Classified Ads -- New for the Smoke Rise and Kinnelon Blog!

Check out the new tab right under the green "Smoke Rise and Kinnelon Blog" header, the one that says "Kinnelon Classifed Ads", right next to the "Home" tab.

Clicking on that tab will take you to the Classifed Ads page where you can list local goods and services at no charge.

So if you've got some stuff you no longer need and would like to unload, feel free to list it here. Those size 3 kid's ice skates that don't fit your size 9 kid's feet? The brand new set of pots and pans you got as a gift and don't want or need? Or even a car -- send us an ad formatted like the ones on the page, 4 lines max, and we will run it for 2 months, or until you ask us to remove it, whichever comes sooner.

The same goes for services. If you want to advertise CPA services, furniture repair, pet care, or whatever, email us an ad to the address listed at the top of the Kinnelon Classified Ads page.

Costs nothing, so there is no downside, only upside!

~Ted and Christine

PS Depending on how much work this becomes we may at some point charge a nominal fee, but until then, all items will be listed at no charge.

PPS And we don't know how much interest there will be in this program -- if there is lot, we may have to change the listing rules, especially for services, which are inherently open-ended -- but we will cross those bridges if and when we have to.

Kinnelon Community Gardens - Update 8/16/10 Meeting

The Kinnelon Community Gardens (KCG) held its first meeting on August 16, 2010 at the Kinnelon Library.  Galina Adair reports as follows on the meeting and next steps, including the next meeting to be held Monday August 30, 2010!

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Kinnelon Community Gardens Timeline

The timeline for breaking ground for our Kinnelon Community Gardens would be by OCTOBER 1st.

Kinnelon Community Gardens Mission Statement

We spoke about creating a Mission Statement, but we did not want it to be complicated. Sustainable West Milford has a GREAT mission statement – so, we recycled it a little and made it our own:

Kinnelon Community Gardens hopes to empower residents to be advocates for sustainable communities. Enabling community members to transform Kinnelon into an environmentally friendly and sustainable community through their personal participation and leadership.

Kinnelon Community Gardens Property Search Committee

I guess the biggest question on everyone’s mind is Where Will The Kinnelon Community Garden Be?  We do not know yet, Mary Cobell and Galina Adair volunteered to do a property search. 30 acres behind rec and behind town hall as well as areas around schools were suggested.

Kinnelon Community Gardens Master Gardener List

A list of Kinnelon Master Gardeners needs to be put together, because we will be deferring to them for help. Possible sources mentioned were Frelinghuysen and Rutgers Co-op Extension. Theresa Haulser will be looking into this.

Kinnelon Community Gardens PR Committee

Kathy Valischeck and Kim Mazurkiewicz

Kinnelon Community Gardens Resource List

Mary Derstine

***If you would like help w/any of the above committees please contact the individuals involved already.

Decisions Made

We did decide upon the following issues:

* The Kinnelon Community Gardens are going to be ORGANIC!!!
* It can be a Public Garden/Education Center.
* Approach local business for work donations.
* Glenwild is a local GREEN garden center… Glenwildgardens.com
* Is this going to be just vegetables or include flowers also?

Next Kinnelon Community Gardens Meeting

Monday, August 30th, 7-8 will be the next meeting. Local community garden representatives will tell us how they got their gardens started. We will be able to ask questions. RIGHT AFTER this meeting, we will have our Kinnelon Community Garden meeting.

There were a multitude of other questions as well…..will we need insurance, how long will the plots be, should we charge, etc. For next time.

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All exciting news! 

Do you want to be involved? Attend the 8/30/10 meeting or contact Galina Adair via email at: Kinneloncommunitygardens@gmail.com.

Thanks, Galina! Congratulations, Kinnelon Community Gardens!

Kinnelon Community Garden (KCG) Holds First Meeting: 8/16/10

Did you attend the 4th Annual Kinnelon Conserves Earth Day Fair? If so, you may have noticed the Kinnelon Community Garden sign and petition.  I'm delighted to share with you the following message from Galina Adair about the Kinnelon Community Garden [aka KCG].

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Hello everyone! This message took a long time coming.  However, here we go and let's get the ball rolling! I am very EXCITED that so many of you signed the petition to start a Kinnelon Community Garden. As many residents know, it is difficult to garden in Kinnelon - we seem to grow nothing but rocks :-), many yards do not get enough sun, the deer are a problem, etc. Basically, all of us in Kinnelon would like a Community Garden where we could gather on a sunny piece of land where we can learn how to garden, exchange ideas on gardening so that we could eventually reap the benefits of all our sweat by eating a nice juicy tomato.

I know you have questions.  I do, too.  And, although I've gotten guidance from Carol Sventy - thank you, Carol !!!!:):):) - I know that before any of these questions can be answered a Kinnelon Community Garden Committee must first be formed.

So, the purpose of this email is to announce the very first KCG (KINNELON COMMUNITY GARDEN) meeting on August 16th, 2010 at 7pm here at the Library. It is our hope that a KCG Committee can be created at this time with volunteers from this meeting. Ideally, to start things off there should be a committee of at least 3-4 people who are determined, ambitious, organized and hard working enough to see this worthwhile project through.

These are the topics to be discussed:
1. Where will the garden be?
2. Who will the committee members be?
3. Organic? Sustainability?
4. Do we need a mission statement?
5. Do we need insurance?
6. How large should each plot be?
7. How much should be charged for a single plot?
8. Publicity? Website, Garden Blog, Newspapers
9. Please feel free to make your own notes and share, the only bad idea is an idea that is not shared!

You will not be alone; there are many who are willing to help from Kinnelon's Environmental Commission, Kinnelon’s Open Space Advisory Committee, Kinnelon's Historical Commission, L'Ecole as well as various members of the Kinnelon Library Staff and Kinnelon Conserves.  All of these resources are available, but the Kinnelon Community Garden Committee needs a few dedicated, focused people to take the lead and marshall these resources.  Remember the old adage: Many hands make for light work! - but, you need someone to direct the hands and the work.

Additionally, we would like to have a second meeting toward the end of August, probably August 30th, to be confirmed. This 2nd meeting will be a brain-storming session, during which members of other municipalities’ Community Gardens will help guide us through their trials and tribulations of how they started their own community gardens.

This is all exciting news!  Please let us know at Kinneloncommunitygardens@gmail.com whether you will be be attending the August 16th meeting.

Feel free to bring your friends! We need for the KCG to ‘get up, get out and get gardening'!

We look forward to seeing you and meeting you on the 16th.

Happy digging!

Galina Adair –

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Thank you, Galina!

I love the idea of a Kinnelon Community Garden.  In Demarest, where we lived before Kinnelon, we had our own garden. And although we had to fight a groundhog for it, we really enjoyed growing tomatoes [surrounded by marigolds and basil which protected the tomatoes], peppers, maybe zucchini, cucumber or some beans.  I remember learning so much in High School from a pathetic radish growing experiment, that I'd love to share those marvels with my daughter. One thing is for sure: it will NOT happen in our back yard!  Too much competition from Kinnelon Critters!

Will you attend the meeting of the Kinnelon Community Garden? Please do, and let Galina know.

Ramstein Beer Fest & SR Fresh Hot Sauce this Saturday @ 2 PM

Here is reminder for this weekend’s Ramstein Beer Open House and Tour, this Saturday, August 14. Directions are at the website.

There will be one tour and tasting session at 2pm.

Available will be the Ramstein Blonde Hefe-Weizen, Ramstein Classic Dunkel Weiss, and Ramstein Golden Lager, and Ramstein Amber Lager.

1 and 2 Liter Growlers are in stock.

The Amber Lager is my favorite Ramstein beer.

And SR Fresh Hot Sauce will be there with the Fresh Cayenne-Cherry, Habanero Gold, and XXXXTra Hot Habanero Hot Sauce. Come try them!

Also, we will have a small amount of Ripe Red Fresno-Jalapeno Hot Sauce. Sweet and Hot.

You Hot Sauce people can check out the new SR Fresh Hot Sauce Website, where the sauces are explained and sold.

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

4th Annual Kinnelon Conserves Earth Day Fair Success!

Were you there? Did you take part in the 4th Annual Kinnelon Conserves Earth Day 2010 Fair at Pearl Miller School? We did and had a blast. I invited Kinnelon Conserves' Avery Hart to share highlights from the event.

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Kinnelon Conserves would like to thank the community for its participation and assistance in making our 4th Annual Earth Day Fair at Pearl R. Miller School another success. The fair was attended by over 350 visitors who were treated to an array of up-to-date, cutting edge, eco-displays and information.

Fair-goers were met with a bonanza of scientific information, creative interpretations and artistic displays created by students from local schools, including Our Lady of the Magnificat Catholic School, and representing the public schools, Kinnelon’s Director of Technology & Curriculum Science, Smoke Rise resident Noreen LaFergola, working with Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Diane DiGiuseppe, to assure full student participation.

Pearl R. Miller School Principal Mark Mongon welcomed a swarm of grassroots volunteers into his school with a smile, and maintenance staff member Danny Pregenzer did an efficient job setting up and breaking down the event.

Over 40 business and civic entities were represented, including from the Kinnelon Public Library, NJ Highlands Coalition, and NJ Native Plant Society to home energy companies, natural health products, makers of biodegradable toys and handbags constructed from recycled gum wrappers. Local beekeepers Don and Allison Lynch and about 1000 of their furry flying friends convinced attendees to appreciate the place of bees in our human lives.

Montville’s Sue Marinello, AKA“The Water Lady” fascinated fair goers with her knowledge of water issues.

A Kinnelon Conserves generated exhibit, “Read the Fine Print” provided attendees with magnifying glasses so that they could identify (and avoid) potentially toxic ingredients that lurk in everyday products, a long list of which was posted on the gym wall.

Student clubs and Girl Scout troop #1308 created and ran interactive activities and lent plenty of energy and muscle to the Fair’s success. KHS senior, Matt Vail, managed all the road signs and also made sure that bins were provided for the Adopt-A-Family used sneaker collection that benefits those without shoes in Africa.

Kinnelon resident Vic Oburg once again proudly displayed his "Smart Car” for all to see, and several Dept of Public Workers were on hand to chat with residents about local environmental and recycling concerns. A large number of non-profit exhibitors heightened awareness of the important roles we all play in protecting the natural environment.

Local guitarist Tony Christopher serenaded attendees with song as they took in displays of nature photography, demonstrations of martial arts, and viewed animation, The Story of Stuff.

The Fair offered a wide array of products and services all designed to demonstrate to attendees how to live more lightly on the earth. Fair-goers enjoyed locally-made organic cheese, bread, cakes and cookies. They sniffed aromatic organic soaps, bought wooden products crafted from fallen Kinnelon trees, and had a chance to examine solar panels and insulation close up. They were exposed to alternatives to toxic garden and lawn products, offered green ideas for home remodeling, and a chance to sign petitions.

The most popular petition by far was one signed in support of a public Kinnelon Borough Community Garden.

People with smiling faces ended their afternoon at the Fair by taking home the free perennial plants they’d potted themselves, some sample products, plus lots of ideas for protecting the earth that sustains us.

Special thanks to these organizations which contributed and exhibited during the 4th Annual Kinnelon Conserves Earth Day Fair:

Adopt a Family Program
Plant Health Alternatives
Toys Camp
Eberhard’s Recycled Wood: 973-838-7691
Young Living with Avery
Berrios Creative Crochet
Paul K Tiajoloff, Architect LLC: 973-402-0277(O)
PNC Bank
Solar Living Inc.(CapturetheSun.com)
Glenwild Garden Center
Natural Turf
Only Green
Jim’s Organic Coffee
The Awarenest
Tony Christopher
Harvest Morn Honey: 973-838-0964
Home Energy Matters
Finishing Touch Landscaping
Stone Cliff Cleaners
Tri-Boro Animal Welfare
Global Shade Tree Professionals
The Land Conservancy of NJ
Holistic Mom’s Network
Bobolink Dairy & Bakery
Bob’s Clocks: 973-838-6735
GiveAGreenBag
Designs by Eleanor
Shaklee
Ellie's Health Shoppe
Evergreen Healing Arts: 201-704-0823(cell)
Cipriano Landscape Design
Purple DragonRenewable Resource Systems: SteveT@renewableRS.com
Ross Solar Group: Josh@RossSolarGroup.com
Shop by Stella: Stel2000@aol.com
Traditional Okinowan Karate: mrmiller@tokarate.com

These organizations contributed, but weren't able to exhibit:

Samantha Peterson-Salvador, Barefoot Books: 732-787-1812
Joseph D’Aloisio, Shop to Earth: 973-728-3516

For information about joining Kinnelon Conserves, please call (973) 492-3404, go to www.kinnelonconserves.net or send email to kinnconserves@optonline.net.

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Thank you, Avery, and congratulations, Kinnelon Conserves on another successful Earth Day Fair!

A special thank you to "Red, the Tender Clown" for her magical face and arm paintings. Emma was enchanted with her cat.

Dee's Thai Falls from Grace -- Follow Up

Disappointment Saturday 10/17/09 night at Dee's Thai in Pompton Lakes -- they murdered a number of our favorites, including Duck Salad, Larb, Papaya Salad, and a few more.

We were so happy to have discovered a first class Thai restaurant close by Kinnelon, and we have had a number of very good experiences.

Now we have to say that you may have good food or you may not, and we do not know why.

I'm going to talk to Dee herself and see what's up. Chef is sick ... quit ... ?

We'll see what she says.

~Ted

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The Best Food Deals Around Kinnelon

Image courtesy of Creative Magazine.
I admit it. I like almost everything about food, except all those calories.

I like eating it, of course.

I like cooking food -- I have to eat it, and I'm easily bored by the same old, same old, so I might as well make stuff I like.

I like buying food, especially at interesting food stores.

I like buying food cheaply -- the more I save the better -- and I especially like buying food where I save a LOT of money.

It has become very clear, too, that some food items can be purchased astoundingly cheaply at some stores locally in and around Kinnelon, NJ.

Mostly that means you have to buy from a warehouse club, like BJ's, or a store farther away, like Corrado's. These stores are fun to go to anyway, beyond just the saving of money; you can get stuff there you CANNOT get at local supermarkets like Stop and Shop or Pathmark.

I've made a list of some of my all time favorites in both the cheap and unique categories:

Butter @ BJ's: $1.50 per lb (excellent housebrand butter) -- $3 per lb and up elsewhere

Milk @ BJ's: $1.99 per gal for Land O'Lakes skimmed milk -- up to $4.29 elsewhere

Roasted Chicken @ BJ's: $5.00 for large Purdue Roaster -- perfectly cooked BIG chicken -- up to $7.99 elsewhere [hence Chicken Soup for a Rainy Day or Any Day]

Reggiano Parmesan cheese @ Corrado's: $12.99 top grade -- $22 elsewhere ($17 at BJ's)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil @ Corrado's: $14.99 (price can vary) for 3 liter can -- $20 at BJ's, $28 and up elsewhere

Now for Produce I do like Corrado's, but you have to be careful, because, Corrado's produce sometimes seems to be remaindered from elsewhere, so you have to check the quality and freshness closely. Also, prices vary, and you do not ALWAYS get a bargain. That said, I do get amazing bargains at Corrado's for GREAT produce:

Yellow Bell Peppers @ Corrado's: $.69 per lb -- elsewhere $3 to $4 per lb

Big Bunches of beautiful Flat Leaf Parsley and Cilantro @ Corrado's: $.79 per lb -- elsewhere wimpy little bunches for $1.50 and up.

Vidalia Onions @ Corrado's: $.79 per lb -- elsewhere $1.50 per lb and up.

Fresh Pineapple @ Corrado's: $1.50 ea -- $3 and up elsewhere.

I could list more -- they have beautiful loose Yukon Gold Potatoes for $.69 per lb so you can pick the best big ones, and not get the little bagged potatoes from S&S or Pathmark. Nice when you are peeling them.

You will not always get these prices, but whenever you do go, you will find some of them.

Last. Let me say a word about meat from Pathmark, BJ's and Corrado's. BJ's has by far the consistently best prices on Choice Black Angus beef and other meats, from Short Ribs at $2.50 per lb to Skirt Steaks at $4.99 per lb -- from Boneless Leg of Lamb at $4.99 per lb to Boston Butt Pork Shoulder at $.99 per lb. You can't beat it.

However, Pathmark has, every so often, maybe 2 or 3 or 4 weeks, a special on NY Strip Steaks or Rib Eye at $4.99 per lb, and they often have thick cut steaks or a whole Rib Eye Roast so you can cut the steaks to the thickness of your liking. They advertise it in their circular, and I'm always prepared to take advantage of it by stuffing my cart or basket.

Corrado's has an amazing selection of meat products at very good prices. Six different kinds of sausage, rabbit, aged prime beef, and more.

I would be very interested to hear what your Best Food Deals are.

Send me an email or comment on the article! I will share!

~Ted


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The Smoke Rise Village Inn Restaurant -- Good Dining and a Nice Place to Eat for all of Kinnelon

There is a shortage of decent places to eat in the Kinnelon area, it's sad to say, but one very pleasant place with good atmosphere (think hometown tavern for the bar area, and something fancier for the dining room), is The Smoke Rise Village Inn Restaurant, which is open to anyone, and not just for Smoke Rise residents.

I'm not saying I like it for any other reason but that I really do like it -- Chef George offers a variety of interesting and fairly inexpensive food, with fixed price daily specials during the week. It's fun to go there and we find it casual and very relaxing.

Part of a pretty collection of buildings from the outside, including the old Kinney stable and barn where the restaurant itself is found, The Inn has good parking, and will do takeout -- check out the menus and details on the link above.

I am especially fond of the Sesame Tuna Salad -- the tuna is seared on the outside and served with a ponzu vinaigrette -- really good. And I like the Bistro Steak Salad -- a shell steak over greens with a bacon vinaigrette, also very good. And I have tried and like many of the other appetizers, salads, and entrees and enjoyed them, too.

It's is a very kid friendly place with room for them to run around and the staff is affectionate and tolerant.

They are not open on Monday and Tuesday. The could use a better beer selection, although it's not terrible. They do have Bass Ale, which I like -- they could have our very own excellent local Ramstein Beer produced down in Butler by my friend Greg Zaccardi's High Point Brewery, but ... they do not. Sigh. All those wonderful German style wheat beers and lagers ...

But, other than that, The Inn is a good place to go for those of us in the Kinnelon area when we do not feel like cooking, or we just want a relaxing local night out with friends.

Check it out.

~ Ted

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Lake Aeroflex or New Wawayanda: The Deepest Natural NJ Lake and Very Cool!

Do you know that the deepest Natural lake in NJ, at over 110 ft deep, is pristine Lake Aeroflex (or New Wawayanda) just on the other side of Lake Hopatcong?

We visited with friends there recently and were very impressed with the coolness of the water and the lakeshore temperature as well, and the unspoiled beauty of this natural lake so close by.

I could clearly see the toes of people treading water, and imagined I could see the bottom at 10 ft or so. Clear water!

The bottom drops off fairly steeply as you might imagine from the hilly shoreline, the product of a big glacial scooping of the valley in which the lake lies, and the shore is unspoiled with only a small number of summer homes and cabins at the north end the lake, which is itself now owned by the NJ State Park system, and which provides boat ramp access at the south end.

Kittatinny Valley State Park surrounds most of the lake and has facilities and parking on the southeast shore of the lake along which (on the western shore) there are some very nice hiking trails. Visit the Kittatinny Valley State Park of New Jersey website which also has a link to photos.

Clearly underfished judging from the number of sunfish and bass to be seen from the dock on which we spent the afternoon, the state stocks the lake with brown trout and landlocked salmon, since it is so cold and deep -- the lake has a 40 ft average depth, and at 119 acres is about the same size in area as Lake Kinnelon which I'm guessing has an average depth of about 6 ft or less.

The state only permits electric/trolling motors on the lake, but that shouldn't be a problem for fishermen or sightseers.

The day we were there I saw 2 boats on the lake and I think because it is so close to Hopatcong it just does not get the traffic.

Good for us.

It took us 40 minutes to get there from Kinnelon and was worth the trip.

~ Ted

PS:Most maps show this lake as Lake Aeroflex after the old Aeroflex Corporation which owned it and the surrounding land for a time in the middle of the last century, but according to some NJ State Park documents it is now officially New Wawayanda Lake. Also check out History of Andover Township, NJ.

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The Butternut Tree at Butternut Plaza in Kinnelon

[Butternut Tree in Winter 2008.]
Are you aware that we have, in our midst, a significant historic landmark? I'm referring to the Butternut Tree located at Butternut Plaza in Kinnelon, NJ - where Suburban Trends is located, at the corner of Kakeout and Kiel Avenue.

Our Butternut Tree is the oldest and largest known tree of its kind - species Juglans Cinerea also known as White Walnut - in New Jersey. It's native to North America ["from New Brunswick to North Dakota and south to Georgia and Arkansas; but not abundant below the latitude of Pennsylvania and Iowa"], but a scarce tree even within its range and becoming moreso. [For more information, see Agricultural handbook #271 and the section about Juglans Cinerea].

As you can read from the official placard below, the tree stands on the site of the 18th century Mead Farm.

Chapter 4 of Lucy A. Meyer's book Kinnelon: A History [available for reference from the Kinnelon Library and worth diving into] is dedicated to The Butternut Tree. From that chapter, I learned the following delicious details...

[Butternut Tree in Spring 2009.]

The Butternut Tree was scheduled for the chopping block [well, more likely the saw] when the Mead farmhouse and barn were torn down in 1972 to make way for the Kinnelon Mall. [Note: a Smoke Rise Blog readers who grew up in the area, but has since moved away, remembers when the barn still stood. He has offered to share some of his memories from those days.]

Lucy Meyer saved the tree, calling in state officials who 'judged' in 1976 that the tree was between 150 to 200 years old: on 11/5/1973, State Forrester Santiago Porcella III verified that the tree measured a circumference of 144", a height of 65 feet and a spread of 84 feet.

I knew nothing about Butternut Trees before reading Chapter 4. I'm stunned at what I learned and am willing to wager that many of you aren't aware that...

Native American Indians used the "crushed hulls as a depressant to catch fish." "They boiled nut meats until they released oil which solidified into butter" [hence the name] which was used for cooking and trading with the colonists.

The nuts were dried and used for food as well as for flour. They were often found in a mixture called "sappaen" with cornmeal mush or hominy.

The tree's sap was extracted and used as sugar.

During the Civil War, "the uniforms of Confederate soldiers were often made of homespun dyed with butternut hulls" [and the soldiers were referred to as butternuts].

The nuts were also used in baked goods and for pickling as a condiment for meats.

The wood itself is magnificent given that the tree is a member of the walnut family.

But, the tree also has medicinal properties as related by the botanist Dr. Barton. Early settlers treated dysentery with Butternut Tree bark whereas the Indians used it to treat rheumatism. During the American Revolution, it was used as a laxative. According to Dorland's Medical Dictionary, the green hulls were effective against fungus infections like ringworm.

Impressive, wouldn't you agree? I have renewed appreciation for our Butternut Tree.




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Kinnelon Conserves - A Vital Kinnelon Resource

Are you familiar with Kinnelon Conserves? It's a grassroots, environmental awareness group created by Avery Hart, with the tagline "A Community Energy Reduction Initiative." If you took part in any of the 2009 Kinnelon Earth Day celebrations and activities, Kinnelon Conserves actively participated.

In 2008, Kinnelon Conserves hosted a Junk Mail Jamboree to help alleviate and eliminate junk mail.

In other words, Kinnelon Conserves represents a Vital Kinnelon Resource!

I recently contacted Avery and asked her a few questions about Kinnelon Conserves.

C.B.: Avery, how did Kinnelon Conserves get started?

The concept for Kinnelon Conserves came to me after watching a science program about rising atmospheric pollution and the resulting acidification of the world’s oceans. I remember feeling thoroughly depressed and utterly powerless about these huge environmental problems. And I began to realize that I wasn’t alone in my sad feelings –many people were “bummed out” about the loss of essentials like clean water and air. As a therapist who often sees children, I am also keenly sensitive to the impact of negative news on children and young people. At that time I was newly retired – though now I am back at work. But in late 2006 I decided to devote one year to create a local social entity that would focus on finding local solutions to planetary problems as a way to cheer people up: The idea was to get the faith community, school officials, local government and anyone else who was interested to learning, and taking action together to solve environmental problems and boost environmental awareness.

I took the idea to my pal, Jo Sippie-Gora, and a couple of other friends, and we approached the borough council to endorse the idea. The council was unable to formally endorse the idea, but each of them endorsed it personally, which allowed us the chance to contact local leaders on their recommendation. In Feb. 2007, Kinnelon Conserves held its first public event: an Energy Vision Summit to which borough, school and faith leaders were invited to explore climate change and environmental education. In April that year we organized our first community wide Earth Day celebration in Kinnelon.

We tried to show up at other events – ex. we had kids collect plastic spoons for reuse at the Library Ice Cream Social. We got 82 families to take a pledge to use energy more prudently by doing things like washing clothes in cold, not hot water. We arranged for Kinnelon families to get a 10% discount off a home energy audit.

By now, we had a core group of about a dozen people, and 82 families who signed on to our mission. We put up the website Kinnelon Conserves and tried to put useful stuff on it for all age groups.

C.B.: How did this past Earth Day go from your perspective?

Avery: This year’s fair was our third and best with 50 terrific green exhibitors. Pearl Miller School was jammed with displays of information and creativity from Kinnelon Public School and OLM students. Smoke Rise resident and Pearl Miller School teacher Noreen LaFergula deserves the credit for that part: she is a petite powerhouse and all around wonderful human being.

C.B.: How might Kinnelon residents make every day Earth Day?

Avery: I have learned that people are made happier by facing issues than by running away from them. Out of ignorance, many of us shopped til we dropped and used Earth's resources carelessly. Today we face the reality of poisoned waters, and limited resources on a finite Earth, and we know we have to become more wise and less wasteful. Kinnelon Conserves volunteers come together in the spirit of fun, non-judgment, and patience. Our goal is to start with ourselves, by boosting our awareness, so that we can discover alternatives to any of our actions that harm the earth. Since changing habits doesn’t come easily, it’s nice to know the people of Kinnelon Conserves – which is open to all – are also out there trying, day by day, to find a high quality sustainable way of living. I know it took me 3 years to remember to bring reusable bags to the store every time I shopped. Now I no longer have a billowing jumble of plastic bags taking up space in my kitchen: Plus, I can be happy that at least no turtle or bird will choke on a bag that I put into the waste stream. That makes me feel good. That’s the kind of thing that kids and all of us have to learn so we can all feel happier about the way we are living on this beautiful Earth.


Thank you, Avery, and congratulations on making a difference in our community with Kinnelon Conserves!

Do check out the Kinnelon Conserves site and explore how you can start taking the kinds of steps that Avery suggests, thereby making every day Earth Day in and around Kinnelon!





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High Point Brewery: Great Micro-Brewed Ramstein Beer in Kinnelon's Back Yard

Do you like beer?

Is the Pope on Facebook!!??

Answer: Yes! He is!

He's German you know -- I betcha he likes beer.

I like beer, too, and even better, or worse, I like DRAFT beer. I like freshly brewed, unbottled, craft beer loaded into my 2 liter gasketed, stoppered growler. And I like it better than almost all bottled beer.

Because it is a lot better. Did I say I like it a lot?

We have just such beer in our back yard, made down in Butler on Kiel Avenue by the High Point Brewing Company and owner Greg Zaccardi, in the form of Ramstein Beers.

These are German style wheat beers and lagers from light to dark made from German and Belgian ingredients.

Some of the varieties include Classic Hefe Weissen, Dunkel (Dark) Hefe Weissen, Blonde, Double Platinum Blonde, Gold (a light summer beer), Maibock, Amber Lager, and, seasonally, others.

You can go check them out most anytime, but they have a tour and beer tasting on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 2 PM to 4 PM -- in June that's Saturday, the 13th.

The physical plant occupies a multi-story space in the old red-brick rubber factory complex and the vestibule has a small bar with several of their draft beers on tap -- visitors and customers are welcome to try the current offerings.

The brewery is generally open 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 9 or 10 in the AM to 6 or 7 in the PM. You can go there and buy your beer directly from them, on draft, or in bottles (if you must), and I suggest you call first to make sure they are there when you want to go, especially if it's at the beginning or end of the day. 973 838-7400.

I have seen their bottled beers in some local stores such as Lucerne's on Route 23, and Bottle King on Route 23 in Wayne, but the thing to do is get your growler, or any well-stoppered jug, and go down to Butler and fill 'er up.

I understand also that Outback in Butler on Route 23 serves Ramstein beers as well, if you want to try it at a local restaurant -- don't know if they have it on draft or not.

The beer will last for a week or even longer in an unopened jug, but once opened, will need to be consumed with a 24 hour period or it will go flat.

I know -- such a hardship to have to finish off that growler!

Why do I like the Ramstein beer so much? Well, draft beer in general has a fresher flavor than bottled, and the Ramstein Beers in particular are balanced, well defined, complex, and have a long finish -- none of the weak soda water finish of some Other Beers which shall remain nameless, and should remain un-drunk.

Support your local brewery!

Go get some.

~ Ted

Check out this article from Fine Cooking, titled "Rich & Creamy German-Style Wheat Beers from an American Microbrewery." It includes photos.

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The Kinnelon Library is in Your House! Yes, it is.

The Kinnelon Public Library is in Your House!

You don't believe me?

Well, I'm right and ... you're wrong.

It's in your COMPUTER!

OK, some of you may know this already, but the truth is, in many ways it's a lot easier and more productive to access the library at http://www.kinnelonlibrary.org/ than it is to go there.

And the truth is that 95% of the work involved in getting the books you want is best done from your own house, online.

Because there is a virtual library out there that is bigger than the physical bricks-and-mortar library.

Of course, eventually you do have to go to the library ... but:

1) You can reserve any book in the Morris County Public Library system whether it's "OUT" or not, and even, by using NJCAT [also accessible from the Kinnelon Library website], reserve books from the entire State of New Jersey. That is cool.

2) You can see all the books in the system (not just at your library) by an author, or on a subject listed for you and ready to put on hold.

3) You can access best seller lists, NY Times, LA Times, etc., and reserve from the lists.

4) You can see what books you have borrowed from the library, when they are due, if you have any fines outstanding, what books you have on reserve which are not in yet, and those which are waiting for you to pick up.

We do all of these things! And more.

However, the library's search capabilities are exactly literal -- you get what you type in, but no more. If you miss the author's name or book title by one letter, you are out of luck.

So if you type in Michael Crighton instead of Michael Crichton, you get zip, nada, zilch, nothing.

But you can use AMAZON in tandem with the Library Catalog. Amazon will give you results if you just get close.

Plus Amazon will tell you a lot more about the books, and Amazon will tell you about books not yet published but about to be. So you can get your favorite author reserved. For some period of time before the book is actually available at the Kinnelon Library, you will see a message "Being Acquired by the Library," at which point you CAN reserve the book. Be the first to read it!

OK, now I will admit that there is a lot more to the library, and to our library than just looking up the books we want. As far as the Kinnelon Public Library goes, it's the closest we have to a Public Meeting Space -- we vote there -- there are programs and concerts and all sorts of things taking place there -- programs for kids, poetry contests ... and who knows what all. [See Kinnelon Library Holds Chagall Art Workshop, Kinnelon Student Art Exhibit - December 2008, Kinnelon Winter Festival 2009, The Lenape Lifeways: Kinnelon's Native American History and Kinnelon's Winter Festival -- so far!]

Also sometimes you just want to go and look at physical books -- touch them, read the jackets -- and sometimes you want to talk to a librarian.

I'm not going to take that away from you!

Think how nice it will be, though, to know that you have reserved all of those books you really wanted, couldn't find, but finally did find, and that you can see them listed in your account display from the comfort of your own home, and then, well, go get them.

When I'm exploring new authors, I keep one window open (or 2 or 3) in Amazon, and another for the Kinnelon Library; that way I can cut and paste titles and authors names, and look up books in different categories at the same time.

You can, too. At the library. Or at home. Especially at home.

Let me know how it works for you.

~ Ted

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Zeytinia and The Market Basket -- Revisited

I enjoyed revisiting The Market Basket, previously reviewed here [see Market Basket -- Local NJ High End Specialty Food], after not having been for a while, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover some nice changes – at least my impression is that they are changes.

Prices seem to be much moderated over my last visit. Produce which is always very beautiful and nicely presented, was quite reasonable. Prepared foods were extensive and scrumptious looking.

Sausages from their own smokehouse, including Chorizo, Andouille, and French Garlic, were all fairly cheap and looked great – I’ve had them before, and they are – great, that is.

Bakery goods are still quite expensive. Bought the Apple Sauce Pound Cake anyway. $8.50. Worth it.

Seafood was gorgeous as always. Meat was, too. All seemed reasonably priced.

Also purchased one of their Quiches, which I have always liked, and a New England Clam Chowder … yum.

You do have to admire their presentation of food, from the meat case to the seafood to the produce. It all looks great and makes you WANT TO BUY.

And there was not a hostile Franklin Lakes Matron to be seen. See previous post. Very pleasant experience.

Makes me wish it were a little closer.

From there I headed a couple of miles down the road into Oakland NJ and stopped at Zeytinia, which also has beautiful prepared food, quite extensive, good too, from what I've tried.

My visit confirmed my previous opinion [see Zeytinia -- NY Specialty Foods in NJ], that for produce, Zeytinia is up there with Corrado’s pricewise, although without the great range of stock.

Well-priced cheeses, fabulous deli, and a very good meat section remain the same as per the last visit. I love the place.

Sadly, the Dry-Aged Prime Beef seems to have disappeared, making King’s in Boonton at $30 plus per lb and Corrado’s in Wayne, at $16 or so per lb (what a great deal), the only places locally to offer it.

If you are a carnivore and are interested in steak, you owe it to yourself to try making your own grilled NY Strip or Ribeye from Dry-Aged Prime Beef sometime. We like to ask the butcher for 2” thick cuts of NY Strip, coat them in a dry rub of salt, pepper, and paprika, and then let them sit uncovered overnight in the fridge to dry the surface, so we get that great grilled crust. We pop them onto a 600 degree grill for 9 to 11 minutes each, turning once. Internal temp 120 to 125 degrees for rare to medium rare. Let them sit for 7 or 8 minutes before you dig in. Yes.

The upshot is that I like The Market Basket even more than I used to, and Zeytinia just as much, which is a lot.

Of course the 800 lb gorilla or white elephant, or something, in the room that we have not talked about yet, is the new Fairway out on Route 17 in Paramus. But that will be for another time.

~ Ted

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Kinnelon's First Local Business Fair

Kudos to Frank Davis and Finishing Touch Landscape Construction for sponsoring the first ever Kinnelon Business Fair/Open House on March 22, 2009. It took place at the Kinnelon NJ Library and twenty-three businesses participated in addition to Finishing Touch.

I first learned about the event when I spied a sign on the front desk of the new NYSC [in the former Butler Bowl]. I was intrigued. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was determined to go.

On Business Fair day, I arrived at about 12:30pm. First sign that something unusual was afoot: the parking lot. It was packed! And, not with your usual cars and vans. Oh, no. I saw serious business trucks and official vehicles emblazoned with signs and logos.

I reached upstairs and a buzz of conversation greeted me. The first person I met was Frank Davis, President of Finishing Touch Landscape Construction, whose idea it was to gather together the businesses of the community for a fair to interact with their Kinnelon customers. He and his office sent out letters inviting businesses to participate and then to Kinnelon residents inviting them to stop by.

Wow! What a really friendly and neighborly opportunity for interaction. Although I realize that Kinnelon is home to many businesses, given that we don't have a 'main street' I had never stopped to think of our local resources and my neighbors.

The benefit for the businesses participating was in showcasing to Kinnelon residents what they offered and also thank them for their loyalty and support. For residents, it represented an opportunity to meet our local business owners, learn about what they do, sample food and even receive coupons and discounts....

[Frank Davis to the left looking at the camera.]

The Business Fair took place in two rooms with one reserved for the 'Food Court' from which mouth-watering smells emanated. Participating with food samples were:

• The Smoke Rise Village Inn with our very own Chef George
• Mike from Tony's Pizza
• Piccolo's
• Taste of Reality Deli
• Kit Hong Restaurant

In the main space were also Joe LaFergola with Garden State Espresso LLC and Jeff from Ice Box.

Relating to home/construction/care were:

• GSM Architectural Services
• Mongelli Construction Co.
• Garry Smith Plumbing & Heating
• Lighthouse Electrical Construction
• Elite Wood Floors
• M&B Septic Systems
• Exterior Solutions

Relating to medical/dental/fitness:

• Kinnelon Chiropractic Center
• Integrated Dental Aesthetics
• New York Sports Club [which is awesome, BTW!]

Relating to animals:

• AllPurePetFood.com
• Tri Boro Animal Welfare

And then, Route 23 Car Wash, The Music Den, PNC Bank, and The Promotional Zone.

According to Sheila at Finishing Touch, more than 200 Kinnelon families participated in the Business Fair [based on how many took part in the Samsung 50" Plasma Flat Screen TV raffle]. Not bad for a first time event, I'd say!

Did you go? As business participant or visiting resident? What did you think? Should there be a second Kinnelon Business Fair/Open House? Would you suggest any changes? Let me know.

My photos of the event appear under the title "Kinnelon Business Fair" in Flickr.

Here's an article on the event from the Daily Record, titled "Davis means business in Kinnelon. Merchants, residents mingle during borough's first-ever business fair /open house."

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Corrado's -- 3rd Visit Update: What a Great Place!

Today we returned to Corrado's in Wayne, NJ. We were particularly interested in fruits and veggies, such as hot peppers, onions, lettuce, green beans, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes ... you get the idea.

We wanted to go because we had a number of items which we would normally get at BJ's (milk, coffee, and various staples), but BJ's Produce selections are limited, and we hoped to do this shopping in one fell swoop, since, by and large Corrado's prices are as good as BJ's.

Plus Corrado's is cool.

How did we do?

Very well; except for the coffee, of which there is a limited selection, and we saved money compared to what we would have spent at Pathmark or Stop&Shop, and didn't leave money on the table compared to BJ's (except for the milk -- $2.69 per gal. for Tuscan skimmed at Corrado's vs. $2.05 per gal for Land O'Lakes at BJ's last time).

So we'll have to buy our large containers of Colombian coffee at BJ's. Still we bought beautiful cherry and habanero peppers, Vidalia onions for $.49 per lb., huge bunches of parsley and cilantro, broccoli crowns, Yukon Gold potatoes, plum tomatoes, seedless red grapes, asparagus, peeled garlic, and so on at well below supermarket prices and from breadth and depth of stock that BJ's can't match.

I had a brief conversation with a woman over the cherry peppers after just loading 8 packages into my cart. She was looking at them doubtfully and I remarked that the fresher ones were in the back marked April 4, and that I had not liked the appearance of the ones marked with this day's date as much.

She then asked me what I did with them since she wasn't familiar with cherry peppers. I explained that I was making several gallons of fresh hot sauce, and that people often stuffed cherry peppers with mozzarella and prosciutto, and she noted that she liked coming to Corrado's and talking to other shoppers because it seemed that they all cooked.

I looked around and realized that it was by and large a pretty serious crowd.

I'm not a fan of a lot of Corrado's muffins; on 2 occasions now I've tried the blueberry muffins, and the corn muffins and they had an off (over vanilla-ish) flavor -- still, the cranberry muffins were just fine. They are not really a bargain but are at prices comparable to those at Pathmark or Stop&Shop.

Pass. They did have great cinnamon donuts, fresh and hot from the oven, though.

They had a lot of food samples to try, which is always fun -- it's a weekend thing.

The meat and fish were spectacular looking and cheap, and there was a lot to choose from.

My daughter was entertained and she ran into her school principal, whom she was delighted to see.

What's not to like?

Now we'd like to hear what you think (by comment or email), so do let us know what we've missed!

~ Ted

Previous posts about Corrado's include:

+ Corrado's Market in Wayne, NJ

+ Corrado's in Wayne, NJ -- Foodie Destination

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