June Kinnelon Flowers: Multiflora Rose

I wrote this article about June Kinnelon Flowers Multiflora Rose last summer. By the time I had it finished, summer was over. As I look out my office window, I spy the Multiflora Rose already blooming... which means that my timing is perfect!

I'm always amazed at the intensity of memories brought on by flower scents - particularly wild ones. Take honeysuckle or multiflora rose.

Per the Wisconsin department of natural resources, multiflora rose is considered a nuisance weed and can neither be sold or propagated.

The New York State Ski Blog: Wild Roses says "They have, IMHO, the most intoxicating, beguiling, and alluring aroma ever."

I agree. The smell reminds me intensely of summer. It's a spicy, peppery smell that I long for. In fact, it's a smell that I remember from childhood in McLean, Virginia, walking to the community pool. It's a smell that blends with the intoxicating Honeysuckle flowers and nectar that is now almost impossible to find given the carefully manicured landscapes.  My most trustworthy source of honeysuckle is by the movie theater, in a weedy section between the parking lot and Kakeout Road by the New York Sports Club [aka the Butler Bowl].

Getting back to Multiflora Rose. In early June, you'll notice vast expanses of these marvelous wildflowers. We have them across from us on Sleepy Hollow Road, bordering a wetlands area. These photos I took across from Our Lady of the Magnificat on Miller Road in Kinnelon.

Now that I've reminisced based on flowers and summer scents, I'd love to hear from you. Which are you favorite summer memories and what plants smells do you associate with them?

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Kinnelon's L'Ecole Museum Garage Sale: 6/9/12

Emma back in ~2008 or so

It's that time of year again: the annual garage sale benefiting the L'Ecole Kinnelon Museum! In case you haven't read the news in the local publications or seen the signage on Kiel Avenue, here is your notice!

The event takes place Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

If it rains [as it has been lately], the event will take place Sunday, June 10 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

L'Ecole museum is located at 25 Kiel Avenue, across from the Kinnelon Mall [i.e., Pathmark].

You have two ways to take part in the annual Kinnelon Museum garage sale fund raiser:

1. Donate your items for the garage sale. [Note: No Clothing or Stuffed Animals Please!] You can do so every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM when the Friends of the Kinnelon Museum will welcome you and your donations with open arms.  By the way, all of your donations are tax deductible

2. Come buy a few items on Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

All funds made from the sale will be used toward a computer projector.

Finally, if you enjoy history, consider becoming a member of the Friends of the Museum.

[Thanks to Jill Iannino at the Kinnelon Library for submitting this announcement.]

Meet Carol Sventy, Candidate for Kinnelon Borough Council

Kinnelon neighbor Carol Sventy is running for Borough Council. Have you had a chance to meet her?

I first met Carol when I had my first meeting with Ron Leavesley about the Kinnelon CLL Program. Not a surprise given her intense involvement with CLL and the Friends of the Kinnelon Library.

In case you've not had a chance to spend time with her, I want to share with you this interview in which Carol Sventy explains why she is a candidate for Kinnelon Borough Council, what she loves about Kinnelon and how she has contributed as a volunteer to our community.

You'll also find contact information and opportunities to meet with her in person before the June 5th election to discuss what's important to you.

C.B.: Carol, please tell me about yourself and your background.

Ever since I can remember, I have been a volunteer. Starting when I was very young, my mother was involved in many activities (Girl/Boy Scouts, League of Women Voters, Historical Society, School Organizations - PTA, Civic Organizations). Whenever she saw something was not quite right in our community, she did something about it … and this is where I ‘got the bug’.

I was born in Montclair, NJ and moved when I was five & grew up in a small town in Michigan. I attended public schools up until 9th grade when I attended  Culver Girls Academy. I then went on to study Business Management and Horsemanship Stable Management at Virginia Intermont College where I met my husband John.

Soon after college graduation, we moved to New Jersey, got married and moved to Kinnelon. We fell in love with Kinnelon. We’ve had a few opportunities to move to other states, but did not due to family and because we didn’t want to leave Kinnelon and the friends and neighbors we have here. I want to protect Kinnelon’s unique lifestyle and environment. We are fortunate to live in a town that appreciates and nourishes its natural environment and the people who reside here. I have always been very passionate about and actively involved in education, open space, recreation and environmental issues within the Borough of Kinnelon. All of my work has been to improve the lives and environment for our children and our residents.

C.B.: How long have you lived in Kinnelon?

29 years, in the same house, with the same husband and the same phone number!

C.B.: What do you like most about living in Kinnelon?

This is a tough one … simply because there are so many things I like and love about Kinnelon. It would have to be a toss-up between the residents of Kinnelon and the actual landscape of Kinnelon. Whenever I leave Kinnelon either to run errands in other communities, traveling to other states to visit family/friends or away on vacation … when I return to Kinnelon, I don’t need to see the borough sign saying “Welcome to Kinnelon Borough” to know that I’m home. I can ‘feel’ that I’m home and safely away from the ‘rat race’ that exists outside our community. I can take a deep breath and relax in the beauty of our community and the friendships with the residents here.

C.B.: How did you first get involved in public service for Kinnelon?

It all started when I filled out a volunteer form that had been mailed to me by the Friends of the Kinnelon Library along with a request for a membership donation. The form asked if I would be interested in volunteering for any one of a number of activities and I selected two items: Book Sale and Arts and Crafts Festival since both were things that I was interested in. I then became active with another group called ‘Ambling Along’ sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning … and now, as they say: the rest is history!

C.B.: Carol, what is the range of activities you are currently involved in? 

Everything blossomed from that point on to where I am now actively involved in the following organizations.

• The Friends of the Kinnelon Library Board of Governors (since 1997)
• Currently serving as Vice President (since 2002)
• The Center for Lifelong Learning Board of Governors (since 1998)
• The Center for Lifelong Learning Registrar (since 1999)
• The Kinnelon After School Enrichment program (since 2000)
• Kinnelon's Open Space Advisory Committee (since 2002)
• Currently serving as Chairperson (since 2004)
• Kinnelon's Environmental Commission (since 2004)

Then in 2011 I was honored to be named by the Lakeland Hills YMCA as Kinnelon’s Citizen of the year.

C.B.: Why are you running for office?

I have worked long and hard for positive change in Kinnelon and I have contributed and helped to improve the quality of life for ALL Kinnelon residents.

Having worked with the council for the past 10 years or more has given me a unique insight. I’m involved in local government now, and want to continue to contribute and in order to be more effective, I must run for Kinnelon council.

C.B.: What does the Kinnelon Council need and why do you think you can fill it? 

I believe Kinnelon needs a new choice – and a new voice. I will listen to what residents have to say and will take action and get results. I feel Kinnelon needs a balanced perspective. We are one community with different needs and wants for ourselves and our children and to provide these needs, we must have a balanced perspective in making the decisions that affect ALL Kinnelon residents.

C.B.: What will you bring to the Kinnelon Borough Council?

My experience in working with people in the Borough renders me an approachable, knowledgeable, well organized and effective individual that gets the results our community needs and requires.

Carol Sventy with Denise DeBernardi,
Mary Cobell & Eileen Gelenter

C.B.: Where should Kinnelon residents go for more information about you and your background?

Residents can go to my website: www.CaringForKinnelon.com where there is a calendar of events, along with additional information about me.

C.B.: I understand Kinnelon residents can meet with you and ask questions at the following sessions. Would you fill me in? 

All residents are welcome to attend any of the following Meet & Greet sessions I have scheduled. We ask that you please RSVP through my website, since this greatly helps in our planning. We wouldn’t want to run out of refreshments for any of the residents attending!

If you are unable to attend, then residents are welcome to email or call me with their questions and / or their concerns regarding Kinnelon. I firmly believe, welcome and encourage comments and suggestions. Without valuable public input, government is left to make decisions based on statistics and their own personal experience ... let YOUR voice be heard!

Monday, May 21 - 7:00pm-9:00pm - Adair, Woodchase Lane - Coffee, Tea & Cookies

Tuesday, May 22 - 7:30pm-9:00pm - DeBernardi, Daisy Ct. - Wine & Cheese Reception

Thursday, May 24 - 8:00am-10:00am - Kiel Firehouse, 103 Kiel Ave. - Bagels & Coffee

Thank you, Carol! We wish you the very best. 


Readers, I hope you'll go vote on June 5, 2012.


If you have questions for Carol, please visit her website or leave a comment and I will forward it to her. Consider, too, attending one of the sessions above to meet Carol in person.

Experience Classical Chinese Culture: 5/20/12 Kinnelon Library

This Sunday, May 20th, 2012 at 3:00pm at the Kinnelon Library you have the opportunity to experience Classical Chinese Culture in what looks to me to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Shen Yun Performing Arts.

According to the website [thank you, Judy Vioreanu], Shen Yun - based in New York - was "established in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture."

The website is worth exploring as it captures a view of Chinese Culture that we don't routinely encounter.

According to the Kinnelon Library writeup that Anne Mandanayake forwarded me:

"This will be the Year of the Dragon, which is a good time to revisit traditional Chinese culture, its myths and legends. This presentation will focus on Chinese history and a brief overview of key dynasties, on classic stories and fascinating characters from Chinese literature, and on classical Chinese dance (Shen Yun) and Chinese musical instruments. It will explain how Shen Yun uses dance to express Chinese civilization and its values."

Judy further uncovered this information: "The presentation focuses on ancient Chinese history, its classic stories, rich cultural values, and art forms.

For 5,000 years, Chinese culture was heralded as a divine gift. Its values of benevolence, honor, etiquette, wisdom, and sincerity were perpetuated for generations and dynasties, all the way into the contemporary era. Through our presentation, we aim to bridge an understanding of this ancient civilization with our modern world, and thereby share some of the most classic stories in Chinese history. We use Shen Yun Performing Arts and Chinese dance as a cultural lens, both to meaningfully bring this culture into the modern day, and to explain how the virtues of Chinese history are being perpetuated by modern artists. This will surely be an educational and inspiring session!"

I encourage you to check out the video introducing Shen Yun. You might also meet the Shen Yun artists.

To attend the event, please contact the Kinnelon Library at 973-838-1321.

If you attend, I invite you to share your highlights with us here.

Thanks, Judy and Anne, for your help putting this story together!

 

Ramstein Beer Dinner at the Smoke Rise Inn this Thursday, May 17, at 6:30 PM

For those of you who do not know it, we have a wonderful local resource here in the Highpont Brewery in Butler which makes Ramstein German style Ales and Lagers, regularly winning contests and placing amongst the very top against national craft breweries.

This is your chance to check out their beers and get a great meal besides at the SR Inn.

The Smoke Rise Inn Ramstein Beer Dinner will take place this coming Thursday, May 17 at 6:30. It's not too late to call and make a reservation at 973 838 7770. You will need Adobe Reader to read the flyer link above.

Or look here:

Just hit CTL-+ (browser only) to make the image larger.

There will be 2 of the ales, the Double Platinum Blonde, and the Classic Hefe-Weizen, and 2 of the lagers, the Imperial Pilsner, and the unfiltered Amber Lager, all of which I personally think are fabulous. And they taste good, too!

Plus there will be Chef George's great food: Ancho Chili Glazed Shrimp, Hong Kong Style Baby Back Ribs,  Southern Fried Chicken Stuffed with Andouille Sausage, and Slow Roasted Brisket with a Roasted Corn Salsa

Check out the Ramstein Beer website, and take a drive down there at the bottom of Kiel Ave in the big old red brick rubber factory building where, every day of the week, you can buy growlers (refillable gasketed jugs) and fill them with their beers on draft. They also have some bottled beer as well.

Reservations can be made at the SR Inn at 973 838 7770.

Come to the Beer Dinner! See you there!

~Ted

Ramstein Beer and SR Fresh Hot Sauce Open House Tomorrow, Sat. May 12, 2012 at 2 PM & 3:45 PM

Here is a reminder for this weekend’s Ramstein Beer Open House and Tour, tomorrow, Saturday, May 12.

There will be 2 tour and tasting sessions -- 2 PM and 3:45 PM.

Beers on tap - Double Platinum Blonde,  Golden Lager, and and Blonde Hefe-Weizen.

As a special treat there be Unfiltered Amber Lager from an Austrian Oak wooden barrel, as well as the very last hidden keg of Ramstein Winter Wheat Doppelbock..

2 liter growlers will be in stock

Many of these beers will also be available at the Smoke Rise Inn Beer Dinner this coming Thursday at 6:30. It's not too late to call and make a reservation at 973 838 7770. You will need Adobe Reader to read the flyer link above.

And SR Fresh Hot Sauce will be there with the Fresh Cayenne-Cherry Pepper, Habanero Gold, and XXXXTra Hot Habanero Hot Sauce. We will also have our new Caribbean Hot Sauce, and brand new Thai Style Habanero Sriracha, Cayenne Sriracha, and Jalapeno Poblano (our first green pepper sauce) along with our Spicy Aioli in 16 oz jars -- that's Hot and Spicy Mayo for those of you scratching your heads. Come try them! And buy them!

You Hot Sauce people can check out the SR Fresh Hot Sauce Website, where the sauces are explained and sold. Check out the Fresh Hot Sauce Blog as well.

As usual, there will be a tour and explanation of the brewing process by Greg Zaccardi, the owner. [See previous post about Ramstein Beer with videos for a primer.]

See you there!

Ted and Christine and Emma