On board were Page 3 girls Peta and Rosie, plus face painter Liza Cooper, 29, and balloon artist Cat Potter, 31.
PAGE 3's Rosie and Peta join the fun in Sevenoaks for Wills and Kate's big day
Our bus headed for Swanzy Road, Sevenoaks, from our East London HQ loaded with goodies.
Organiser Pat Humphey, 72, said: "It made it extra special to have the bus and girls here."
In recent years the preservation of farmlands and open space has become a top priority for towns throughout densely populated New Jersey. But East Amwell in southeastern Hunterdon County was well ahead of the curve, laying the groundwork in the early 1980s for what has remained a largely rural community. At a time when other towns were “chasing ratables” in the form of housing developments and commercial growth, Mayor Larry Tatsch said, East Amwell was creating a master plan that “promoted agriculture and recognized the unique and delicate nature of the Sourlands.”
Through restrictive zoning more than a third of the 28-square-mile township is now preserved. Another third remains as open space, consisting in part of 296 farms — some are home to alpacas, others to retired horses — that range in size from half an acre to 261 acres. The open space also includes a 350-acre golf course, and swaths of privately owned mountainous land too rocky for development.
“We could well have gone the way of neighboring townships if we hadn’t had the visionary perspective way back when,” Mayor Tatsch said.
The township became a case study in farmland preservation 12 years ago when it increased minimum building lots to 10 acres from 3. A group of farmers sued, saying the ordinance would reduce the value of their properties and create a patchwork of 10-acre gentleman farms. In 2005 an appellate court upheld the new zoning. It was about that time that minimum building lots in the mountain region were increased to 15 acres, from 5. The current plan allows for “cluster development” — combining smaller building lots with contiguous open land — but no developers have built in the last decade or so.
The emphasis on preservation has altered life for the 4,013 residents of East Amwell, who have a single schoolhouse and limited public services, and who often rely on volunteers. The town has no water or sewer service; all houses use wells and septic tanks. There is no police force; public safety is provided by state troopers. Two weeks ago, roadways were cleared of litter by dozens of families taking part in the 24th annual roadside clean-up.
It was this slower lifestyle that appealed to James Rizza and his family when they moved here from Franklin Township five years ago. And though moving at that time meant “paying high and selling low,” Mr. Rizza said, he doesn’t regret the $565,000 he paid for his four-bedroom house on two acres.
“My 13-year-old son now leases a cow that he’s going to show at the county fair,” said Mr. Rizza, a landscape contractor. “He wouldn’t be doing that in Franklin.”
When Joanne Hall and her husband paid $175,000 for their four-bedroom colonial in 1986, Ms. Hall recalled, they predicted that in 5 to 10 years the township would be built up. “And here we are, 25 years later, and it’s the exact same as when we moved in,” said Ms. Hall, a broker with Weidel Realtors. Her husband, a computer software consultant, regularly travels into New York City via buses that Ms. Hall describes as crowded with commuters.
“Everybody’s relaxed,” she said. “They’ve got their iPads and laptops, and they’re there in an hour and a half.”
WHAT YOU’LL FIND
Most visitors are struck by the stunning vistas, particularly when coming from more congested neighboring areas like Flemington or Raritan, or from Princeton, which is also nearby.
“People are astounded when they see there’s this much open space in this part of New Jersey,” said Cynthia Bruning, an agent with Weichert Realtors who has lived in East Amwell for 13 years. “If you’re interested in rural living, but still want to be close enough to everything, it’s feasible here.”
The housing stock is as varied as the terrain. In the valley section of the township, where farms dominate the landscape, older farmhouses with two or more outbuildings crop up here and there. In recent years, horse farming has grown in popularity, and there are several large farms where one can board a horse, ride or take lessons. The Amwell Valley Trail Association has pieced together 75 miles of private trails where East Amwell residents can ride or hike for a nominal annual fee.
Smaller farms come on the market fairly regularly, as do houses on 10 to 15 acres. A 12-acre horse farm with a four-bedroom house and stables is on the market for $599,000, as well as a 1998 four-bedroom colonial on 15 acres, listed at $649,900. Scattered throughout the valley are a handful of small developments of 20 to 30 houses, mostly built in the 1980s before new zoning laws took effect; each is on 1.5 to 2 acres.
The Sourland Mountain section, on a ridge 500 feet up, offers a mix of modern architecture, older farmhouses and contemporary log cabins. The former Lindbergh estate, now a boys’ home, is in this area. (In 1932, the 20-month-old son of the aviator Charles Lindbergh was taken from the house by kidnappers. The child’s body was found in the woods two months later.)
The township’s more historic houses can be found at intersections in some of the four or five hamlets that fall within its boundaries — Wertsville, Hamilton’s Corner and Reaville, for instance — and in the village of Ringoes, an unincorporated section of East Amwell with a few stores and about 250 residences. Historic markers note the house on Old York Road where during the Revolution Lafayette convalesced from an illness, as well as the site of the 19th-century Black River and Western Railroad station, which still runs tourist rides on the weekends. There are no rental or multi-unit properties.
WHAT YOU’LL PAY
But trust fun-loving Prince Harry to come up with the classic comedy moment - arranging for bride and groom to drive off in a traditional old banger with party balloons and a JU5T WED number plate.
OK, so this old banger was actually Prince Charles's ?350,000 open-topped Aston Martin.
But the time-honoured best man's prank delighted the thousands waiting outside Buckingham Palace - and had millions more watching on TV in fits of giggles.Wills and Kate grinned broadly as they slowly drove 500 yards down The Mall to Clarence House - to cheers, laughter and applause.
MARRIED couple leave Palace in Aston Martin with "JU5T WED" registration
To complete the happy picture, a yellow Sea King rescue helicopter piloted by Wills' RAF colleagues flew overhead in tribute.
Harry had warned his brother he had a surprise in store. The bonnet of the 41-year-old classic motor sported red, white and blue ribbons and giant bows.
Balloons fluttered from the bumper - some bearing the newlyweds' initials and others shaped as hearts.
With the novelty number plate and an L plate, it was the kind of cheap and cheerful joke seen at ordinary weddings all over Britain - and would have been unthinkable at a posh Royal occasion even a few years ago.Harry's exuberant prank - and Wills' good-natured response - is typical of the brothers' down-to-earth nature.
They have a lack of stuffiness that has endeared them to Royal fans everywhere - and is a touching reminder of the way their mother Diana won the hearts of millions the world over.
Wills wore a red Irish Guards tunic as he tied the knot but swapped it for an Irish Guards frock coat as he and Kate drove from the Palace in the Aston Martin after a buffet reception for 650 guests.
The helicopter fly-past was a surprise treat for Wills from colleagues in the RAF's Search and Rescue team.The chopper, which had an RAF flag slung underneath as it circled The Mall, carried crew members from B Flight 22 Squadron, where Wills is a pilot.
It was flown by New Zealand-born squadron leader Holly Steel. Her co-pilot was Flight Lieutenant Lee Turner, awarded the Air Force Cross in March 2009 for helping to save crew members from a stricken ferry off Blackpool.
The fly-by was described as "a fitting tribute to acknowledge Prince William's role as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot".
Charles's blue 1970 Volante DB6 Mk II was a present from the Queen on his 21st birthday.
He and Diana were pictured enjoying a ride in the car in 1984, three years after their wedding. The Aston Martin has been converted to run on bioethanol distilled from surplus wine by environmentally-conscious Charles. It is kept at Highgrove and clocks up just 300 miles a year.St James's Palace said: "The Prince of Wales was more than happy to loan the car to the couple for this special journey."
Met officers policing the Royal Wedding arrested 55 people. In the most serious incident a man of 38 was nicked for allegedly indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the Mall crowd.
Others were held for theft, being drunk and disorderly, possessing drugs and criminal damage.
More than a dozen anti-monarchy protesters were arrested for allegedly planning an invasion of a Crown building.
And three people from an anti-capitalist group were seized on the eve of the wedding for plotting a mock execution of a dummy dressed as Prince Andrew.Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens said: "I am delighted with the way it has gone. We set out to make this event happy and safe. We have achieved that.
"It was extremely good-humoured and the public were brilliant."
A HORSE called Royal Wedding stormed to victory hours after Wills wed. Millions backed the 4-1 chance at Fontwell. Corals' David Stevens said: "The payout could be up to ?10million across the industry."
b.flynn@the-sun.co.ukBy RYAN SABEY
PRINCE Charles paid tribute to Kate yesterday - telling guests at the reception how grateful he was to have her join the family.
Her ex-headmaster Dr Bob Acheson revealed: "He said he was very lucky to have a daughter-in-law like Kate."
Charles also cracked jokes about son William's bald patch at the Buckingham Palace do right after the wedding. A guest said: "He joked about his own bald patch and his son's thinning hair, saying it must be hereditary.
"Everyone found it funny, including William and Kate."
William delighted guests by serving up a chocolate BISCUIT cake - made at his request- alongside the traditional eight-tier wedding cake.
What it is:A nutrient-rich daily moisturizer.What it is formulated to do:Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream calms and rejuvenates sensitive, dry, and combination skin, absorbing quickly with no oily residue left behind. It offers optimum moisture, balance, and overall well-being for a naturally healthy complexion.What else you need to know:For years, Ancient Egyptians used goat milk to heal and nurture skin; their skincare wisdom bears following. This natural wonder continues the great tradition, lavishing skin with infusions of milk proteins, vitamins, and amino acids.Price: $55.00
J.D. Carlisle manages about 600,000 square feet of commercial space and nearly 2,000 apartments citywide. Its developments include Morton Square, the Cielo, Gramercy Green, and the Beatrice.
Q Are you the de facto C.E.O.?
A Yes, absolutely. There’s no C.E.O. The chairman is my partner, Jules Demchick. Our chairman is responsible for assemblage of the property, financing, and usually the initial plan. Once the acquisition is done, he moves on to the marketing and we move to the development. M.D. Carlisle Construction is the vehicle that physically builds the projects. With buildings like the Beatrice you almost need to know the end of the movie before you begin.
Q Will the Beatrice, your newest and biggest project, have a happy ending?
A I hope so. I put my grandmother’s name on the building.
Q Was this your most difficult development?
A It’s by far the most expensive, and this was the most complicated. We have several uses in this building, so that takes a tremendous amount of management to understand how all the pieces work together: how the restaurant is working with our hotel, how the residential building complements the hotel. And we have a garage.
We’re certainly not in the black yet, because the building is in its infancy, but from an economic view we’re pleased with the results.
Q What is the occupancy?
A We are 99 percent. Of 300 rental apartments, we have left four penthouses that we are just allowing for occupancy May 1. All the penthouses start at $20,000, up to $23,500 monthly. We’re already getting a lot of activity on them. And the hotel’s doing well; it’s exceeding our expectations.
Q Why rentals and not condos?
A We cut our teeth on rentals. In the ’60s and the ’70s, we built probably 60- or 70-plus rental projects. The rentals are scattered all over Manhattan. Our recent history was condominiums — we had three or four projects that were a function of the times.
It’s hard to put your heart and soul into something where at the end of the day you don’t have a tangible asset anymore.
Q Would you ever consider converting the Beatrice, if, say the market soared again?
A I hope not. I’d be lying to you if I told you I haven’t been asked that before. We have several rental buildings that have gone through four or five real estate booms, but we like rentals.
Q What’s your assessment of the New York market now?
A In the long-term perspective we’re very bullish, but you’re going to have short-term challenges — whether they be economic, political or availability. There are still tremendous opportunities here, and we’re seeking them out.
Q Do you have any other projects in the works?
A We do have three or four projects that we’re excited about. Unfortunately, we can’t talk about them because we’re under confidentiality agreements.
They’re going to be some rental, some condo; three are ground-up and one is a gut renovation. We’re looking at a couple in the outer boroughs at this point in time, and certainly in Manhattan.
Q So why doesn’t J.D. Carlisle have a Web site?
A We get asked that a lot. We’re low-profile people; we don’t usually have to advertise who we are.
Q You knew at an early age that you wanted to be involved in real estate, didn’t you?
A Yes, because my hero was my grandfather, who founded this business — my maternal grandfather, Beatrice’s husband.
He has been my hero since the minute I could understand who he was, and I would have done anything to be with him — to be him. When I was graduating from college, he asked if I would consider coming to work with him. I jumped at the opportunity and 17, 18 years later, here’s where we are. He’s since retired.
Q What was your first job there?
A I went to school for accounting so I started off computerizing their accounting systems, and I got bored very, very quickly. I made the request for an assistant superintendent’s job. I went to work with a hard hat climbing into the demolition. Just being on a construction site every single day helps me to understand how things wind up working, all the nuances that you need to understand.
Q Do you live in any of your buildings?
A I live in Morton Square. One of the advantages of developing is you get a good price.
Self Healthy Beauty Award 2009Category: Best Acne Treatment Anti Bac Clearing Lotion is a prescription-quality, intensive acne treatment that has been extensively tested at Kate Somerville's clinic. This advanced formulation has delivered life-changing results to Kate's personal clients. It’s your turn to have clear-skin confidence!Contains highly-successful encapsulated benzoyl peroxide 5%.Controlled-release formula works around the clock without over-drying skin.Kills bacteria and treats inflamed acne while helping prevent future breakouts.Price: $39.00
Romania's president said Tuesday his country will host missile interceptors as part of a planned U.S. shield over Europe.
Traian Basescu announced that Bucharest had agreed to build the interceptor site at the Deveselu former air base near the Bulgarian border, in a remote agricultural region. Romania already had agreed to host the interceptors, but the location had not been decided. The president, a staunch ally of the U.S., said it would give Romania "the highest security level in its history."
The announcement prompted a strong complaint from Russia, which sees European missile defense as a potential encroachment.
Basescu earlier met with U.S. undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher and she traveled to the site, some 125 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Bucharest.
Romanian and U.S. officials later held a ceremony at the air base, which is no longer in use. It was built with Soviet help in 1952, when the first MIG 15s landed there.
"We are confident that Deveselu is an excellent site and it will prove to be the optimal location for" the missile defense system "to perform its critical mission," said Lt. Gen. John D. Gardner, deputy commander of the U.S. Forces in Europe (EUCOM).
An average of 200 troops will be based at the site, which can host a maximum of 500, Basescu said. The base, which will remain under Romanian command, is a few kilometers (miles) outside Deveselu, a town of about 3,000.
Basescu said the site was approved late Monday by the country's Supreme Defense Council. Local officials were informed and gave their agreement, he said.
Basescu said the remote base was chosen because it fulfilled all of the 120 requirements needed to guarantee the full security of the system.
The Romanian site is part two of a four-part plan that the Obama administration outlined in 2009, when it shelved a Bush administration plan to use long-range interceptors based in Poland to counter a threat from Iran and North Korea. That plan was opposed by Russia, which worried that the system could target Russian warheads or undermine the Kremlin's deterrence strategy.
The Obama administration has said its plan — designed to counter the threat of short-to-medium range missiles — would be more effective and able to counter a threat from Iran earlier. But critics have said that the new plan caved in to Russian demands and have doubted whether the administration could build an effective shield in the timetable promised.
Russia's foreign ministry criticized the Romanian decision sharply.
"Regrettably, we find that practical steps in the creation of the European segment of the U.S. global missile defense are being taken regardless of the Russia-U.S. missile defense dialogue," the ministry said in a statement reported on Russian news agencies.
"Moscow is monitoring the events very closely, as, in our opinion, the prospective missile defense system may create risks for the Russian strategic nuclear deterrence forces in the future," it said.
The Czech republic is also negotiating a plan with the United States to place a warning center to gather and analyze information from satellite sensors "to detect missiles aiming at NATO territory," Prime Minister Petr Necas said last year.
Defense Ministry spokesman Jan Pejsek said Tuesday the negotiations with the U.S. have not been completed yet and it's not clear when that could happen.
