Running In & Around Kinnelon NJ

A while back I received an email from former Kinnelon resident, Lissa Wohltmann, asking about competitive running events and races in and around Kinnelon.

Sadly, I didn't have much to share with her - other than Morris County Park Commission monthly hikes, Brake the Hunger Cycle Bike Tours - which is coming right up!, and CROP Walks.

Lissa was a good sport. She contacted the New Jersey running club which offered several resources.

In the spirit of being better prepared the next time the question comes up, I share with you here what she learned, a few events I've since come across, and invite you to share with us any competitive running events you know of.

As Lissa wrote to me, "I knew where to look for marathons around the country, but some runs are so small that they are only advertised around the community."

If you are on the lookout for running events in and around Kinnelon, here are a few resources to start with:

List of New Jersey Running Clubs
Search Races in New Jersey by type and/or timeframe 
The New Jersey Road Runner Club
The Race Finder on Runners World
Search Active.com for events within 50 miles of Kinnelon, NJ

From a Kinnelon specific perspective, these are events I came across:

• In March, the Kinnelon Education Association 5K Run [see Inaugural KEA Pot of Gold 5K in 2011]. The 2012 KEA Pot of Gold Scholarship 5K is scheduled for March 18th.

• The Kinnelon Knights of Columbus 5K Turkey Trot, the Sunday before Thanksgiving [2011 Turkey Trot description in Active.com]

• Register for World Run Day, a virtual event. I learned about it from the 4th of July Virtual Run in 2011.

Do you know of others in Kinnelon? Would you let me know so I can add them to this list?

Many thanks and Happy Running!

Image credit: NorthJersey.com

Pilates, Spanish, Interior Design: Kinnelon Library Programs

Where you aware that the Kinnelon Public Library has new programs in store for you? These are programs made possible through the generosity of the Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL).

More specifically:

• Pilates -already happening
• Spanish
• Interior Design

What's particularly exciting about these programs is that they came out of suggestions that Kinnelon residents made to Barbara Owens, Kinnelon Library Director, last summer during several focus group discussions about the role the library plays in the Kinnelon community and how to attract new audiences from Kinnelon.

I asked Barbara to share more details.

Pilates at the Kinnelon Library

The Pilates program on Tuesday mornings is our first "new" program.  A local patron, Dee Schneider, runs it for us.  It has been extended for a second six weeks through March 27 on Tuesdays.  The attendance is slowly building up based on word-of-mouth. These sessions take place during school hours at 9:30am and, so far, appeal to a core group of mothers.

If you are interested in attending, call the Library at 973-838-1321. You will need a mat for the class.

The Pilates program has been promoted through all of the public school lists.  The school district has been most helpful in posting library events.  In addition, there are flyers in the library and on the doors.

Spanish at the Kinnelon Library

Just last week Judy Vioreanu from the Kinnelon Library met with Katie McMillan, another patron, who is a Spanish teacher.  Katie is putting together a Spanish program for us.  This will start sometime in late April and run for six weeks in the evening.

Interior Design at the Kinnelon Library

An interior design program has been scheduled for April 17.  The designer's site is: www.Bailiwickdesign.com.

Pretty exciting, don't you think?

For the short term, go ahead and reserve your spot for the Pilates session. Mark your calendars for the Interior Design session and be ready to attend the Spanish sessions.... Be sure to watch the Kinnelon Library adults section of the website, too,  for details and breaking news.

Thank you, Barbara, for the update!

Taking Care of your Computer: Kinnelon Library Presentations

If you're curious about Ted's last two presentations at the Kinnelon Library on Taking Care of Your Computer for Little or No Money,  here is what you've missed so far:

• January 19, 2012 addressed How To Disinfect Your Computer
• February 15, 2012 covered Backing Up Your Computer

Clicking on those links will take you to Ted's blog articles on the Kinnelon Working Computers Blog where he had published the slides from the presentations.

His next presentation takes place on Thursday, March 15th at 7pm at the Kinnelon Library and will address How To Purchase Software and Computers.

If you are interested in practical computer knowledge, I strongly recommend that you subscribe directly to Ted's Working Computers blog for updates.

You should also attend his upcoming session. :-)

See you then!

Kinnelon Library Talk -- Taking Care of Your Computer Part 2: Bootable and Cloud Backup, Feb 15, Thurs 7 PM

Don't Just Be a User! Take Care of that Relationship! With Your Computer!

I will be giving a talk at the Kinnelon Library Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 PM, which is the 2nd of 6 such talks a month apart, on the subject of taking care of your Windows PC, new or old, with special attention in Part 2 to:

Software to Backup Your Computer including :

1) How to be Rebooted and Back in Business in minutes after a system drive failure.

2) What is the difference between an Archive backup and a Mirror backup and why you should care.
     Hint: One boots the computer and the other ... doesn't.

We will explain Bootable Mirror or Clone  Backups, On-Line Backups to the "Cloud", and take questions from the audience on  their computer's ills and mysteries.

And we'll show how to do this stuff with Free Software!

If you want to read about what will be covered and what won't, take a look at the Working Computers post  titled, Taking Care of Your Computer for Free -- Bootable Backup / Cloud Backup -- Talk at the Kinnelon Library Feb. 16 7:00 PM, which goes into detail.

All of you Kinnelon and North Jersey people, and everybody else, are welcome to come.

Call the Kinnelon Library at 973 838 1321 and reserve a spot.

See you there!

~Ted


PS: This talk pertains to PCs running Windows 7, Vista and XP

Photo Credit: various websites

Kinnelon, Smoke Rise Photos From 1954

Have you wondered what Smoke Rise looked like in 1954? Thanks to Herb Fisher Jr., you are in for a major treat with this blog article which includes photos from when his family moved to Kinnelon!

Welcome to Kinnelon Borough!

This sign must have been on Route 23 North. It reads:

Entrance 2.3mi. Turn Left. Smoke Rise. "For ideal country living". 5030 acres, acreage plots, club plan

For those of you wondering about the existence of the Smoke Rise North Gate, here 'tis, looking very similar to today's perspective.

Clearing the land in preparation for developing the area around the Tower.

Notice the view of Lake Kinnelon in the distance.

Herb explains that this photo was taken from the Port Authority helicopter that his Dad flew over the site of their house at 628 Mountain Road. Look closely and you'll notice a rectangular clearing below. That's the site of their lot.

[Check out Herb's previous articles and photos: The Early Days of Smoke Rise, Blasting in Early Smoke Rise, and Smoke Rise Houses: 628 Mountain Road Then and Now.]

Taking a break...

Herb's Mom. Notice Lake Kinnelon in the distance.

A perfect summer afternoon in Smoke Rise!

Love seeing the Tower in the background.

Notice that the roads are unpaved.

The foundation of 628 Mountain Road.

Herb says he regularly got to ride up and down Mountain Road on this piece of machinery. Cool!

Figuring out the dimensions of the house.

Yes, the permit says it's all official and okay to build!

Breaking ground at 628 Mountain Road in Smoke Rise! Congratulations!

Simply amazing!

Before we moved to Kinnelon, we spent a good bit of time exploring the Centex project off of South Glen Road. The roads were still being created, very few houses had been built and we were able to appreciate the vistas and scenery pre-development. That's what these photos remind me of. 

Herb, thanks very much for sharing these.

Kinnelon's Wanda Gilbert 1929-2011. Remembered on 2/19/12

Wanda Gilbert, amazingly dedicated Kinnelon Library volunteer, will be remembered on February 19, 2012 at the Kinnelon Library from 4 to 6pm. You are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

I met Wanda Gilbert last summer when I visited with Barbara Owens, Kinnelon Library Director. Wanda was busy at work, processing the daily delivery of inter-library materials. She had a no-nonsense, intensely competent look about her. I can just imagine her as a surgical nurse. I bet the surgeons knew better than to not take her seriously!

When I learned that she had died shortly after that meeting, I was saddened. I felt that I had ever so briefly come into contact with one of those special people, who are filled with hidden force and quietly shape the world around them, and whom I wanted to learn more about.  Based on the comments that Ron Leavesley shares with us below, Wanda Gilbert was that and more.

Kinnelon's Wanda Gilbert: 1929-2011

Wanda Gilbert was a very special volunteer and woman who dedicated sixteen years of service to the Kinnelon Library.

Circulation desk at the Kinnelon Public Library has been dedicated
to the memory of John a. Odenthal, who was borough clerk and a
councilman. Taking part in a ceremony at which plaque was installed
on nearby wall were, from left, Nancy Allerman, president of the library
trustees board; Wanda Gilbert, Odenthal's daugher; Julia Odenthal,
his widow; and Herbert Adicks, president of the Friends of the Library.

Wanda was always willing, helpful, able and a much appreciated volunteer for the Friends of the Kinnelon Library, the Center for Lifelong Learning and the Kinnelon Library.

Wanda was a lifelong resident of Kinnelon, witnessing its growth and prosperity during her 82 years in this community. She attended the Sisco School, which was then a one-room school house. She was the daughter of John and Julia Odenthal.  Her father was on the Kinnelon Borough Council and was also Borough Clerk. Her mother was actively involved in the community.

Wedding Day - April 14, 1951 - John and Wanda Gilbert

In 1951, Wanda married John Gilbert and had two sons - Corey and Brett, and  two grandchildren.

After retiring from her career as a surgical nurse, Wanda then turned her time and dedication to the Kinnelon Library. Just count the many ways that Wanda's commitment, dedication, determination and financial support have contributed to the library year after year -- the library she was so proud and fond of. She dearly appreciated what the Kinnelon library meant to the Kinnelon community.

Wanda was an avid hiker, who helped establish the CLL ambling and hiking programs, which continue to attract new and returning members each semester.  She was a CLL and Friends Board member and all-around volunteer whenever and wherever needed. She was instrumental in organizing and running the children's books at the Annual Book Sale and was an invaluable volunteer for the Arts & Crafts Festival, Barn Theater and so many other volunteer events.

Her dedication deserves a very special thanks for so many reasons. She was a very special woman, who made her presence felt in a very quiet and private way. However, there was that passion to speak out when she believed something was wrong or wasn't being done properly.  She was by no means shy! It is her dedication, passion and friendship that we will all remember fondly and so deeply miss.

You are welcome to join us on February 19th to recognize and celebrate a special volunteer and woman. There will be comments and remembrances about Wanda's contributions and a plaque presented that will be placed in the Kinnelon Library meeting rooms. If you would like to make a donation to the Friends of the Kinnelon Library in her name, it will be gratefully accepted and acknowledged.

If you have special memories of Wanda Gilbert, please do share them here in the comments or send me an email at cbwhittemore@gmail.com and I will be sure to forward them to Ron to include in the February 19th ceremony.

Thank you!

CLL Art Exhibit 2012 at Kinnelon Library in February

Don't miss it!  The Kinnelon Center for Lifelong Learning [CLL] annual art exhibit is on display at the Kinnelon Library and available for all to enjoy during the entire month of February! Mark your calendars for the CLL Artists Exhibit Reception on February 15th from 7pm to 9pm at the Kinnelon Library. I hope you will go!

Details on the 2012 Kinnelon CLL Art Exhibit...

99 paintings

35 sculptures

43 artists

The artists include:

Marie Anderson

Fran Alession

Maria Androski

Jean Atherton

Irene Busteed

Alison Chase

Mike Conrad

Kathryn Conroy

Betty D'Angelo

Patricia Dubowy

Lynn Evans

Linda Farmer

Nina Flynn

Joan Foster

Ross Franklin

Sandy Gigante

Norman Gross

Jane Hastings

Marlys Huss

Sachiko Koeberle

Cathy Lapenter

Ron Leavesley

Amy Leonard

Karin Lind

Darryl Lynch

Barbara Merkel

Jill Moore

Allen Nelson

Phyllis Poemer

Barbara Porter

Hans Ruffler

Dudy Schindler

Rita Seeto

Robert Seifert

Robert Shine

Sue Silberman

Anne Soules

Bea Stanton

Janet Thorsen

Sonya Vanderhorn

Anne VanHentenryck

Jeannette Wigertz

Wow!

The 2012 CLL Artists Exhibit includes oil paintings, watercolors and sculpture.  Furthermore, the 2012 exhibit is in continuing remembrance of Bill Scully and Richard Schaupp, two dedicated CLL art instructors who brought the joy of painting to many CLL art students.

Furthermore, the 2012 Artists Exhibit extends special thanks to Evelyn Duvall for her seventeen years of dedication to CLL including guiding hundreds of sculpture students, stimulating their interest and encouraging their creativity.

I hope you will visit the exhibit and experience the artistic visions of those who have been touched by Kinnelon. Do also consider participating in the CLL Artists Exhibit Reception on 2/15/12, from 7 to 9pm.

When you go, and if you'd like to share your photos and perspectives, just let me know. You are most welcome!

Ghosts of Central Jersey: Kinnelon Library 2/5/12, 3pm

GHOSTS OF CENTRAL JERSEY with Gordon Thomas Ward at the Kinnelon Library!

When:  Sunday, 5 February @ 3pm (Snow date 2/12)

Gordon Thomas Ward, author of A Bit of Earth and Ghosts of Central Jersey, feels that landscapes around us can be truly magical places where the past can be very much entwined with the present...

What do you think?

Gordon recalls in brilliant detail the special qualities that make a “hometown” and recounts stories of ghosts that roam the historic sites and buildings of central New Jersey.

Come visit with Gordon Thomas Ward at the Kinnelon Library on Sunday February 5th, 2012 at 3pm. Listen to his recollections and explore with him central New Jersey history, buildings and ghosts...

Please call the Kinnelon Library to sign up: 973 838 1321.

And check out his site with articles about ghosts and other New Jersey musings.