipalities that achieved
certification in the very first year. We are now one of the 14 New Jersey municipalities
to have attained the silver level certification which is the highest available level.
★ Hillsborough completed a grant project that introduced innovative green
sustainability techniques into our environment, addressed flooding problems associated
with the Royce Brook which flows through the center of Hillsborough and educated our
residents and township employees on the importance of conservation. The project
incorporated retrofitting basins and planting rain gardens at the Municipal Complex to
demonstrate how the techniques can be fitted into residential & business building plans.
13Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Hillsborough participates in programs held by RideWise Inc., a transportation
management association (TMA) and a source of sustainable travel options in Somerset
County. RideWise Inc events Recovering Couch Potato and Drive Less Somerset Challenge
are just two examples of the events we participated in.
★ Hillsborough has implemented a commuter benefits program by establishing
two Park-and-Ride locations with access to transportation to New York City and local
destinations within the county.
★ Hillsborough participates in other events to exercise our sustainable goals. In
2019, we participated in the Wyland Foundation Water Pledge Challenge a s part of Earth
Month. Many of our residents pledged to conserve water and other natural resources
and as a result Hillsborough was in the top 50 municipalities in our category to
respond to the challenge.
14Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Community Engagement
★ Township Events
Hillsborough prides itself on its commitment to bringing the community
together. We hold events throughout the year for residents and non-residents to
enjoy. Some of the events are:
Township Employees Green Living and Memorial Day Parade
Go Red Day Wellness Fair
for American Heart
Association
Independence Day Somerset Patriot Game
Family Fun & Music Fest Hillsborough Day
Fireworks
15Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Memorial Day
Sourland Mountain Rotary Fair Veterans Breakfast and
Music Festival Garden of Honor Ceremony
Restaurant Week Family Camp-Out and Veterans Day
Fishing Derby Purple Heart Ceremony
Run Around the Park
Hillsborough Night Halloween
at NJ Devils Game
16Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Holiday Celebrations
Christmas Tree Lighting Menorah Lighting Mayors Wellness Program
★ Parks and Recreation
The mission of the department is to enrich the lives of the residents by providing
safe, welcoming parks and recreation facilities and affordable, diverse recreation
and social activities for people of all ages and abilities to play, learn, contemplate,
build community, and be good stewards of our environment.
Hillsborough has about 72 acres dedicated to 16 area parks and fields throughout
the Township. Also located in Hillsborough, Somerset County’s Mountain View
Park has a state-of-the-art athletic complex including ball fields and 1.5 paved
perimeter trail.
Below are some recent improvements the Township has made to our parks:
● Ann Van Middlesworth Park, the most popular park, offers various
amenities such as basketball courts, skate park, softball fields, playground,
bocce courts, fishing pond, dog park as well as running trails and
pathways. Many improvements have been made including installation of
ADA bleachers at the Basketball Courts, ADA compliant sidewalks and
new picnic benches, tables and grills.
● Newly installed Information Boards at both Ann Van Park & Otto's Park
providing interesting facts regarding the wildlife and plants that are
specific to these parks.
● Triangle Sports Complex now has a Lacrosse pitch back wall.
● Decommissioned Village Green Park by removing old unused baseball
fields and replacing it with benches and freshly planted trees.
● Willow Road Complex added two pickleball courts.
17Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
The R
ecreation Department provides year-round Youth, Adult and Family
programs for township resides. Below are just some of the programs we offer:
Fall: Winter:
Fall Soccer (avg 750 participants from Youth Basketball League (avg 300
K-12) participants from 4th-12th)
Youth Basketball Clinics (clinics Youth Wrestling League (avg 100
leading into the winter leagues) participants from K-6th)
Coding for Kids, Exploring acrylic *NEW* Yoga for Adults &
painting, foundation tennis, adult Adolescents
bocce/basketball/volleyball/boot camp
Basketball Squirts, indoor soccer
clinics, First Roots Music &
Movement, Aquatic Exercise
Spring: Summer:
Spring Soccer (avg 750 participants Summer Camp Program (avg 400
from K-12) participants 4 yr old-13 yr old)
Spring Softball (avg 150 participants Summer Sports Camps such as
from K-8th) basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer
Art Explorers, Running Club, Youth Summer Music Academy (avg 100
Skateboarding, Youth & Adult Golf participants)
Clinics, Sr Floral Design
New this year will be a Movie in the
Park event in June
18Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Schools
● Our Senator and Assemblyman as well as Township Committee Members,
Municipal Department Leads and other Community Leaders participated
in the local elementary schools celebration of Read Across America Day.
● Projects designed and created by students in the High School’s Wood Tech 2
and 3 classes are displayed throughout the Municipal Complex. This
beautiful wood Bible Box, used to swear Committee Members and
Township employees, is an example of the craftsmanship.
19Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
● The Township proudly displays the artwork of Hillsborough students of
all ages around the Municipal Complex. We also engage the Art
Academy of Hillsborough to paint portraits of our Township Committee
Members. These portraits are displayed in the Mayors and
Administration Offices.
● BORO Pride initiative is a collaboration between the Township,
Hillsborough Education Association, the Board of Education, parents and
the community at large to make our public schools a premier educational
experience. The logo is a heart with all stakeholders represented showing
that together we are all the heart that makes the school system beat.
20Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
● Internship Programs
Hillsborough Township collaborates with schools to foster an internship
program that enriches the experience for both the intern and the
municipality. We determine areas of opportunity within the municipality
and engage participants in projects that give them practical work
experience and insight into local government.
A few of the programs are:
● The High School’s gifted & talented students program called
R.E.A.C.H. (Reach, Explore Academic and Creative Heights). The
program enriches the educational development of the students by
helping them develop higher level cognitive processing,
problem-solving and decision-making skills. Below is a picture
from the 2018-2019 school year R.E.A.C.H. program dinner.
21Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
● Raritan Valley Community College interns are assigned projects such
data analysis and public relations opportunities for our
Administration & Clerk offices and Engineering, Business
Advocacy & Development and Sustainability departments.
● Hillsborough’s Township Clerk also functions as the town’s Public
Information Officer & Communications Director. In this function,
the Clerk mentors Rutgers University students in a variety of Public
Relations courses, sharing concepts and practical scenarios.
★ Weddings
Our Township Mayor, and former Mayors, enjoy performing wedding
ceremonies for Hillsborough residents. In 2018, approximately 50 wedding were
conducted in the Mayor’s office, Courthouse or at our gazebo when weather
permits.
22Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Community Policing
The Hillsborough Police Department not only enforces the township laws but
they are actively involved in helping the community. They truly value their
relationship with the residents and hold many charitable events for Hillsborough
families in need.
Some of their Community Policing Events held in 2018-2019 were:
● Hillsborough Police Department participates in different events to
support the New Jersey Special Olympics. The Polar Bear Plunge, held
each February, is a unique way for them to support the New Jersey
athletes by jumping into the frigid Atlantic Ocean. The L
aw Enforcement
Torch Run is an event to help carry the “Flame of Hope” to the Special
Olympics New Jersey Summer Games.
● Coffee With A Cop was an event where residents were able to meet and get
to know local police officers while enjoying treats at the local Starbucks.
● Stuff The Bus is a one-day food drive to literally stuff a bus with
non-perishable food and toiletries to help stock the Hillsborough
Township Food Pantry which is run by the Township’s Social Services
Department.
23Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
● Members of the police department, including K9 Officer Freddy, visited a
young Hillsborough boy fighting Leukemia and unable to Trick-or-Treat
at Halloween. They delivered a balloon and a note wishing the boy well
and assuring him he would be “back on his paws in no time.”
● Collaboration with Hillsborough High School Applied Technology
Students to design two Police K9 Unit logos. Winners were announced at
a Township Committee Meeting
24Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Social Services
The Township’s Social Services Department provides a variety of free programs
and services to residents. Below is a list of just a few of the programs available
for low-income residents or senior residents.
● Assisting very low-income residents navigate through the Low Income
Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) program that helps with heating and
cooling bills
● Community Assistance Network (CAN) - making supplies available to assist
families in their time of financial crisis
● Holiday Food / Gift Distribution - providing food baskets to in-need
residents at holiday time
● Senior programs:
○ Bus service in the local area to residents without other means of
transportation
○
○ Mr. Fix It - help with small home projects or minor repairs
○
○ Wellness and Exercise Programs such as exercise classes, health
monitoring & lectures and shopping trips
25Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Library
Hillsborough is lucky to have a branch of the New Jersey, Somerset County
Library System located in our Municipal Complex. Some of the programs held at
the Hillsborough branch are:
● Preschool and Toddler Reading
● Homework Help Center
● Life Skills and Education & College Prep
● Kids STEM, Music, Movement, Crafts and Hobbies
● Adults Garden Club
● English Language Learning & Citizenship
● Summer Break Movie for families
The library recently sponsored a creative “Boro Bingo” campaign to encourage patrons
to familiarize themselves with the library as well as the township.
26Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Open Space
Currently over 10,000 acres preserved including open space, preserved farmland,
conservation easements from private landowners as well as County and State
properties
27Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Tourism
Whether it is a vacation or stay-vacation, Hillsborough has many places to spend your
down time. These are just some of the wonderful places to visit or things to do:
★ Duke Farms is a 2,740-acre property once home to the tobacco and power tycoon
James Buchanan Duke and his daughter, Doris. There are o ver 1,000 acres open to the
public including an on-site 4-star certified green restaurant. Below are some of the
highlights regarding Duke Farms:
○ Designated an Important Bird Area by NJ Audubon
○ Model of environmental stewardship
○ Farm to Table market supporting local farmers
○ Orchid Range and Arboretum
○ Geocaching, Snow Shoeing, Wildlife Viewing, Walk & Bike trails, events
and festivals
★ Norz Hills Farm & Market is a family owned and operated working farm in
Hillsborough since 1920. The farm is in the New Jersey Farmland Preservation
Program. In addition to farming, they hold many festivals and other activities at their
location.
28Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Hillsborough has many Horseback Riding Farms where people can ride through
our beautiful countryside or take riding lessons. Below are just some of the farms in the
township:
Brookside Show Stable Fire Blue Farms Hidden Hills Farm
Hidden River Farm Legend Equestrian Misty Hollow Horse Farm
★ Sourland Mountains Preserve is 4,000 acres of natural area geologic outcrops,
stream corridors and ecological preserve. It offers hiking, mountain biking, bouldering,
horseback riding and birdwatching. The Sourland Conservancy partners with the
Township to holds event, such as The Sourland Music Festival, to help them bring
awareness to the community.
29Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
★ Royce Brook Golf Club is rated “Four Stars” by Golf Digest’s Places to Play and
only one of the golf courses in Hillsborough. The east course, open to the public and
members, features a 6946 yard, par 72, parkland-style layout rated “Top 10 Golf
Courses” in NJ. The west course, for members only, features 7158 yard, par 72, rugged
links-style layout rated “Top 20 Golf Courses” in NJ.
★ Hillsborough is lucky to have a community theater where the Somerset Valley
Players, NJ ACT Perry Award Nominees & Winners, put on productions throughout the
year. They have been part of the Hillsborough community for 45 years.
★ Hillsborough even has its own Brewery and Wine Making establishment. The
Flounder Brewing Company was named 22nd fastest growing small & independent
breweries in the US by the Brewers Association.
30Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Press Releases from 2018 - 2019
Below are some of the highlights from 2018-2019. The complete list of Press Releases
can be found on our website at w
ww.hillsborough-nj.org > News & Information > Press
Releases
★ 2018
Township Officials Meet with NJDOT on Bypass Update - Project to Begin Spring of
2018
Township Introduces 2018 Municipal Budget: Tax Rate Reduced and Under the 2% Cap
8th Consecutive Year – No Exceptions Taken – Resulting in $157,743 Taxpayer Savings
Hillsborough Township to Hold Annual Purple Heart Ceremony at the Garden of
Honor on Tuesday, August 7th @ 6 pm Ceremony to be held Rain or Shine
Hillsborough Township to Host Annual Senior Olympics Wednesday, September 26th
@ AVM Park
Mike Merdinger Memorial Trails Dedication Saturday, December 1, 2018 @ 11:00 am -
29 East Mountain Road
★ 2019
Non-Profits Receive Grant Funds through the Affinity Hillsborough Rewards Visa
Credit Card Program - Over $7K Awarded in Spring 2019 to Non-Profit Organizations
Serving Hillsborough’s Seniors and Youths
14th Annual Salute to Veterans Breakfast and Memorial Day Parade - Save the Date:
Saturday, May 25th Non-Profit Community Organizations Invited to Participate in the
Parade
Anthony Foord Memorial Bench Dedication Saturday, May 4, 2019 @ 10:00 am
Municipal Soccer Fields
Hillsborough Township Joins Wyland Foundation for Water Conservation
31Hillsborough: One of the Best Places to Live
Hillsborough Township’s Community Night at Somerset Patriots - Saturday, July 13th
at 7:05 pm
Collaboration with Hillsborough High School Students Create K9 Unit Logo
Hillsborough Township Recognizes 2018 Top Cops
Hillsborough Township and Hillsborough Education Association (HEA) Working
Together for BORO Pride
Mayor Announces Infrastructure Improvements 2019 Road Paving Schedule
Ann Van Middlesworth Park Improvement Completed
Hillsborough Township Partners with PBA #205 to Participate in the Hillsborough
Community Night at the NJ Devils’ Game Against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday,
March 1st Special Tickets to be Available
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