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Did you know that more than 40% of adults in the United States suffer from obesity? Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for this condition. Perhaps worse is that more and more adults and children are gaining weight across the country, choosing the convenience of fast and nutrition-deficient foods over healthy eating, exercise, and positive life choices. From an aesthetic standpoint, being overweight is a struggle - clothes don't fit right, people make uncomfortable comments about how you look, and everyday activities are less appealing.
From a health and wellness standpoint, however, being obese is much worse. Your life is literally on the line. The people who love you and depend on you to be in their lives could lose you sooner than you expect. With time, you have a higher chance of suffering from significant, life-changing issues such as:
While obesity is a serious problem, a new medication on the market is giving hope to millions of men and women across the U.S. This game-changing treatment is called Semaglutide in Rocky Hill, NJ. This anti-obesity medication is unique because it treats obesity as a chronic metabolic disease, rather than a problem that can be solved through sheer willpower. The best part? Semaglutide and other medical weight-loss peptides are now available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we understand that losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our medical weight loss clinic offers custom medical weight loss plans tailored to your body, rather than plans based solely on your age or weight. In fact, our team of doctors and practitioners provides personalized guidance to help you achieve real results and live a healthier life.
Because the truth is maintaining good health and fitness are crucial in the modern world. Research has shown that viruses and diseases are more likely to affect those who are overweight and unhealthy. At Global Life Rejuvenation, we take a comprehensive, custom approach to medical weight loss that includes peptide therapy and more. We then work with you to make positive lifestyle changes, so you can lose weight, get healthy, and boost your wellbeing permanently - not for a few weeks or months.
If you're ready to get back to loving your life with more energy, confidence, and positivity, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may be for you. But to truly understand the benefits of peptides like Semaglutide, it's important you grasp what peptide therapy is and how it benefits your body.
Many individuals turn to peptide therapy to enhance their overall wellbeing by boosting hormones. Different types of peptides can target different areas of health, such as collagen peptides that can help improve skin, hair, and gut health.
Other peptides, such as AOD 9604, CJC 1295, and Semaglutide in Rocky Hill, NJ, are incredibly beneficial for losing weight. Compared to vitamin supplements, peptide therapy works differently as peptides are already part of the proteins in our bodies, making them easier to absorb and benefit from. Conversely, our bodies can sometimes fail to absorb all the nutrients present in multivitamins, leading to their excretion through urine.
However, it's important to note that weight loss is a complex process that involves various factors like age, genetics, lifestyle, exercise, and diet. While peptides like Semaglutide can provide much-needed assistance in achieving your weight loss goals, they are most effective when combined with healthy dietary choices, regular exercise routines, and overall healthier lifestyle choices.
If you've already tried different weight loss plans and diets but haven't had any success, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may provide that extra boost you need to realize your goals.
If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, diet and exercise are important, but it can be difficult to stick to a routine. For busy adults and parents, Semaglutide can be a helpful tool for weight loss. This injection, approved by the FDA for diabetes and obesity, works by stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the brain to aid in weight loss and improve long-term health.
You may be wondering to yourself, "That sounds great, but how does this type of peptide work?" Semaglutide acts like glucagon in your body, which signals to your brain that you're full and don't need to eat anymore. When you take Semaglutide, and you try to overeat, your body waves a proverbial red flag as if to say, "That's enough."
Semaglutide also slows down digestion, reducing unnecessary snacking throughout the day. By reducing glucose spikes after meals, it reduces inflammation, which is important for overall health. Additionally, Semaglutide helps your pancreas secrete insulin, regulates the glucose levels in your body, and even has anti-aging and longevity properties. If you're struggling to lose weight, peptide therapies for weight loss like Semaglutide can be an invaluable addition to your weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation.
When combined with healthy lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, Semaglutide can help provide:
There are multiple medications available to combat obesity by suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss. However, Semaglutide stands out as an exceptional option.
A recent study of 2,000 obese adults examined the effects of Semaglutide when combined with a diet and exercise program. The results were compared to those who only made lifestyle changes without taking Semaglutide. After 68 weeks, it was found that half of the participants using Semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, with nearly a third losing 20%. In contrast, those who only made lifestyle changes lost an average of 2.4% of their weight.
It's obvious, then, that Semaglutide is a safe and effective supplement for your weight loss journey with Global Life Rejuvenation. But who is the ideal patient who should be taking it?
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or higher and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, or if your BMI is 30kg/m2 or higher, the FDA recommends Semaglutide for weight loss.
As medical weight loss experts, one thing our doctors and practitioners know at Global Life Rejuvenation is that true weight loss isn't dictated by medicines. It's achieved by sticking to a combo of exercise, healthy life choices, and healthy eating habits. From there, peptides like Semaglutide in Rocky Hill, NJ are great for taking your weight loss efforts to the next level of success.
One area where many patients fail in this process is with their diet. If you're considering Semaglutide treatment, keep these diet tips in mind.
To enhance your dietary habits, a practical approach is to concentrate on consuming whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. These food items are rich in nutrients and can provide a feeling of fullness and satisfaction while also promoting your overall wellbeing.
Eating mindfully involves being fully present and engaged during meals. This entails taking the time to enjoy the flavor of your food, being aware of your body's hunger and fullness signals, and avoiding distractions like electronics or television.
To maintain good health and support weight loss, it's crucial to drink plenty of water. It's recommended to drink at least 8-10 cups of water daily. You may also try adding low-calorie drinks like herbal tea or infused water to keep things interesting.
Planning your meals in advance is an effective approach to maintaining a healthy diet. Set aside some time each week to plan your meals and snacks, keeping in mind to incorporate a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This will prevent impulsive food choices and guarantee that you have nutritious options available when hunger strikes.
Unlike many medical weight loss clinics, which only offer cookie-cutter weight loss plans and one or two additional fat-busting solutions, Global Life Rejuvenation provides access to new, innovative supplements and medicines. If you're used to fad diets and "quick" weight loss plans, peptides like AOD 9604 and others may be new to you. To help build your foundation of healthy living knowledge, let's take a look at a few of the most popular weight-loss peptides and medicines available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
Often combined with Semaglutide regimens, AOD 9604 is known to promote fat breakdown, inhibit lipogenesis, and support tendons and cartilage. However, most recently, it has gained popularity due to its ability to boost metabolism and aid in burning fat.
What sets AOD 9604 apart is that it stimulates the pituitary gland without affecting tissue growth or blood sugar levels. Additionally, it can burn fat without causing overeating, making it a viable option for obese men and women who are trying to implement better eating habits.
Interestingly, AOD 9604 activates your body's fat-burning processes without requiring an HGH receptor. It also releases obese fat cells and reduces the accumulation of new fat cells. By helping to regulate blood sugar and manage insulin levels, AOD 9604 is excellent for weight loss but also for other maladies like inflammation.
Some conditions that this powerful peptide can help address include the following:
This medical weight loss supplement Is technically a combo of two peptides. These substances work by stimulating your pituitary gland to produce more of your body's natural human growth hormone, which is secreted during both waking and sleeping periods.
This results in increased protein synthesis and levels of insulin-like growth factors. As hormone secretagogues, they help release hormones into circulation while mimicking the pituitary gland's production. Extensive research has been conducted on the effects of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin. As a tool for medical weight loss, it has shown very promising results.
That's because when growth hormone levels increase, nutrients are transported through the body faster, more fat is burned, and weight management becomes simpler. Additionally, because CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin increase the amount of growth hormone in your body, it stimulates the breakdown of triglycerides in adipocytes, leading to improved fat metabolism and reduced abdominal fat.
Benefits of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin for weight loss include:
A Methionine Inositol Choline (MIC) injection is a mixture of lipotropics that aid in fat breakdown. The key components - methionine, inositol, and choline - work together to metabolize fat cells and eliminate stored fat deposits in the liver and body. Methionine is an important amino acid, inositol contributes to proper cell formation, and choline is a water-soluble nutrient that promotes healthy liver function. When combined, these compounds may help reduce body fat.
When used in conjunction with a medical weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation, MIC injections can be a powerful addition to reclaiming your health and wellbeing.
Request AppointmentLike other weight loss peptides and medicines on this page, Phentermine can help you lose weight when you stick to a medical weight loss plan that includes dieting, exercise, and smart life choices. It does so by reducing your appetite, which limits the number of calories you eat every day.
As is the case with Semaglutide, Phentermine has been approved by the FDA and is supported by clinical studies that show it can support weight loss. With time, patience, and healthy living, this supplement may help you reach your wellness goals sooner than you thought possible.
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In the body, 7-keto-DHEA is produced from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is a hormone made by glands near your kidneys. However, unlike DHEA, 7-keto-DHEA is not converted into androgen and estrogen in your body. Instead, 7-keto-DHEA is used orally or topically to boost your body's metabolism. It also helps convert more of your energy into heat, instead of storing it in your body as fat, which can accumulate with time and lifestyle choices.
Much like Semaglutide treatment in Rocky Hill, NJ, 7-keto-DHEA has been shown to be very effective for weight loss as well as a host of other issues. Additional benefits of taking 7-keto-DHEA may include the following:
Have you tried everything under the sun to try and eliminate the cellulite on your legs, arms, and other areas of your body? If you're like most people, getting rid of cellulite isn't just difficult - it's nearly impossible. Fortunately, those days are over. Lipo Sculpt Cream from Global Life Rejuvenation can help reduce the unsightly appearance of cellulite while also refining your figure and firming up your skin.
The active ingredients in this product have the ability to reduce and prevent the growth of fatty tissue while also improving microcirculation. They work together to treat both adipose and aqueous cellulite, and aid in the elimination of fatty deposits and excess water stored in the tissues. This results in a reduction of dimples and an overall improvement in the appearance of your skin.
If you have experienced success with a medical weight loss plan and reached your target weight but still suffer from cellulite, Lipo Sculpt Cream is a fantastic choice to consider. A few of the most common benefits include:
Are you craving a productive life at a healthy weight? Are you ready to make a meaningful difference in your life and the lives of your loved ones? The pathway to wellbeing starts by contacting our office for an in-depth consultation, where we'll learn more about your weight-loss goals and needs.
From there, we'll create a custom weight-loss plan tailored to your body. This plan will map out the steps of your weight-loss journey, including peptide therapies like Semaglutide in Rocky Hill, NJ. Though every person's weight management goals are different, when you're a patient at Global Life Rejuvenation, you benefit from dedicated doctors and practitioners committed to improving your weight and, in turn, your health.
Whether your health is on the line, or you don't like how being overweight makes you look and feel, our team is ready to guide you toward long-term health and happiness. This way, you can get healthy, stay in shape, and fall in love with your newfound body.
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The Maccarone brothers started their careers as shampoo boys — David at Peppi’s Hair Design in Rocky Hill and Joe at La Jolie in Princeton.By 2006 they had become experienced beauticians with a following. They purchased 131 and 133 Washington Street, formerly Peppi’s, from their father’s best childhood friend, Joseph “Peppi” Panzitta. Their father and Peppi grew up in Calabria, Italy, then immigrated to the U.S. They encouraged the brothers to be in business together, doing what they love doing - HA...
The Maccarone brothers started their careers as shampoo boys — David at Peppi’s Hair Design in Rocky Hill and Joe at La Jolie in Princeton.
By 2006 they had become experienced beauticians with a following. They purchased 131 and 133 Washington Street, formerly Peppi’s, from their father’s best childhood friend, Joseph “Peppi” Panzitta. Their father and Peppi grew up in Calabria, Italy, then immigrated to the U.S. They encouraged the brothers to be in business together, doing what they love doing - HAIR.
The Maccarones set up Salon Azzurro in 133 Washington Avenue in 2006 and rent 131 Washington to the Rocky Hill Health Spa. Both of these buildings would be torn down to make way for the new building.
“We want to be here a long time,” David told The Montgomery News. He noted that their salon building has a plethora of issues. The flat roof leaks during heavy rain. The old pipes need to be replaced. And, well, it looks funny.
“We call it the Pizza Hut building,” he says.
The building has a “modern mansard-roof” added in 1975, attached to a circa 1850 house of which only the shell remains.
Considering that their property is located in the Rocky Hill Historic District, the brothers hired Rocky Hill architect Mark A. Blasch to design a new building that would reflect the borough’s historic past.
Rocky Hill ordinances prescribe certain limits intended to preserve the character of its historic places and set forth a process to obtain approval (a “permit”) for proposed alterations to structures or sites within the district. Blasch’s architectural rending of the three-story antique brick and stone building “has the look of a building you would find in an older quarry town,” David says. “It is industrial looking.”
Rocky Hill, in fact, has a long industrial history of grist mills, a terra cotta factory plant, quarries, an electric factory with a smokestack, and a brick factory.
“The Partridge, Powell and Storer Company was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey in February, 1892, and built a plant at Rocky Hill, Somerset County, New Jersey, for the manufacture of buff face brick,” according to multiple sources, including the Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology Newsletter dated March 1996. Buff face brick has a light yellow-brown to burnt sienna color that is often found in nature. Deposits of clay in Rocky Hill attracted the brick company.
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According to the Rocky Hill Tercentenary Committee’s Vivian Engelbrecht, Rocky Hill began on the Millstone River. The first building was John Harrison’s gristmill on the east side of the river. Another gristmill was built on the west side of the river and grew into a complex of mills. And there was Conover’s saw mill.
“By the turn of the 19th century, the textile and rubber factories were long gone from Rocky Hill, but the quarry and brick factories were profitable,” Engelbrecht writes. During the early 1900s, the NJ Copper Company, the Delaware River Quarry Company, and the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company were drawing sizable number of immigrants to the area. The Depression in the 1930s ended Rocky Hill’s business boomlet, and World War II changed the nature of the community from commercial to residential. Many lost their jobs when the Atlantic Terra Cotta plant closed in 1929. The quarry continues and operates today at Kingston Traprock.
Rocky Hill has a few successful business in town: The Rocky Hill Inn, One 53 restaurant, Rocky Hill Family Dentistry, Buy the Cup, and a post office. The Crop Walk People and the Travel Registry moved out of 127 Washington Street years ago and the two retail spaces now sit empty and decrepid. Spa Amadora at 130 Washington Street shut down in January. The Mary Jacobs Memorial Library has been closed for a while, and is expected to reopen at some point this spring with a mini library and perhaps two retail spaces.
The Maccarone brothers say that Rocky Hill could have a thriving downtown, on par with Hopewell or Lambertville. “We’re trying to make an investment in Rocky Hill. People driving on Route 518 will slow down, and want to visit Rocky Hill establishments,” David said. “We want to make the borough more of destination.” “Imagine a bakery similar to the Gingered Peach in Lawrenceville, or something along those lines.” One of the three retail spaces on the first floor would house Salon Azzurro. The brothers say they are open to ideas for the other two spaces.
About 50 people attended the first online public planning board hearing on February 14 to hear the plans for Salon Azzurro and its neighboring massage parlor property, 131 and 133 Washington Street. The application was postponed until Tuesday, March 14 at 7 pm. Deferral to March was requested by the applicants, and immediately granted by the board. Robert Ridolfi, the Pennington-based attorney for applicants David and Joe Maccarone, had questioned whether there were enough board members present and eligible to hear and vote on the case.
Planning Board Clerk Christine Witt noted that Connie Hallman, who was a Class IV planning/zoning board member, had resigned. Rocky Hill’s attorney to the Planning Board, Matthew Moench, explained there were six board members qualified to also sit as zoning board members, including: Chairman Michael Goldman, Linda Goldman, Brian Nolan, Eric Hintz, Frank Yao, and Luis Silvestre. Three other members of the planning board – Mayor Robert Uhrik, Denise Varga, and Ramin Rezvani, were all not qualified as zoning board members.
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Witt explained that Rezvani reached out asking if he could be appointed as a Class IV member, replacing Hallman and therefore becoming eligible to vote on the application. Moench was unsure if that was permissible and said he would need to check the legality of that immediate appointment. The mayor confirmed his intention to appoint Rezvani to be a Class IV board member, in time for the March 14 meeting. The 106-page application is available to the public on the Rocky Hill website.
The applicants seek permission to consolidate 131 and 133 Washington Street into one property. They are also applying to demolish the existing structures and to construct one new mixed-use building. The three-story building would include: three commercial spaces on the ground floor and six two-bedroom apartments on the upper floors. One of the apartments would be an “affordable” unit. Specific relief is requested from section 80-91 B (density, bulk, and yard regulations and maximum lot coverage). The applicant is also applying for a historic preservation district permit, and for any additional variances or design waivers the planning board may deem necessary.
Council member Susan Bristol said during public comments: “It is entirely inappropriate for the planning board to be asked to review a historic preservation application of a project that has multiple bulk variance violations of the bulk ordinances that would eventually require variances. “ It might be wise to ask the applicants to modify the building design so that it meets the bulk ordinance standards before the board is asked to use their imaginations and try to review it by historic standards – the project they are looking at is not even valid judging by the rest of our ordinances’ criteria,” Bristol said. Chairman Goldman said. “We will look at the application as it’s filed, and make a determination. This is essentially what the board does.”
For over 120 years, Rocky Hill Fire Department has protected the lives and property of the residents of Rocky Hill and the surrounding communities. Now, it seeks to grow its base of volunteers within the community. Rocky Hill Fire Department is happy to unveil the launch of its federally-funded recruitment campaign, aimed at expanding the volunteer firefighter base and increasing community involvement via JoinRockyHillFire.org.Averaging well over 200 emergenc...
For over 120 years, Rocky Hill Fire Department has protected the lives and property of the residents of Rocky Hill and the surrounding communities. Now, it seeks to grow its base of volunteers within the community. Rocky Hill Fire Department is happy to unveil the launch of its federally-funded recruitment campaign, aimed at expanding the volunteer firefighter base and increasing community involvement via JoinRockyHillFire.org.
Averaging well over 200 emergency calls a year, Rocky Hill Fire is seeking eager, dedicated members of the community, ready to learn and deliver life-saving emergency services to those in need. Firefighters respond to emergencies ranging from structural fires to vehicular accidents to swift water rescue operations. No experience is required to join, and training and gear will be provided at no cost.
To kick off the recruitment campaign, volunteers participated in the brand development process, which led to the tagline “Tradition. Community. Pride.” The tagline, representing the guiding principles of a Rocky Hill volunteer, will be incorporated into all print and digital marketing materials, striving to inspire residents within the community to volunteer with the fire department.
“Being a member of the Rocky Hill Fire Department brings a sense of honor that is hard to describe. We are a dependable and efficient firefighting family that supports our neighbors and each other. We hope our recruitment campaign encourages members of our community to join us,” said Fire Chief Todd Harris.
To field inquiries and provide a centralized location for interested individuals to gather information about the fire department, Rocky Hill launched a recruitment website, JoinRockyHillFire.org.
The website provides a volunteer inquiry form for interested individuals. Upon completion, a member from the fire department will reach out, answer any possible questions and schedule a time for the individual to tour the station. In addition to the volunteer inquiry form, the website includes volunteer testimonials, volunteer opportunities, FAQ and photos.
The launch of the website is the first step of the four-year recruitment effort. The endeavor encompasses a 30-second commercial, promotional social media content, video testimonials, media relations with local news outlets and publications, tangible marketing materials and recruitment outreach at community events and festivals.
In order to fund this four-year recruitment campaign, without imposing a tax burden on residents, Rocky Hill obtained a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
How to Join Rocky Hill Fire Department
There are plenty of opportunities available for those interested in volunteering. The following volunteer roles are offered at Rocky Hill:
Firefighter– Volunteer firefighters, ages 18 or older, respond to emergencies ranging from structural fires to vehicular accidents to swift water rescue operations. Rocky Hill Fire Department will support new volunteers in completing the NJ State Certified Firefighter I training.
Junior Firefighter– High school students, between ages 14 and 17, can join Rocky Hill Fire Department’s Junior Program. Teenagers have the opportunity to learn fire safety skills from experienced and knowledgeable firefighters. Once the junior firefighter turns 18, he or she can pursue the Firefighter I Course necessary to become a firefighter.
Administrative Volunteers– Associate members can assist the department with fundraising, social media, website and IT maintenance, representing the fire department at community events and more!
“I have personally benefited from my volunteer experience by learning many important life lessons, as well as becoming more connected with my community. There is no better feeling than being there for your community and making a direct impact,” said firefighter Paul Romano.
Learn more about the Rocky Hill Fire Department by visiting www.JoinRockyHillFire.org
Editor’s note: To set up an interview with a volunteer, please contact the Communication Solutions Group at 215-884-6499.
Voters in Montgomery and Rocky Hill will decide on Nov. 8 whether to join the 97% of New Jersey school districts that offer full-day kindergarten.Only 11 school districts in New Jersey do not offer full-day kindergarten. Of those 11, six are in Central Jersey – Montgomery, Bridgewater-Raritan, Metuchen, Monroe, New Providence and Westfield.On the ballot, voters will decide two parts of the referendum question – whether to fund the program and whether to pay for improvements at the former Kid Connectio...
Voters in Montgomery and Rocky Hill will decide on Nov. 8 whether to join the 97% of New Jersey school districts that offer full-day kindergarten.
Only 11 school districts in New Jersey do not offer full-day kindergarten. Of those 11, six are in Central Jersey – Montgomery, Bridgewater-Raritan, Metuchen, Monroe, New Providence and Westfield.
On the ballot, voters will decide two parts of the referendum question – whether to fund the program and whether to pay for improvements at the former Kid Connection building to house the full-day prekindergarten program.
The first question asks voters whether to approve the recurring cost of a full-day kindergarten, projected to be $1.62 million in the first year.
That includes seven full-time classroom teachers, a part-time visual and performing arts teacher, a full-time health and physical education teacher, two special services teachers, six educational support assistants, a full-time custodian, a full-time counselor, a full-time clerk, a part-time assistant librarian and a part-time lunch aide.
The $1.62 million also includes funds for furniture, curriculum resources, technology and other supplies.
The second question asks voters to approve $669,763 to upgrade the Kid Connection building, including fire alarm and security improvements, new windows and repairs to the ventilation system.
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The school district estimates the full-day kindergarten program would increase property taxes on the average Montgomery home assessed at $505,821 by $201 in the first two quarters of 2023. In Rocky Hill. the tax increase on the average home assessed at $488,448 would be $133 in the same timeframe.
The one-time taxpayer cost for the improvements to the Kid Connection building would be $83 for the average Montgomery homeowner and $54 for the average Rocky Hill homeowner.
The school district has been mulling the creation of a full-day kindergarten program since 2015.
In 2019, the school district was told that the Kid Connection program, run by the township and housed in a separate building on the Orchard Hill Elementary School campus, would be closing in June 2020.
When the township transferred the Kid Connection building to the school district, that allowed the district to revisit starting a full-day kindergarten.
In 2019, the district started studying what needed to be done to start a full-day kindergarten. A plan called for the Orchard Hill preschool program to be relocated to the Kid Connection building and the preschool classrooms at the school converted to kindergarten classrooms.
The school board planned to have the full-day kindergarten question on the November 2020 ballot, but the COVID pandemic intervened with schools closed for in-school learning.
The plan was revived with the return of in-school learning in the 2021-22 school year.
To support a full-day kindergarten, the school district refers to a study that shows children who attend full-day kindergarten in the long term show greater reading and math achievement gains than those in half-day classes. Teachers will also have more time to identify and address learning challenges as early as possible. A full-day program also allows for more individualized instruction and purposeful play small groups.
A full-day program also improves social and emotional learning, the school district says, by building independence and cultivating social skills.
Email: [email protected]
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.
Mary Jacobs Library — the crown jewel of Rocky Hill according to the mayor — is expected to close in May. Books and staff will be transferred to the new library a mile away in Montgomery, leaving a void in the small town that has hosted the library for almost 50 years.Mary Jacobs is expected to re-open in September as a mini library, consuming what is now the children’s wing. It would operate on a pilot basis for two years with one staff member, reduced hours, and limited books.Rocky Hill Borough Council membe...
Mary Jacobs Library — the crown jewel of Rocky Hill according to the mayor — is expected to close in May. Books and staff will be transferred to the new library a mile away in Montgomery, leaving a void in the small town that has hosted the library for almost 50 years.
Mary Jacobs is expected to re-open in September as a mini library, consuming what is now the children’s wing. It would operate on a pilot basis for two years with one staff member, reduced hours, and limited books.
Rocky Hill Borough Council members are encouraging library supporters to attend a “Rally for the Future of MJML Library” on Sunday, April 3, from 2 pm to 4 pm. The event, at the Rocky Hill Community Center next to the library, will include a live band, food, and special guests — particularly NJ State Senator Andrew Zwicker; and NJ State Assembly members Roy Freiman and Sadaf Jaffer.
“We encourage people to use the library now, before it closes and again when it reopens as a smaller footprint,” Borough Council Member Susan Bristol says. “Service beyond the two-year period will depend on us, on demand for services, and community participation.”
Stakeholders — borough council members, library users, and donors and volunteers — were surprised with the 2020 appearance of a real-estate sign on the library’s front lawn. Some say they are anxious the library will disappear if the building is sold.
The owner of the building, the MJML Foundation, has amassed a $3 million endowment over 50 years (according to 2020 tax returns), with the mission to provide a library in Rocky Hill.
The foundation has listed the building for sale for $3.5 million, which could double its endowment to more than $6 million. However, whether the building is “sellable” remains to be seen. The parking lot is shared with the Rocky Hill Community Group, and it is zoned for “community use.”
“One of the things that made the library special was people loved it. They volunteered and generously donated, because they felt it belonged to them.”
– Former MJML Foundation Brenda Fallon
Rocky Hill resident Brenda Fallon, who led the foundation as president and as a trustee for about 26 years, is credited with growing the endowment. She stepped down in 2021.
Clearly, the future of the building depends heavily on coordination between the six Rocky Hill Borough Council members, the mayor, and the four members of the MJML Foundation.
Cary Dawson of Rocky Hill, who became president of the foundation in 2018, did not return phone calls for this article. Last month, she told The Montgomery News that it was “premature” to do an article.
In 2019, the foundation had 11 trustees — seven have resigned by 2022.
The Somerset County Library System is expected to move its books and library staff from the Rocky Hill library building to the new Montgomery Township municipal complex in May.
Plans for the Rocky Hill library include: selling or leasing the building; which will have a mini library attached.
Philip Kartsonis, a foundation trustee and previous mayor of Rocky Hill who now lives in Ocean City, says the foundation had not leased or sold the building as of March 24. Plans call for, “A beautiful smaller library for Rocky Hill. We are hoping to move forward with support from borough council.”
A 17-page plan commissioned by the foundation calls for alterations of the existing library, beginning in May. (The Montgomery News had to submit an OPRA request to view the plan.) The foundation would pay about $300,000 to wall-off the children’s library from the main building and install an outside entrance to it.
The plan, completed by Cornerstone Architectural Group in South Plainfield, also separates the heating/ventilation/air-conditioning system; water; and electric from the main building. The work would take place over the summer, with a September opening date.
“We want to do the right thing for the Rocky Hill community, to meet the agreement,” he said.
Under an agreement signed in 2020, Somerset County will continue to provide small-scale library services in Rocky Hill for two years. Rocky Hill Borough will continue to make an annual contribution to the library of $10,000. The agreement specifies the temporary mini library should be about a third of current library’s size. One full-time staff member would work 35 to 37.5 hours per week. Programming for children and adults would be offered, and library patrons would still be able to check out books.
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Newly appointed Borough Council President Edgar “Trey” Delaney, says the library “provides critical social infrastructure,” to the community of Rocky Hill.
Delaney and former MJMLF Trustee Hank Bristol of Rocky Hill attended the March 2 meeting of the Somerset County Library Commission, where they pledged their support to keeping a library in Rocky Hill, and thanked Somerset County for providing excellent library services for the community.
Borough Council member Susan Bristol, who is married to Hank, is a member of the Rocky Hill Library Task Force.
Susan Bristol has been vocal in obtaining feedback on the library from stakeholders. She attended the Somerset County Commissioners meeting on March 8 and spoke to the commissioners about what she sees as a lack of opportunity for input from the Rocky Hill community, borough leaders, and general stakeholders about the plans for a future library in Rocky Hill.
“The Rocky Hill Borough Council has no choice but, on behalf of its citizens, to try to plan for the future library in Rocky Hill,” she said.
“From our perspective, we all should be celebrating the new library in Montgomery. It should be an expansion of the Somerset County library system. However, it is absolutely not a replacement for the Mary Jacobs Library in Rocky Hill.” ?
For many residents of Montgomery and Rocky Hill, the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library is where they took their children to morning storytime, spent Friday nights enjoying a movie screening, or a summer night outside listening to a local band play in the concert series.At a recent meeting, Rocky Hill Mayor Robert Uhrik called the library the “crown jewel of the community.”“We have a very small borough, and the bui...
For many residents of Montgomery and Rocky Hill, the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library is where they took their children to morning storytime, spent Friday nights enjoying a movie screening, or a summer night outside listening to a local band play in the concert series.
At a recent meeting, Rocky Hill Mayor Robert Uhrik called the library the “crown jewel of the community.”
“We have a very small borough, and the building itself and the library is really is the heart of the community. It is a very big source of pride a lot of people,” Rocky Hill Councilwoman Amy Kirtland said.
But, thanks to a new library that’s going up less than two miles away, the future of the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library is in jeopardy.
As part of its new municipal complex, which officials say should begin construction this year, Montgomery is building a library that will be finished in 2021, Mayor Sadaf Jaffer said.
County library officials say the current plan is for the Mary Jacobs to shut down, and the contents of the library to be housed in the new one because about 90% of the current users of the Rocky Hill Library are from Montgomery.
“Everybody has the best intention. Everyone wants the best library services in the Montgomery and Rocky Hill area and motivated by the best of intentions,” Somerset County Library Director Brian Auger said.
The Mary Jacobs Library entered into a five-year shared service agreement with the county in 2016. The agreement allowed the county to take over maintenance responsibilities of the building for the length of the contract. Montgomery pays into the shared service agreement because its residents primarily use that library. The shared services contract will end in December, and it will not be renewed by the Mary Jacobs Library.
Though locals say they hope there’s a way to save the library, the building has been put up for sale, since maintenance will lapse after the deal with the county ends.
“It’s premature to know what our future holds,” said Cary Dawson, president of the nonprofit Mary Jacobs Memorial Library Foundation, which owns the building that houses the smaller library.
Montgomery councilman Marvin Schuldiner has proposed a controversial plan that would keep a library space in Rocky Hill – but it includes a big change. In the proposal, Montgomery and Rocky Hill would leave the county library system and create a joint municipality branch. The main branch would be located at the new Montgomery municipal complex, and an “alternative” branch would be located in Rocky Hill.
The alternative branch would be smaller and its use would be decided on by local community members. Possibilities include podcasting studio space, a makers space, practice space for musical instruments or a tutoring center.
“I’m trying to think outside of the box to create a win, win, win solution for everyone involved,” Schuldiner said.
Schuldiner says that creating a joint municipal branch will allow the two towns a greater amount of control and personalization of the libraries in their communities.
He also anticipates savings for Montgomery residents. They currently pay 4.8 cents per $100 of assessed home value. Schuldiner’s proposal aims to have residents pay 3.3 cents per $100 of assessed value, which would bring the average savings to about $100 per household, officials said.
“There is potential in this concept," Dawson said. “It has the potential to have shared services between the towns, and has the potential to mend some fences among the community.”
In order for Montgomery and Rocky Hill to leave the SCLS, both towns would have to agree to a referendum vote, and it would have to pass in both towns. Then, they would have two years until they could no longer use the county system.
It puts both towns on a short timeline to take formal action on the library issue in order to have the referendum on the November ballot.
Montgomery has yet to have any formal meetings about the possibility of leaving the county library system.
At a borough council meeting in Rocky Hill on Jan.15, council members and residents gathered to hear Schuldiner’s proposal. It was met with mixed reactions.
Kirtland said she was left with a lot of questions about the proposal and wanted to see more hard data and numbers.
“It’s not convincing and it raises way more questions than it answers. It also contains some disturbing information for residents,” Kirtland said in a phone call after the meeting. “That we would sell the building and use the money for Montgomery library cost, it is taking our money and using it for their library and a smaller system.”
Reporter’s Note: A previous version of this story reported that a state statute prohibits county library systems from having libraries within three miles of one another, currently no such statue exists.
Olivia Rizzo may be reached at @LivRizz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
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