New Pond Trail Re-Opened

On May 2nd, 2010, Ken Bitz with Kathy Tabor and Lola Weiss - two long time residents and hiking enthusiasts - spent several hours re-blazing the old Blue trail from the West Shore Drive trail head in Smoke Rise to re-open New Pond Trail.

For the first time since the South Glenn Road construction project [~ 6 years?], Smoke Rise hikers may now hike from Beechwood Lane along old Mountain Road to New Pond to West Shore Drive without obstruction and without going near the South Glenn homes. [See post titled The New Pond Trail.]

[This hike, by the way, will be the one we take for the annual Smoke Rise Days hike in July. More info to follow.]

As Ken said in his email to me: "It was great to be able to re-open the trail!"

Thank you, Ken, Kathy and Lola, for making this possible!

PS: Ken says that Kathy and Lola confirmed the existence of the Bear Mountain Trail in Kinnelon. That's the mountain between Spice Bush and Kinnelon Road that you drive by on the left as you exit the East Gate. Plans are to reopen that trail in late June. Stay tuned for more info.

Happy Hiking!

Ramstein Beer Open House and Tour this Saturday, May 8

Here is reminder for this weekend’s Ramstein Beer Open House and Tour, this Saturday, May 8. Just as in April, there are two tour and tasting sessions:

• 2 PM, 1st session, and
• 3:30 PM, 2nd session

There will be the Golden Lager, Double Platinum Blonde, Classic Dunkel Weiss, and Maibock (last call) available on draft as well as the Blonde in bottles.

I am very partial to the Golden Lager, which is the best lighter lager I have ever had, and t

he Ramstein Maibock just received a 100 rating on Ratebeer. com.

Growlers (1 and 2 liter ) will be available for sale, and SR Fresh Hot Sauce will be there with the Fresh Cayenne-Cherry, Habanero Gold, and XXXXTra Hot Habanero Hot Sauce. Come try them!

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

And a big serving of gemutlichkeit!

See you there!

Ted and Christine and Emma

Didja Know? Links to Cornie Hubner's Series

Consider this post a master reference document with links to Cornie Hubner's Didja Know? articles.

As I get back to exploring Smoke Rise Newsletter archives in the Smoke Rise library, I'll add the original publish dates. And, as I publish more of Cornie's stories, I'll add them here, too.

"Didja Know?" by Cornelius A. Hubner

Didja Know? The Smoke Rise Club - originally published 7/15/1985

Didja Know? 1947 Smoke Rise Home Prices

Didja Know? Smoke Rise Royalty - originally published 9/1/1985

The First Home in Smoke Rise: Didja Know? - originally published 9/15/85

Didja Know? Christmas '47
Didja Know? Smoke Rise Christmas Celebrations

Didja Know? Trails

Didja Know? Kinnelon History

The Francis S. Kinney History Series:

• Didja Know? The Cottage - Francis S. Kinney's Home and Esate
• Didja Know? Francis S. Kinney's "Cottage" Life
• Didja Know? "Kinnelon" Estate of Francis S. Kinney Part I
• Didja Know? "Kinnelon" Estate of Francis S. Kinney Part II
• "Kinnelon" Estate of Francis S. Kinney Part III
• Kinnelon Estate of Francis S. Kinney - Part IV
• Kinnelon Estate of Francis S. Kinney - Part V
• The End of An Era

Didja Know? The Smoke Rise Tower

Didja Know? The Smoke Rise Inn - originally published 11/15/1985

Didja Know? Skiing In & Around Smoke Rise and Kinnelon

Our Lady of the Magnificat: Didja Know? by Cornie Hubner

The Smoke Rise Riding Club - Didja Know?

Help Re-Open New Pond Trail On 5/2/10!

Be part of the experience of a lifetime on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 with the Smoke Rise Lake & Environment Committee:

Come help re-open the Smoke Rise New Pond Trail!

As Ken Bitz described the hike in the recent Smoke Rise Newsletter:

This will be a working hike to re-open the trail from West Shore Drive to New Pond. We will have a fun afternoon of cutting back growth along the trail, re-blazing the trail markers, and putting in place the trail head sign. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has designated a 300 foot area around New Pond to preserve its natural beauty.

We will meet at the trail head which is between 814 and 818 West Shore Drive at 1pm.

Boys Scouts, Girls Scouts and others needing and wanting to do community service, here is an opportunity! Simply contact Ken Bitz at kbitz@optonline.net for details.

If you haven't already, you might enjoying reading our post about New Pond Trail..

By the way, this is one of 2 hikes organized by the Lake and Environmental committee. The second is scheduled for May 16th. I'll write about that one separately.

Kinnelon Hunger Cycle Tour: May 1, 2010

Coming right up on Saturday, May 1st, 2010, is the third annual charity Brake the Hunger Cycle Tour Bike event hosted by St. David's Episcopal Church in Kinnelon, NJ.

Did you know that this event is considered the largest charity bike event of northern New Jersey? Wow!

Per the letter you may have received from Rodger Pisani, event chair, 163 riders from four states participated in 2009 raising $12,000 in profits donated to the Community Food Bank of NJ and to build clean water systems in Latin America.

This year's event offers a range of five routes: from 4 to 62 miles, each supported with rest stops and lots of special TLC. Check out the Hunger Cycle Tour details. Profits this year will go to building clean water sources throughout Africa and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

After the ride, participants can enjoy a giant BBQ and live music from Kinnelon's very own band AisleFive band, whose members include our friend Glenn Gary, Chris Sharkey, Paul Salvatoriello, Mark Odian, and Marivelle Davis. Perhaps you remember them from High School?

For more information about fees [they vary per route length] and to register, click on this Brake the Hunger Cycle Tour registration link.

You can also read the NJ.com writeup on the Brake the Hunger Cycle Tour Bike Event.

Emma, Ted & I are getting the bicycles ready... We hope to see you there!

Earth Day 2010 in Kinnelon

You can count on many activities in Kinnelon for Earth Day 2010. Here are details of those being held by the Kinnelon Library on 4/22/10 and Kinnelon Conserves on 4/24/10.

Kinnelon Library Earth Day Celebration

The Kinnelon Children's Library will be planting mystery seeds, sharing stories and playing games on Thursday 4/22/10 for:

• K and 1st grades from 4pm to 4:45pm
• 2nd and 3rd grades from 5pm to 5:45pm
• 4th and 5th grades from 6pm to 6:45pm.

Please register by calling 973-828-1321.

Kinnelon Conserves 4th Annual Earth Day Fair

Kinnelon's own Kinnelon Conserves - a community energy reduction initiative - celebrates its 4th annual Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at the Pearl Miller School in Kinnelon from noon until 4pm.

The 'short blurb' describes the day as follows: "There will be outdoor and indoor attractions for all ages, including games, crafts, live music, films, student exhibits, "green” products and services displayed by a variety of local businesses, and exhibits by non-profit environment groups. Donations (cheerfully accepted, children & students free) will include entry to all of the events, light refreshments and a ticket for several prize drawings."

The press release provides even more detail on what to expect and bring [e.g., old cell phones, sneakers and electronics; ideas for a greener Kinnelon; your own bag and bottle].

Click here for a link to the flyer describing the day's Earth Day activities [note: that's the flyer pictured above]. The lineup of participants and activities looks fantastic!

By the way, Kinnelon Conserves hosted an event at the Kinnelon Libary on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 with Bill Reed, founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and co-founder of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, and a former Kinnelon resident. You can read more about the event in Consultant with Morris ties says buildings must balance environmental, human needs. You can also hear Reed talk about sustainability in this video interview that the DailyRecord.com conducted prior to the event.

[You can learn more about Kinnelon Conserves from a previous post titled Kinnelon Conserves - A Vital Kinnelon Resource.]

I'd love to hear how you celebrate Earth Day.

Happy Earth Day 2010, Kinnelon!

New Jersey & Kinnelon Library Armageddon?

The Kinnelon Public Library, as you know it, is in real danger of a catastrophic reduction in service due to budget cuts from Trenton, New Jersey which will trigger mandatory corresponding cuts from the federal government.

Interlibrary lending will be eliminated -- if the Kinnelon Public Library doesn't have the book you want, well, that will be too bad; you will not be able to order it from another library in Morris County or New Jersey. [See my previous post about The Kinnelon Library is in Your House! Yes, it is. for details on interlibrary lending.]

Access to online newspapers, magazines, and business information will be eliminated.

There will be NO Library for the Blind and Handicapped (talking books, adaptive hardware).

More that half of Public Libraries will lose access to the internet.

Many libraries will lose email service.

Many libraries will lose their websites.

The amount of money involved is quite small, especially since it covers the entire state of New Jersey.

It seems penny-wise and pound-foolish to me to cut such a negligible sum, which produces such a major service and effect for the entire state.

The total amount cut from the Governor's proposed budget is about $10 million, which then triggers a $4.5 million federal cut in matching funds. For all of New Jersey.

Do take a look at the Kinnelon Public Library Links detailing what we can do to express our unhappiness with this budget proposal.

We can write to our state representatives, whose email addresses and links are provided, and we can join support groups that advocate for the library system with state government.

Whatever we think individually about the need to cut state spending to make up for the shortfall in revenue, it seems to me that we should do so in ways that do not kill the inexpensive services for the, in this case, over 160,000 people per day using the NJ Public Library System.

~Ted