Hamlets keep identities despite ZIP code changes
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE - The township's consolidation into two ZIP codes will continue throughout the year.

Last year, the U.S. Postal Service started consolidating its post offices in Millstone because the township was being served by 10 different ZIP codes and multiple post offices, according to Mayor Nancy Grbelja.

"There was a push to make Millstone Township two ZIP codes," she said.

The two ZIP codes the township is currently consolidating into are Clarksburg 08510 and Perrineville 08535, according to Grbelja.

"Those two post offices will be responsible for delivering all the mail in Millstone Township," she said.

Even though one ZIP code is for the Clarksburg section of town and the other is for the Perrineville section, either ZIP code can be used with an address of Millstone Township. As an example, Grbelja said the township is currently in the process of consolidating its Freehold addresses into the Clarksburg office. The people who previously had Freehold addresses would now use the 08510 ZIP code and either Clarksburg or Millstone Township on the last line of their mailing address.

"It doesn't make a difference," Grbelja said.

On or about March 1, Grbelja said the post office will start consolidating more addresses into the Perrineville ZIP code. On or about July 1, it will begin consolidating Millstone residents with Manalapan and/or Englishtown mailing addresses into the Perrineville ZIP code.

"After July 1, we will have changed to Millstone Township, but we will have two ZIP codes serving the community, 08510 for the south and 08535 for the north," Grbelja said.

Grbelja wanted to warn residents not to change their addresses until they have received proper notification to do so and until address change deadlines have come and gone. She said changing addresses too soon could result in misdirected and undelivered mail.

When people do make the switch, Grbelja said it is important for residents to notify all pertinent people about their address change and to note that the mailing address is Millstone Township and not Millstone or Millstone Borough, which are actual places in other parts of the state.

Township Committeeman Elias Abilheira said the post office will recognize a transition period for residents who have to change their addresses.

"There will be an additional six months to a year for magazine subscription changes, etc.," he said.

Deputy Mayor Robert Kinsey noted that the affected residents will have to change the information on their driver's licenses, Social Security cards and other documents.

"Wait until the deadline passes and then start to make phone calls," he said.

Resident Cory Wingerter commended the Township Committee for seeing the consolidation through, since it had been a contentious issue in the past. He said many residents objected to a consolidation that would have taken away the identities of the sections of town named Clarksburg and Perrineville.

"Once you take the post offices away from the hamlets, they disappear," he said.

Once the consolidation is complete, Millstone residents who currently have Clarksburg, Cream Ridge and Freehold ZIP codes would use the Clarksburg post office and take the Clarksburg ZIP code. Perrineville and Englishtown sections of the township will transfer to the Perrineville ZIP code. The U.S. Postal Service will also transfer the township's Hightstown, Imlaystown and Robbinsville mailing addresses into the Clarksburg or Perrineville facility, depending on which facility it determines would better suit each mailing address.

The proposed plan would not affect the Roosevelt ZIP code since Roosevelt has its own post office.