Frozen Lake Kinnelon - January 2009

Yes, it's a bit strange to be looking back on photos from January and of frozen Lake Kinnelon when it's early April and the forsythia are seconds away [depending on the level of sunshine we can expect tomorrow] from bursting. However, it does put things into perspective - don't you think?

These photos come from two outings on Lake Kinnelon. One took place on January 11, 2009 when I had just gotten back from a trip to Dallas and both daughter and husband urged me to take a quick walk to experience the unimaginable: a frozen lake!

We took off from the Crossway boat ramp and followed the tracks below to an ice fishing campout complete with TV, dogs, and kids.

We didn't go very far. This was but an initiation.

The following weekend, on January 24, 2009, I got talked into a much more ambitious lake walk... From the starting point below, at the Crossway boat ramp, all the way to St. Hubert's Chapel and back.

The idea of walking to St. Hubert's held great appeal. After all, per my early post titled St. Hubert's Chapel Visit, and

"Rough stones were gathered from the slopes surrounding the lake, and during the winter, massive horse drawn sleds were used to transport them across the frozen lake to the remote island. "

... the chapel had to have been built during the cold harsh winters when the lake was frozen.

Here, then, was an opportunity to experience the chapel and the lake as Francis Kinney and his contemporaries did.

Now, I will be honest. Very honest. I found walking across the lake extremely unnerving. I did it, but I don't think you have ever seen anyone walking more gingerly than I did. My husband and daughter marched confidently ahead of me, laughing at my discomfiture. I kept going, but the booming of the ice and general 'talking' of the surface underfoot tensed my neck muscles and had me thinking that each step would be my last. Some sections were hard and solid feeling. Others were wet and overly crunchy and irrational looking.

Nonetheless, I made it. Phew!

And the experience was unlike any other.

Later on, we learned from Bjorn Walberg that the booming sounds are 'good' sounds [as this post about frozen lake ice cracks supports]. When the ice is too thin you don't hear them. However, Bjorn also shared the fact that he fell into a lake in Norway, with skis on after assuring his wife that the ice was safe.... and he was laughing while he told the story, apparently the height of Norwegian humor!

Check out this post titled A Blog Of Ice with Tibetan and Norwegian inspired ice music... Bjorn, this one goes out to you.

I've posted the photos to Flickr: Frozen Lake Kinnelon NJ.





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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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Kiel School 2008 Halloween Parade - Photos Posted!

Mrs. Hart leading the parade.
It seems like eons ago -- surrounded as we are with snow and the lake now frozen -- but I really enjoyed the Kiel School 2008 Halloween Parade.  

The day itself was glorious: blue sky, cool and crisp air but not too cold, and a Friday.  The anticipation in our house was palpable as our daughter had carefully planned her costume and eagerly intended to do makeup [i.e., green face paint] herself. She couldn't wait to get to school that day.

At the appointed time, we showed up at the school playground which meant arriving approximately 15 minutes earlier to find parking [along Kiel Avenue, North of the Firehouse, past that little bridge] and walk to the school.

This was our first time taking part in a Kinnelon school system event; we weren't sure what to expect. It was a blast!

The First and Second graders soon marched out the back of the school to spooky tunes [think Addams Family - snap, snap; Monster Mash...]. Mrs. Hart, the Principal, led the way with individual teachers and their classes following behind.  

The parade went from the school to the playground around the playground periphery twice before heading back in to school.  Parents had ample opportunity to oooh and aaah [well, we did] and take pictures before heading back home or to work.

Later that afternoon, Emma and I headed off toward Longmeadow to trick or treat. Thank you for your generosity if we visited you!

Somewhat belatedly, I've uploaded my photos from the 2008 Kiel School Halloween Parade to my Flickr photostream.  Do check them out and feel free to add comments.

Note: if you have any photos relating to the Kiel/Sisco school year, please do contact kielsiscoyearbook [at] gmail [dot] com.  They are looking for candids to include in the student yearbook.

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Kinnelon Winter Festival 2009

Did you know that on Friday, January 2, 2009, the Kinnelon Library is holding a Winter Festival in celebration of the New Year?

It's not listed on the Library's website, but it did appear in the December 25, 2008 Argus and, if you call 973-838-1321 [the Library phone number], you will get the message.

Here is the scoop:

"Come celebrate with us at the Kinnelon Public Library Winter Festival.  The festival will be on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, noon to 4 pm.  There will be crafts, entertainment, food and prizes.  Cost of admission is a donation to the Kinnelon Health Department Food Pantry."

I think it sounds like great fun, and a wonderful way to celebrate the New Year with members of our community.

Would you let others know?

If you go, do take pictures and then upload them to Flickr where I have created a Smoke Rise, NJ photo Group. 

And, if you'd like to write about the festival, I welcome your contribution.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year 2009!  Thank you for reading and subscribing.  And, see you at the Kinnelon Winter Festival!

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Smoke Rise Photos

I've just added photos to my Smoke Rise set on Flickr.  

If you aren't familiar with Flickr, it's a wonderful and free online photo sharing site.  It lets you tag photos, comment on them and group them into sets and groups.

These recent photos are ones taken during a walk with my daughter by the Firestation, the Smoke Rise Inn, the Smoke Rise Club Office building, and the stables - all places associated with plenty of history.

If you have Smoke Rise and Kinnelon photos you'd like to post [or have already posted] on Flickr, please let me know.  It would be a really fun thing to group them - something that is easy to do. 

There will be more.  I'll let you know when.

In the meantime, feel free to add comments and detail.  Or, just enjoy...

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