Late Spring 2023

Publisher & Editor

Amy Bridge publisher@milfordjournal.com

Creative Director Jimmy Sheehan jimmy@milfordjournal.com

Associate Editor

B’Ann Bowman bann_bowman@yahoo.com

Advertising Amy Bridge amy@milfordjournal.com

Susan Mednick susanmed2@optonline.net

Kimberly Hess Kimberlyhess212@gmail.com

Contributors

Julia Schmitt Healy, Noreen Case, Bob Chernow, Liz Reilly, Eric Francis, Robert Bowman

Mission

The tri-state upper Delaware River highlands and valleys are a place of rare beauty….

Seeing the region and living in it almost aren’t enough. Such beauty should be captured on canvas or film so that one can truly appreciate it, glimpse it in the quiet of an art gallery or museum, or between the pages of a poetry book or literary sketch.

The Journal Group’s mission is to capture these momentary snapshots of beauty graphically and through the written word. We celebrate our area and the uniqueness of the people who live and work in the tri-state region. From Pike to Wayne and Monroe to Lackawanna Counties in Pennsylvania, upriver to Sullivan County and on to Orange County in New York, and to the headwaters of the Wallkill River and along Sussex County’s rolling hills in New Jersey, with quaint, historic towns and hamlets at the center, the Journal Group opens its doors to our communities, businesses and organizations, to serve as a communicative journal of all that we have to offer for those who live here and for those who love to visit us, too.

Publication Information

The Journal Group publishes The Journal ten times a year and distributes it in eight counties in PA, NJ and NY. We assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission. We reserve the right to refuse to print advertisements that we deem inappropriate. All rights reserved.

Photo

Journal Entry

Davis Chant

December 15, 1938–April 22, 2023

In reflecting on Dave’s life, there are a few things that really jump out for me. So many people in the community have said to me and to our family recently, “Dave never said a bad word about anyone. Even in the most difficult of situations, he never said a bad word.”

At home, he was that same person; this was exactly how he was—authentic. He always had a positive outlook because, as he said, “I don’t like to waste time thinking about the negatives of life.”

Dave was born in Port Jervis and lived in Milford his whole life. It was here that he started his real estate business, which grew into the largest independent real estate business in the area, with five offices and about 120 staff and agents. Dave, along with his two partners, never sold out to the big corporate real estate chains.

He truly loved and enjoyed all aspects of real estate. I remember him going out to look at large pieces of property in the woods. He would just rhapsodize about the land, how it looked and the vision he saw for it. Real estate was his passion up until the end, a vital part of him.

Dave was a wonderful mentor, not only to the people in his office, who he loved to help and encourage, but also to others. It was second nature to him.

Community involvement was something else that he truly loved and was quite committed to. He wanted to help in whatever way he could. Basically, if there was something going on in the community, he wanted to support it. This attitude led to his many years of involvement in the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, the Milford Enhancement Committee, the Greater Pike Community Foundation, and the Black Bear Film Festival, which he helped to co-found. He also supported the Milford Music Festival and the Milford Readers and Writers Festival.

I was very touched by the community’s outpouring of love and respect for my husband. This past May 21st was the day of the tribute we held for Dave in Ann Street Park in Milford. The date has been officially recognized as Davis Chant Day. The proclamation will be framed and hung in Milford’s Borough Hall. Thank you, as well, to the Milford Music Festival and the Black Bear Film Festival, who are both dedicating this year’s festivals to Dave.

On a personal note, Dave was a wonderfully supportive partner, father, and grandfather who looked at everything that we did together and on our own as a great opportunity. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful memories.

Judy Chant, Guest Journal Entry

Poem Banquet Piece

An emerging slice of sun (that you said I brought with me) Has gilded this corner of the park. The detritus of late spring Would make any Old Master’s table look winter-lean: Overturned cups, abandoned sandals, Soccer balls, scraps of paper, rumpled blankets. The fountain shines, the running children, The traffic pulsing along Columbus Circle Become a tapestry behind us.

This afternoon is a fortune too great. Everything is rendered as if from a lowland brush. Crumbs on the basket, trailed sentences, The glint of gold by your throat, The stitches on my skirt - these small details we pore over, Each unwilling to leave the other unwarmed by hands and breath (Lovers leave nothing unturned, unread, untasted).

bean

I spill my Coke and as it sizzles into the ground, We laugh and you collapse the space left between us. You gather me up again.

Covered in sugar, sweat and earth, Honey flows from me.

-Liz Reilly

June 1st

Thursday 4–9 p.m.

.............................

Warwick Food Truck Festival. St. Stephens Place, Warwick, NY. Benefits Small Things, Inc. & Warwick Valley Knights of Columbus. Live music. $5. Info: www.war wickfoodtruckfestival.com.

June 3rd

Saturday 10 a.m.

Explore the Town Next Door. Hawley & Honesdale, PA. Ride the Stourbridge Line for free between Hawley & Honesdale to explore & shop. Info: 570.470.2697, historic honesdale.com.

10 a.m.–2 p.m.

.............................

Minisink Heritage Days. Minisink Heritage Center, Westtown, NY. Museum tours, raffles, crafters, live music, food truck. Benefits Town of Minisink Heritage Commission. Info: Facebook: Town of Minisink Heritage Commission.

11 a.m.–5 p.m.

.............................

Sparta Day. Station Park, Sparta, NJ. Hosted by Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta. Free. Info: 973.400.9260, www.jwcsparta.org.

Noon–4 p.m.

Pinchot Lawn Picnic. Grey Towers, Milford, PA. Bring your own picnic spread and dress for an early 20th century formal picnic. Music by Ronny Whyte and Amy London. Falconry demonstrations, games, painting lessons & more. Hosted by the Grey Towers Heritage Association. Free but registration required. Info: 570.296.9630, greytowers.org.

2 p.m.

.............................

Choral Favorites. St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Sandyston, NJ. Includes Vivaldi’s Gloria & Mozart’s Ave Verum. Presented by the Delaware Valley Choral Society. $10–$15. Info: www.dvchoralsociety.org.

June 4th

Sunday Noon–3:30 p.m.

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A Day on the Farm. Old Mountain Road, Otisville, NY. Blacksmithing, painting, live music, open hearth baking & more. Free but donations appreciated. Hosted by Mount Hope Historical Society. Info: 845.386.5945, nanciecraig@gmail.com.

1–4 p.m.

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Community Celebration. Minisink Battleground Park, Minisink Ford, NY. Scholarship award picnic, live DJ, family fun, auction. Hosted by Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce. $60. Benefits community events & beautification and scholarships. Info: barryvilleny.com.

Butterfly Release Celebration. Sussex County Community College, Newton, NJ. Benefits Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Info: 973.383.0115, www.karenannquinlanhos pice.org.

June 8th–29th

Tuesdays through Fridays 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Images of Sussex County. Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council, Newton, NJ. June exhibition. Info: 973.383.0027, www. scahc.org.

June 9th

Friday 1–2 p.m.

Take a Rake: A Tour of Cornelia’s Gardens. Grey Towers, Milford, PA. A behind-the-scenes look at Cornelia’s Gardens and the inspiration that created them. Info: 570.296.9630, greytowers.org.

June 9th–11th

Friday–Sunday

Milford Music Fest. Milford, PA. Free music all around town. Info: www.milfordpa. us.

June 10th

Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Arts & Crafts Fair. Bingham Park, Hawley, PA. Hosted by Chamber of the Northern Poconos. Handcrafted merchandise, entertainment, food. Info: 570.226.3191, www. northernpoconos.org.

10:30 a.m.

Newton Day Festival. Spring Street & Memory Park, Newton, NJ. Food, live music, activities, fireworks. Hosted by Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Newton. Info: 973.300.0433, greaternewtoncc.com.

5 p.m.

Boots, Bourbon, BBQ. Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, NJ. A hootenanny hoedown. Includes dinner and live auction. $80. Hosted by the Sussex County Farm & Horse Show Association. Info: sussexcoun tyfairgrounds.org.

5–8 p.m.

Artful Expressions from the Environment: Opening Reception. ARTery Gallery, Milford, PA. Featuring Randall FitzGerald and Scott and Debbie Helfand. Exhibit: June 8th–July 3rd. Info: 570.409.1234, www. arterygallerymilford.com.

June 11th

Sunday 9 a.m.

Soap Box Derby. Port Jervis, NY. Largest local soap box derby in the world. Info: info@pjsoapboxderby.com.

June 15th

Thursday 6–9 p.m. .............................

Benefit Reception & Auction. Falkirk Estate & Country Club, Central Valley, NY. Hosted by Orange County Land Trust. $200. Auction, local foods & beverages. Info: 845.534.3690, www.oclt.org.

June 16th

Friday 6 p.m.–midnight .............................

Summer Solstice Festival. City Winery, Montgomery, NY. Oddities & curiosities night market, food, drinks, live entertainment. $21–$27. Info: www.moonserpent andbone.com.

June 16th–19th

Friday–Monday .............................

Delaware River Sojourn. Upper Delaware River. Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy to explore via canoe. Registration: adult/$100 per day, child/$70 per day. Info: delawareriversojourn.com.

June 17th

Saturday .............................

Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival. Central Park, Honesdale, PA. Live music, food, craft vendors. Free. Info: honesdale rootsandrhythm.com.

4–6 p.m. .............................

Picasso Was Right. Barryville Area Arts Association & Artists’ Market Community Center, Shohola, PA. Reception for exhibit of pieces by youth up to age 16. Info: barry villeareaarts.org.

5:30 p.m. .............................

Fortuna Antiqua et Ultra: Condordian Dawn. Grey Towers, Milford, PA. 12th–15th century French music. Sponsored by Kindred Spirits Arts Programs. $25. Info: www.kindredspiritsarts.org.

June 17th & 18th

Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. .............................

Hiking & Camping Workshops. PEEC, Dingmans Ferry, PA. Workshops to get your family outdoors. Attend any sessions. Free. Info: 570.828.2319, www.peec.org.

June 19th

Monday 3–5 p.m.

Town of Wallkill Juneteenth Jubilee. Galleria at Crystal Run, Middletown, NY. Family friendly activities. Info: 845.692.7800, www.townofwallkill.com.

June 21st

Wednesday 1:30–3:00 p.m. .............................

Summer Afternoon Garden Soiree. Van Kirk Museum, Sparta, NJ. Garden stroll with master gardener. Hosted by Sparta Historical Society. Info: 973.726.0883, www.vankirk museum.org.

June 22nd

Thursday 5:30–9:30 p.m. .............................

Craft Creativity & Cocktails. Walpack Inn, Walpack, NJ. Hosted by Peters Valley School of Craft. Food, drinks, silent auction. $135. Benefits programs at Peters Valley. Info: 973.948.5200, petersvalley.org.

June 24th

Saturday 2–3 p.m.

Fish of the Delaware. Van Scott Nature Reserve, Beach Lake, PA. $5/members, $10/ non-members. Hosted by Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Info: 570.226.3164, delawarehighlands.org.

2–7 p.m. .............................

Tunes Along the Towpath. Towpath Rd, Hawley, PA. Feast of Friends performing music of the Doors. $25–$30. Benefits Pike County Historical Society. Info: 570.296.8126, www.pikehistorical.org.

4 p.m.–dusk

Montague Day. Montague, NJ. Music, vendors, food, Miss Montague contest, classic cars, fireworks & more. Info: 973.293.7300, www.montaguenj.org.

4–7 p.m.

Welcome Party. Under the tent at 106 West Ann Street, Milford, PA. Hosted by the Mil

ford Enhancement Committee. $50. Dinner, live music, auction. Info: 570.832.4789, www.milfordenhancement.com.

June 24th–25th

Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. .............................

New York Air Show. Orange County Airport, Montgomery, NY. Includes US Navy Blue Angels, aircraft displays, food vendors. $35. Info: airshowny.com.

10 a.m.–4 p.m. .............................

The Nature of Quilting. Delaware Valley High School, Milford, PA. $10. Hosted by Milford Valley Quilters’ Guild. Judged show, quilt display, door prizes & vendors. Info: www.milfordvalleyquiltersguild.org.

June 25th

Sunday 1–4 p.m.

Discover the Art in Sparta. Van Kirk Museum, Sparta, NJ. Spring/Early Summer Exhibit. 2 p.m. Talk. Hosted by Sparta Historical Society. Info: 973.726.0883, www. vankirkmuseum.org.

June 29th

Thursday 6–8 p.m. .............................

Cocktails for Conservation. Lacawac’s Historic Carriage House, Lacawac Sanctuary, Hawley, PA. $45. Benefits nature education. Reservations: 570.689.9494, www. lacawac.org.

Alison Bolshoi

By Julia Schmitt Healy

When Alison Bolshoi was a little girl, she made drawings of divas—women in big dresses wearing lots of rings on their fingers. It’s almost as if she was predicting her future as an opera singer, where many female roles require one to wear, yes, a big dress, often along with rings and other shiny jewelry.

Ms. Bolshoi is now based in New Jersey with a pied à terre in Manhattan. I recently spoke to her in her comfortable living room, which is, of course, dominated by a beautiful grand piano.

Born with a mixed heritage of German, Czech, Cherokee, Italian, French and “a bit of Iberian peninsula,” Alison Bolshoi grew up in Eastchester, NY. She attended the Ursuline School and got to spend her summers on the north shore of Long Island, where she developed her love of nature. “I became an outdoor girl. I fished. I hunted. I loved the country,” she notes.

As often happens with artists and performers, her parents were in the business and helped shape her interests. They ran a children’s theater troupe for kids. Ms. Bolshoi began performing at 18 months and was “a prodigy.” She learned tap dancing, sang and acted, and once older, graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a degree in theater and film. While there, she studied with Dr. Frank Pullano, who was himself a former opera star.

At age 21, she got a job as a singer at an opera nightclub in NYC and has worked ever since. She relates a funny story from that early job. They told her Paul Simon was going to be in the audience. Of course, she thought it was “Bridge Over Troubled Water Paul Simon.” She did not see him anywhere. But after her performance, Senator Paul Simon of Illinois approached her and complimented her on her voice! He then became a fan of hers, as it were, encouraging her and coming to her performances whenever possible over the years.

Ms. Bolshoi, who has won many awards and competitions, has sung various roles in the repertoire and eventually came to understand that she is a contralto—someone with a powerful voice that sits low on the staff but also has great high notes because of the amount of time the singer spends stretching the lower notes of the voice.

A mezzo-soprano, she explains to me, cannot do the higher notes with the same volume or quality because it’s like taffy. You pull on both ends of the range and you get a great top and bottom sound.

She tells me that as a singer who has the dynamics and big voice, “Wagner chose me! Not the other way around!” And yes, her voice has power. If you go to her website, alisonbol shoi.com or listen to her YouTube recordings, you will grasp what I mean. Continued on next page

Alison Bolshoi as Amneris

Opening and Feeling the Sound

Alison Bolshoi: Opera Singer and Teacher

Photos courtesy of Alison Bolshoi

Art

In 2022, she debuted in the Dallas Opera’s Rigoletto as Giovanna and sang the part of Ortrud in Lohengrin at a master class for the Wagner Society of New York and Metropolitan Opera Guild, among other appearances that year. Her resume includes singing Foreign Princess in Rusalka at an outdoor theater in the Czech Republic, along with performances at many, many theaters and opera houses all over the United States and Europe. Of course, she has sung multiple times at Carnegie Hall, too.

During our conversation, I realized Ms. Bolshoi brings palpable enthusiasm to her teaching, as well as her singing. She explains that she was taught a technique that transformed her practice many years ago by two teachers—Patricia Sage and Barbara Conrad. What is referred to as the Bayreuth Technique was developed in the 1930s by Friedelind Wagner, who was the granddaughter of Richard Wagner and the great-granddaughter of Franz Liszt.

The technique is mostly about how one breathes. “You use your whole body,” she says. “It’s about opening your back.” She stands and demonstrates how you can “open your sound” by “making your body the amplifier.”

“We breathe in a circular pattern, down the back, across the pelvic floor, and up the front of the body. By doing this, we breathe through Tan Tien, three fingers below the navel which connects us to our gut emotions.” (Buddhists consider this the energetic core of one’s body. It’s the area where our spiritual and physical bodies meet. They feel it energizes us at the core.)

“Singing is very athletic. You need to feel your body to access your sound. We lengthen the abdominal muscles to support the throat so that we don’t just shove air out.”

Then, she explains that you are able to lose any ego and just feel and connect. “Many opera singers today are not known for their acting, and making a ‘singer face’ is not true emotion. This technique connects you to you. You need to practice it. You can practice this breathing anywhere—while gardening, loading the dishwasher, whatever.”

Her teaching takes her to three different studios every week where she works with a variety of age groups and at various professional levels. She doesn’t just teach opera, though—her technique can apply to cabaret, Broadway, pop, and other musical genres.

Ms. Bolshoi is very proud of her students, many of whom have gone on to receive full scholarships to major music schools, such as Eastman School of Music and Berklee Conservatory. They have won numerous competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition, and continue to distinguish themselves. Some have been on Broadway. Some are cantors. Some sing jazz or even country. Some are voice teachers themselves. The technique she teaches works for all.

One success story will suffice. Nicholas Simpson, an aspiring singer who was working with the Metropolitan Opera Guild program, came to the Bolshoi Studio to learn the Bayreuth

Technique. None other than Jane Marsh, a Metropolitan Opera Guild lecturer and former international opera star, was so amazed at Simpson’s improved sound after he worked with Ms. Bolshoi that she exclaimed to him, “What the hell happened?!”

Ms. Bolshoi cracks a little smile and tells me she has to go teach now. I look out the window. There are five or six cars in the driveway that weren’t there an hour ago.

Giving Voice

Who is your favorite opera singer of all time? Caruso. He communicated emotion. It was not just the beauty of his sound…he would completely alter the audience’s mood.

How did Covid affect you and your work?

I panicked. My debut with the Dallas Opera was canceled. And singers have to sing! But then I figured out how to work with people on online platforms with no time lag, such as JamKazam and Jamulus. We had pianists, students, and we worked with people all over the world. It kept us sane. Once we had vaccines, some singers met at Good Shepherd Church in Blairstown, NJ, and Christ Episcopal Church in Glen Ridge. We stood 30 feet apart and kept our voices in shape that way.

What is coming up on your singing schedule?

On June 3 at 7 p.m., my studio is presenting The Great American Songbook at Rutherfurd Hall in Allamuchy, NJ, as part of a double concert series with three opera concerts and three cabaret shows per year. We’re bringing these genres of music to Warren County and hoping to expose children to more culture. At student performances, we will have a Q&A afterward. We will feature six professional Bolshoi Studio performers singing Broadway show tunes, pop music, and blues. Tickets are $25. (rutherfordhall.org)

• The size of a singer’s head can be important for good sound. She gave me two examples of singers with large heads—Christine Goerke and Bryn Terfel.

• Some singers are able to sing foreign languages with no accent. One reason is that “their consonants don’t elide.” Eliding means you omit a sound or syllable of a word when you speak or sing. Apparently, English-speakers tend to do this a lot.

• One trick she shared for a dry throat while performing is to stash a small eye-dropper bottle of water in her bra. Sometimes—especially with Wagner—one can be onstage for more than an hour. “In many dry opera houses, you feel like you are inhaling feathers, so you turn aside a bit when you get a chance and put a few drops of water in your mouth.”

• Sitting in the living room, I noticed a large antique gramophone with a wooden horn. “I bought that as a present for my husband,” she said. “When you hear a record amplified through mahogany, it focuses the sound. It’s a cleaner sound than a CD. It sounds purer.”

• One reason it is good to have a residence in New York is that it is the central place to audition. “All the opera houses of the world audition in New York in December. I think they set this up so that all the opera companies could come to New York to shop before Christmas while they were here for work!”

Go to alisonbolshoi.com for information on classes, upcoming concerts, and other information.

Julia Schmitt Healy is an artist, professor, and writer living and working in Port Jervis, NY. Her work is represented by Western Exhibitions in Chicago, westernexhibitions.com. Her website is juliahealy.com.

Fun Facts Gleaned from Alison Bolshoi:

Smokey Bear visits Grey Towers.

Photos courtesy of Grey Towers

By Amy Bridge

Never Play with Matches! Smokey Bear and Friends

Wildfires are a big topic in the news nowadays, with some hitting close to home. This April, the residents of Deer Park, NY, and its surrounding towns had a close call with rampant smoke and fire encroaching on their homes and properties. In the same week, in West Milford, NJ, a wildfire burned 972 acres, making it the largest wildfire in Northern NJ in thirteen years. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (nifc.gov), 87 percent of wildfires are caused by humans.

In March of this year, I attended one of the Grey Towers Heritage Association’s Lunch and Learn educational series, “Beyond the Towers, An Insider Look at the Grey Towers National Historic Site,” presented by Jared Simster of the National Forest Service. It was here that I learned a bit of history about our favorite bear, Smokey Bear.

Beginning in 1944, Smokey Bear made his first public appearance for the United States Forest Service on a Forest Fire Prevention poster emphasizing that “Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires.” His warning to Americans was revised a few years later to “Remember—Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires!"

Smokey’s illustration with his cuffed blue jeans and forest ranger’s hat became one of the most recognizable public service campaigns in the world. His iconic portrait and message soon made its way onto posters and postage stamps, and then in the 1950s he was featured on popular radio show advertising campaigns, including the Roy Rodgers Show, the Bing Crosby Show, and Art Linkletter’s House Party. In the 60s, television ads were added to the campaign.

During the 1980s, Smokey partnered in campaigns with celebrities Cheech and Chong, the Grateful Dead, Al Roker, and Betty White. Over the years, various actors have provided the voice behind Smokey’s visage, including Sam Elliot and Stephen Colbert.

Today, we can see Smokey on billboards, digital public service announcements, and print ads, although his slogan has changed to “Help Prevent Wildfires.” Smokey Bear’s role has been to bring awareness to, and help reduce the number of, human-caused wildfires.

If you are like me, you may have thought that Smokey’s real name is Smokey the Bear, but in fact, the “the” was only added into a song about the bear, sung by Eddy Arnold, to help make the lyrics flow better, so his name really is Smokey Bear.

In the 1950s, a little black bear cub was found in New Mexico after climbing up a tree to survive the Capitan Gap Forest Fire. The cub’s paws and legs were badly burned. He was rescued, and a kind-hearted ranger nurtured him back to health.

Smokey was presented to the US Forest Service as a living symbol of the illustrious Smokey Bear and of wildfire prevention and wildlife conservation. He was then transported to the National Zoo in Washington, DC. There, he received millions of visitors and over 300 letters a day and was given his own zip code (an honor bestowed on the president of the US and Santa Claus).

At the zoo, Smokey had a wife, Goldie Bear, and an adopted cub, Little Smokey. When Smokey passed away in 1976, he was given a state procession and state funeral in Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico, where he was born.

Back in 1905, way before the original Smokey Bear was a glint in the eye of his first illustrator, Gifford Pinchot and Teddy Roosevelt had officially founded the US Forest Service. Fifteen years later, Pinchot became the Commissioner of Forestry for Pennsylvania. His mission was to secure an effective way to detect and fight forest fires.

According to Tracie Rohner, Public Affairs Specialist at Grey Towers, in Milford, PA, “In 1921, Pinchot gave a million dollars, the largest allotment at that time, for

Grey Towers

forest protections. Part of that million was used to buy fifty fire towers. Most were erected in 1923, when Pinchot became governor of PA. The towers got the nickname, the Pinchot Towers.

“Having the fire towers in place,” continues Rohner, “led to a faster response to the fires, which became an important part of correcting the issues that came from PA being deforested in the 1800s.”

Gifford Pinchot continued to build a legacy of working with fire prevention and circa 1933 began a system of cooperative fire detection on a national level.

Grey Towers in Milford is no longer Gifford Pinchot’s home, but it was dedicated as a National Historic Site by President John F. Kennedy on September 24, 1963. Eileen Smith, president of the Grey Towers Heritage Association, says, “To learn more about the legacy of the Pinchots, I invite the readers to our free event located on the grounds of Grey Towers on June 3rd (see calendar, page 8). I’m also looking forward to Smokey’s expected return to Grey Towers on September 23rd and 24th during the Festival of Wood weekend.”

For more information, visit greytowers.org and www. fs.usda.gov.

Big Pocono Tower

A fire tower, erected in Big Pocono State Park in 1921, sat atop Big Pocono Mountain and was actually manned until 2011. It was disassembled in 2017 and painstakingly refurbished over three years. The restoration project was spearheaded by retired forester for the Forest Service and resident of Milford, PA, Robert Remalarde.

The antique fire tower, which has a 7 x 7 foot cab and is 21 feet tall, is now on the grounds of Grey Towers, located on its half-mile Forest Discovery Trail. A dedication service is planned in the near future.

As you walk the trail to the fire tower, you will see several wayside exhibits, including a mockup of the Yale School of Forestry tent site, where you can see what the camp was like and see displays, including the old forester tools. There is an EcoBox for children that shares the songs and stories of the men of the Yale School and a tree cookie exhibit, which shows and explains dendrochronology, the method of determining the age of a tree by counting its growth rings.

The Forest Discovery Trail is a self-guided tour located behind the Grey Towers mansion.

Scene from an old-fashioned soda fountain.

The Soda Fountain

y favorite treat has always been, and always will be, ice cream. What is it about a creamy, cold, flavored substance so satisfying to the senses, so simple to create, that has been such a part of civilization’s enjoyment for centuries? To stand, as a child, barefoot on a beach under the warm summer sun, gazing out toward the water, a little hand wrapped tightly around a conical cookie filled with a concoction that tastes like a dream—a dream of ice cream.

You can’t eat it too quickly, for it is too cold. You can’t eat it too slowly, lest it melt away and break your heart. You should never put it down and expect it to be there when you return, and you can’t save it for tomorrow. No, eating ice cream requires your undivided attention.

But it is versatile: it can be enjoyed alone in a dizzying array of flavors, it can be decorated with delectable toppings of fudges, fruits, whipping creams and nuts, or blended furiously with rich milk. It can swim in a tall glass of flavored soda bubbles, such as root beer, a pairing that offers two treats in one. Yes, ice cream can satiate the youngest to the oldest of humans.

From the earliest days of the1900s, people had been enjoying ice cream (and soda) by way of full-service “soda fountains,” shops set up as embellished watering holes of sweet fortifications; and every town that one passed through seemed to be set up with at least one. Ironically, soda fountains were often found inside a town’s pharmacy, the very place of curative practices.

My hometown of Milford, PA, had one of these pharmacies, housed in the oldest and most prominent structure in the center of town, the Forest Hall building.

Forest Hall has occupied the corner of the main intersection of town since the 1860s, springing up seemingly out of the smooth, well-trodden sidewalks surrounding it like a majestic edifice of bygone days. It stretches the length of an entire block in the historical district of Milford Borough with elegance and antiquity. The bluestones that compose its exterior are fortified in history and undeterred by the modern changes of its surroundings. In the past century and a half, after housing the county’s first post office, various merchants have come and gone, each offering the community their services.

As recently as the mid-20th century, one very essential establishment to set up shop in Forest Hall was Stripple’s, the town pharmacy. Fundamental as this business was to the health of the area’s population, it also served the purpose of bringing the local townspeople together. For while the pharmacy provided prescriptive medicines for the health of the

body in one area of the store, quainter, more homeopathic services were rendered in the adjoining area occupied by the soda fountain.

Stripple’s could be entered through two entrances—from the main Broad Street door or by way of the side Harford Street door. This made it convenient for customers to use the main door to collect their prescriptions in the drug store area, where they could then meander to the adjoining room that housed the soda fountain.

Unsuspecting customers could turn the corner and catch a glimpse of an acquaintance sitting at the soda counter, sipping on a cherry Coke, or engulfing a very large banana split. Yes, visitors to Stripple’s could find themselves casting off their troubles and surrendering their discipline for a refreshing, afternoon “pick-me-up,” thereby pausing their “to do lists” and catching up on the latest town news and gossip with neighbors or friends.

Historically, the old-time practice of placing soda fountains inside drug stores wasn’t a random gesture. It tied in with long-held beliefs in the healing powers of mineral water— volcanic water that bubbled up with minerals through the earth, thus fueling the popularity of hot springs bathing all over the world.

Drinking mineral water was also believed to be curative, recommended by early 19th century physicians as a tonic that calmed the stomach and cooled the body down. Later, the idea of producing artificially carbonated water as a business opportunity led to the mass production of bubbled water. Several inventors were part of this development, including a physician from Pennsylvania who realized the convenience of a counter-top type of dispenser that would allow the free flow of carbonated drinks to be sold by the glass. Voila, the modern-day soda fountain was born!

Back in the early 1960s when I was 7 years old and my brother D.J. was 8, the soda fountain in Stripple’s was like a home away from home, mainly because my grandmother, Marge, worked behind the counter as a “soda jerk.” Soda jerk jobs in those days were almost exclusively held by men, so my grandmother was a trailblazer in the industry, you might say.

My brother and I would each prop ourselves up on one of the tall stools so that our legs dangled in midair high above the floor. The padded metal stools were bolted to the old pine flooring, and our game was to do 360 turns on the stools as fast as we could manage—around and around until our heads spun well after the stools had stopped.

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Marge would be buzzing like a bee on the opposite side of the counter. For while the professional pharmacist was mixing his medical potions at one end of the store, my grandmother was stirring her own curative concoctions in front of us: black and white milkshakes, lemon-lime sodas, raspberry sherbets, pineapple sundaes, to name a few. She leaned over to us, “As soon as I serve these last few orders, I’ll bring you your lunches, my chillins,” she assured us, using her favorite term of endearment.

D. J. and I weren’t required to have our lunches in the school cafeteria as the other kids were. In the 1960s, kids were allowed out of the school at lunchtime with special permission. It was a great privilege to eat at our grandmother’s soda fountain. (Yes, we thought she was the owner!) It just seemed to us that because of the familiar way she greeted customers as old friends and they her, she must be the big boss there.

In no time at all, our sandwiches were in front of us: peanut butter and jelly on Wonder Bread. We felt special. Marge’s sandwiches were always delicious no matter what their ingredients, mostly because they were, well, Grandma’s and they were spiced with her TLC for us. While our classmates back at school were eating lunches of hot meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy and peas in a noisy encampment, teachers monitoring their every move, my brother and I were at our favorite spot in town, free as birds. We learned very early on that it’s who you know that makes all the difference.

Each day in school, I’d glance up at the clock at mid-morning knowing the opportunity lunchtime would bring. Brother and sister would meet up at precisely 12:02 at the bottom of the front steps of the school to begin our short, one-block commute on foot down Harford Street, hand in hand.

We’d enter Stripple’s through the side door, hardly noticing the racks of greeting cards on the left or the colorful selection of wrapping paper and bows. We only saw the soda fountain room with its deep-framed windows letting in the warm noon light; the large, black and white ticking clock high up on the wall, whose hands decided the length of our lunch break; and the ceiling above it that seemed to rise up to the sky in beautiful patterns of pressed tin. My favorite thing was to watch the huge, hanging fans whirling their blades round and round, keeping both customers and the ice cream cool in the warmer months.

As we ate our lunch, our eyes were fixed on all the activity behind the counter and the equipment that made it all happen. Large metal shelves held serving dishes in every size. There were rows upon rows of shapely Coca-Cola glasses; short-stemmed glassware for ice-cream scoops; tall, ribbed ones for ice-cream sodas; elongated boats for banana splits; metal milkshake canisters, and so on.

On a lower counter sat a 4-spindle milkshake blender, a cutlery holder for short and long spoons, plus a set of two large glass canisters stocked with plain and crispy sugar cones. There were knives for slicing bananas and bundles of paper straws.

Just below the counter was a double metal sink—one side for soaping the glassware and the other for rinsing. This is where Marge got her arm

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workouts, grabbing dirty soda glasses, dipping them into the soapy hot water, pumping each glass up and down over the vertical scrub brush, then dipping them in the rinsing sink, all the while holding brief conversations and smiling.

At center stage of the counter was the ubiquitous soda dispenser, through which flowed plentiful amounts of sweet Coca-Cola, bubbly ginger ale, refreshing orange, root beer, and 7-Up, all day long. Like a skilled mixologist, Marge would whip up on-demand tonics such as cherry-infused 7-Up or Coke floats. I would watch intently as in one motion she would scoop into a tall glass some chopped ice from the bin, give it one and a half pumps of flavored syrup before reaching for the club soda gun and filling it to the top. Our mouths would water in anticipation of the taste of those effervescent, sweet concoctions, which Grandma would allow us but a couple times a week.

Our lunchtime wasn’t the most active time at the soda fountain though. Those extra busy times were reserved for the 3 o’clock rush when school let out and throngs of students made their way into the store. Crowds of tall, thirsty teenagers full of talkativeness and excitement strode in, some sporting their signature black and white letter sweaters accompanied by cheerleaders in their black and white saddle shoes. Nearly every stool and table would be abuzz

with them, and Marge would call in counter backup to help her fill drink and ice cream orders of every kind.

“One walnut sundae, please!” requested one politely. “Coming right up, sonny,” reassured my grandma. She would remove the metal scoop from the bin of hot water and slide open the glass door to the ice cream freezer at the farthest end of the fountain. Her arm would instinctively go to the tub of vanilla, jammed in among the multitude of Dolly Madison flavors—nutty butter pecan, creamy coffee, velvety green pistachio, rich dark chocolate, marbled vanilla fudge, light pink strawberry, and three flavors of tart icy sherbets.

Reaching down with all her might, she’d dig in the scooper and roll the ice cream into a perfect ball. Two steps over were metal bins that held the sundae toppings: syrupy red strawberries, chewy pineapple chunks, gooey chopped walnuts, and hot chocolate fudge. She would lift the metal lid and ladle a heaping amount of walnuts over the vanilla ice cream, finishing it off with a topping of whipped cream and a single maraschino cherry. “That will be $1.50 please.”

And so it would go…. as the customer took his seat, one could see the anticipation on his face. As he slowly dipped into the cool, creamy delight and spooned it into his mouth….With all the flavor and with eyes closed, just like that, he’d found the dream.

Open Mic Round Table

If you’ve been paying attention to the local music scene, you know that open mics are popping up all over the tristate area. Maybe it’s a post pandemic thing, but opportunities for musicians, poets, comedians, and performance artists to casually entertain an audience in these venues are becoming quite popular. Open mics are typically housed in friendly environments. Be it a bar, a coffee house, or a restaurant, the chosen establishment works together with the management of the open mic event to welcome performers of different genres, ages, and talent levels, who take turns at the mic.

The range of performers scales from amateur to the more seasoned entertainer, and their reasons for grabbing their 10 minutes of fame are just as varied as the talent they sport.

We wanted to hear what makes an open mic tick and spoke with a diverse group, who all have different reasons for being involved in the open mic phenomenon. Sisters Kristin and Katlyn Albrecht are the founders, organizers, and hosts of the Time’s Right Open Mic, in Milford, PA; Robert Tellefsen is an accomplished professional guitarist who likes to participate in open mics; Veronica Coyne is a former open mic host and also an adjunct professor at Sussex County Community College, where she teaches effective public speaking; and Jerry Reganess is a photographer and talent marketer.

What prompts someone to get up and share with an audience?

Jerry Reganess: The motivation is varied: could be a genuine desire to share one’s gifts with a live audience, or maybe it’s a prompt to perform by friends or family. Many are looking to find a welcoming friendly audience in a comfortable venue and feel that open mics offer a safe chance to perform. Genuine applause and appreciation makes the next time that much easier; ten minutes of fame always feels so good and is an inspiration and validation that what you’re doing is received, welcomed, and appreciated. We all like to be loved!

Kristin Albrecht: It’s part of the organic process of being

an artist and wanting to share one’s creativity. Self-expression is so important for people, especially in welcoming environments where artists come out to support one another.

Veronica Coyne: People who want to share their creative self know that they need to put themselves out there. It can be very lonely as an artist, as much of your work is done alone, and you’re not really sure how people will respond to it. Open mic offers an opportunity to share with an audience and step into a new skin as a performer.

What preparations need to be done for the show and what’s the best environment to hold an open mic?

Katlyn Albrecht: The best environment for an open mic is up for debate. We’ve found that poets, storytellers, and comedians tend to prefer the coffeehouse environment where there is a captive audience without ambient distractions. Bars and restaurants are great for people performing music but may not be the best venue for the poets, etc. Wherever the open mic is being hosted, the MC can set the stage as the main attraction and draw the audience’s attention to it.

Jerry Reganess: Community marketing to get the word out, then preparing and setting up the room with seating, warm lighting, sound equipment, making a space for guests to leave their instruments before performing, clearing aisles to move in, reviewing the sign-up sheet and balancing performers and time limitations, followed by clean up to return the venue room back to its original layout. Someone to assist the host or an open mic management team is also most helpful. Creating a theme for the show, such as “A Woodstock Tribute” or “Keep the Beat 50s Vibe,” is a fun way to give the show a good flow.

Veronica Coyne: Coffee buzz goes well with poetry! A cafe is the perfect open mic environment for writers who want to read poems or segments of a book. Make sure the rules about time limits are clear in the marketing and reinforced when the host starts the open mic. While most people are respectful, it’s important to time performers to keep it fair.

mics around town. Photos by Jerry Reganess

Robert Tellefsen: There needs to be a decent sound system for performers, and in a place such as a restaurant or tavern, there should be space for the attendees.

Kristin Albrecht: Preparation includes securing a venue, promoting the event, having a good sound system, and creating a welcoming environment once people arrive. Structure and guidelines are helpful to keep everyone on the same page and to give all the performers equal opportunity to get up there.

There are basic principles that performers should practice, such as don’t chew gum, keep your hands out of your pockets, make audience eye contact. Can you add any?

Jerry Reganess: This is a performer’s precious time. I suggest sharing your “gold” by upping your game. Take a public speaking/performance tutorial/primer or class, be open and seek genuine constructive criticism, feedback, and recommendations after your performance. Dress to dazzle or to complement your talent. Greet and thank your audience for listening. Try not to hide behind the mic or a music stand, as YOU are the performance.

Veronica Coyne: Use an attention getter when you first get up on stage. Opening with, “Hi, I’m ____” , is a bit stale, so try to be more creative and start with a joke, a question, or by bringing an object up there with you to catch people’s interest. Engage the audience right away. If you can make them laugh, you’ve got ’em!

Also, breath work can help ease nerves and make your voice stronger.

Katlyn Albrecht: Performers should also keep their material family friendly, especially at an open mic that is held at a venue other than a bar.

Kristin Albrecht: Say hello, introduce yourself. Audiences LOVE to get to know the performer and they love a story, so if a performer can relate something about themselves, their life, or their creative process, it creates deeper meaning, connection, and appreciation from the audience.

Robert Tellefson: Present yourself in a professional manner. You are front and center with everyone’s attention, so you have about 10 minutes to put on your best performance, whether it’s a new song, a new poem, a new comedy act, or songs that you already know. Prepare yourself prior to the open mic and practice your craft. You never know who’s in the audience.

Why would an audience attend and what impact does an open mic event have on the community at large?

Veronica Coyne: Most of the audience is comprised of fellow artists who will also be going up to the mic to share,

so it becomes a supportive community. Others might attend and want to share but aren’t ready yet, so getting to know people who will encourage them is so beneficial. Some people are just curious. You are welcome, whoever you are, old, young, professional or not; the diversity of performers and audience is what makes it interesting. I think just having a place where we listen to each other has a great impact on the larger community.

Kristin Albrecht: Honestly, you never know what might come out of it. You may find someone to collaborate with; a performer may end up getting a paid gig at a local restaurant or venue. One of our performer friends even met her significant other at our open mic.

Katlyn Albrecht: I believe that everyone is an artist. So, someone might show up looking for the inspiration or the courage that they need to share their art.

Robert Tellefson: It’s an opportunity to get out and meet friends, make new friends, and be entertained by local artists and musicians.

Jerry Reganess: Always a wonderful affordable evening of fun “variety show” entertainment, a great way to connect with friends and make new ones, an opportunity to mix, mingle, and get to know others from within your community. You actually take this great experience with you when you leave....the vibe remains and is a positive influence on your mood, good memories, and a desire to return....so much more! I love open mics! This is also a valuable way for performers to meet with each other, share ideas, and collaborate on future projects.

Would you share a most memorable moment from an open mic?

Robert Tellefson: I have been very fortunate in my younger years to attend and participate in various open mics in New York City in clubs such as the Bitter End. Many times, I had to follow performers, such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, and “the elect” —a fortunate opportunity! As time went on, I performed on stage at other shows with these entertainers. I continue to support the “community open mic.” Come join me!

Kristin Albrecht: Anytime someone gets up there and says that it’s their first time performing in front of people, it’s a memorable moment for me. The audience loves to hear that and is so supportive. To see someone work through their fear and be rewarded when they’re finished is a beautiful thing.

Jerry Reganess: I attended an open mic which began the show with a twenty-minute full band “special celebrity guest” opening act, performing instrumental psychedelic reggae dub, which totally put everyone in a relaxed, good chilled mood for the evening...oh so good!

Veronica Coyne: Too many to count! I had a few opportunities to read poetry while accompanied by guitar, flute, and drums. Those impromptu infusions of poetry and music were standout moments for me. The spontaneous creativity in the room made for amazing experiences.

Also, as a host, giving aspiring performers this opportunity and supporting them was an amazing feeling. Some shares broke our hearts, some made our spirits soar. I will always remember the connections we made.

Market Scope

Recycling furniture,” says Kasia Lojewska, “is taking pieces from the past and incorporating them into everyday décor for use in the home and garden. I like to call them re-loved.”

Kasia, who is the owner of Behind the French Doors and the Old Lumberyard Antiques in Milford, PA, not only sells re-loved décor in her lovely shop, but also offers her decorating services.

“I like to get to know a home, see a person’s taste and combine their personality with the function of the house. It’s my pride to combine the past with the present and future. For example, I love to contrast cold marble with warm accent pieces of wood or sculpture, making a room less sterile and adding layers.

“I always think of myself as actually living in my client’s home. In the end, we should want a home to be comfortable, an oasis. I want to create a home that you don’t need a vacation from.

Behind the French Doors

“Five years ago, I purchased the Old Lumberyard Antiques, which is a co-op of 30 antique vendors, and about two months ago, I moved my business upstairs through the first set of doors and into a larger location in the back.” Kasia explains, “Each vendor has their own booth, but we come together as a team; it’s a symbiotic relationship.”

“We recently worked with a set designer for a movie starring Colin Bates that was shot in Milford. We supplied knick-knacks, figurines, and books. We also worked for the set designer for a scene from the TV series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. We are becoming a destination draw for antiques, and visitors are then discovering the great restaurants and hotels in town.”

Kasia’s dad and granddad were furniture makers. “Handmade things draw me in,” she says. “Someone’s energy and time went into that; then a stranger buys it and makes it the center of attention. We pass on pieces of the past to the next generation.”

Cardinal flower.

Photo by Steve Schmidt

Landscaping with Native Plants Wild Ones NJ Gateway

By Bob Chernow

Even a dead tree has life. It is a decaying piece of nature that is still giving,” says Gisela Ferrer. “Decaying wood is like a sponge. It holds water and stores carbon from the atmosphere. It provides food for fungi such as mushrooms and hosts larvae for birds such as woodpeckers.”

When speaking to Ferrer, I immediately sensed her energy and enthusiasm for native plants and the environment. Ferrer, an environmental advocate and retired teacher, recently established the first New Jersey chapter of Wild Ones LLC, a 501c3 national nonprofit organization that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices with native plant communities in order to preserve biodiversity.

What are native plants and why are they so important? Ferrer explains that native plants were here before human settlers arrived. They have a “wonderful relationship with wildlife,” she says, “and provide the right amounts of fats and nutrition for caterpillars, bees, birds, and bears.” Today, these indigenous plants are no longer prominent in home landscapes.

Native plants provide feeding and breeding sites for beneficial insects that help with pollination and pest control. The serviceberry is an underutilized example that produces beautiful scarlet berries in summer, just as the shad are beginning to run in the Delaware River. Also known as shadbush, it provides edible berries for humans and wildlife.

Invasive plants, such as barberry and wineberry, are those that were brought by humans and provide no or little

nutrition for wildlife. Other invasive plants include burning bush, phragmites, stiltgrass, Japanese knotweed, and garlic mustard. Over thirty percent of New Jersey’s flora is currently considered invasive.

Another over-utilized invasive plant is the Japanese red maple, which is a prolific seed producer. Ferrer discovered a volunteer tree growing from a soil bank seven years after the tree was cut down.

Wild Ones’ goal is to educate the public about the benefits of native plants and the harm caused by invasive ones. “At this point, we cannot get rid of all the invasive plants, but we can educate the public about damage to wildlife and soil caused by invasive plants and help control their spread,” states Ferrer. “When homeowners and businesses use invasive plants in their ornamental landscapes gardens, they are making matters worse.”

Ferrer cites the example of many ornamental non-native grasses, such as fountain grass, which have grown in popularity in recent years. These have no nutritional or pollinator value and are spreading to fields and woods, where they prevent ecologically productive native plants from flourishing. She suggests that gardeners learn to identify and avoid using the top 20 invasive plants that may be sold in garden centers.

Gisela Ferrer loves the beauty and surroundings of nature. As a child, she had planters on her windowsill and loved to visit her grandparents’ farm. She was a teacher in urban Hudson County where there was more concrete and fewer trees

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Rain garden.

Photo by Cathy Streett

and moved to Sussex County 20 years ago where there were more trees and less concrete. “I used to say that I sleep in Sussex County and live in Hudson County,” she jokes.

With her roots in Hudson County, Ferrer wants to “make a bridge between Sussex County and the urban counties” with her newly established Wild Ones New Jersey Gateway Chapter. There was no Wild Ones chapter in New Jersey until 2022, when Ferrer began one. ”I established the first chapter just so I could give back,” she proudly proclaims.

As an educator, she wants to leave a better world by educating our children to coexist with nature. “I want to educate everyone, both children and adults, that we should shift to native plants in our gardens. We need to garden for our future and our children’s future and shift the decline in birds and pollinators,” she states.

It’s OK to start small. “Even a single pot or planter with native plants can make a difference for a bee, butterfly, or bird.”

“What I see in foundation plantings often makes me sad,” Ferrer says. Barberry and butterfly bush provide minimum nutrients for native wildlife compared to beautiful native plants such as asters, purple coneflowers, and Virginia bluebells, which she cites as some of her favorite native flowering plants that provide food for wildlife.

Wild Ones NJ Gateway is looking for property owning partners who want to grow native plants and educate students. Wild Ones can provide the design and native plantings to interested municipalities, corporations, or non-profits; volunteer employees and/or students would maintain the garden. In the fall, the seeds from the native plants would be harvested and distributed to schools and youth groups in urban settings so that children could establish their own gardens and learn about native plants and ecology. Ferrer explains that these projects would help the ecosystem and create an outdoor learning classroom for students and teachers.

She stresses the importance of “right plant, right place,” according to the microclimates on a property. Each part of the property may contain varied amounts of sun or shade, different soils, and varying amounts of water. Each plant thrives in its own distinct conditions. While many people do not like to see moss in the shady areas of their yards, perhaps we should develop a new mindset about the soft, bright green, moisture-containing plant, which is effective at cleaning the air.

Ferrer suggests that we consider replacing part of the lawn with native plants. Native plants don’t need fertilizer, additional water, or special attention. They have evolved here with no special care. Not only will you add natural beauty and color, you will provide habitat for insects and butterflies.

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Pollinator garden.

Photo by Elisa Zappacosta

Grey tree frog on Rudbeckia.

Photo by Sherri Brom

Rudbeckia Hirta, Black-eyed Susan.

Photo by Lisa Olsen

In addition, you will also reduce the amount of fertilizer and weed killer chemicals applied to the lawn, and you will help clean the air by reducing fuel consumption, lawn mower exhaust emissions, and noise pollution.

Many of our landscaped properties contain invasive plants that provide no ecological services, which are defined as benefits to humans and wildlife that a healthy natural ecosystem provides. Examples of ecological services include food for native pollinators and wildlife, proper root systems to aid in water retention and erosion control, decomposition of organic material into soil, and climate regulation. Many invasive plants do not provide these benefits, and very importantly, by allowing invasive plants to take up garden space, the native plants have less space to flourish and provide benefits to the ecosystem.

Landowners may be familiar with the story of the emerald ash borer (EAB), which has killed millions of native ash trees throughout 30 states including NJ, NY, and PA. The nonnative beetle arrived in wood packaging materials from Asia and has been ravaging our forests. If you have a damaged ash on your property that is not in danger of falling on the house, Ferrer suggests that you consider leaving the tree to decompose naturally. The dead tree will store moisture, replenish the soil, continue to store carbon, and provide food and shelter for wildlife.

There are several ways a homeowner can get involved and learn more about native plants in the garden. Of course, Ferrer would encourage you to join a Wild Ones in your area, which have informational websites and host free webinars, live speaking engagements, and hikes.

The Wild Ones website (wildones.org) provides free landscape templates that include videos, designs, and appropriate plants for different regions. Ferrer also mentioned the Native Plant Society and the Xerces Society as excellent organizations with informative websites and local chapters that can provide resources.

To learn more about the importance of native plants and ecology, Ferrer suggests that you read any of Doug Tallamy’s books: Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Backyard, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants and The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Trees. Tallamy is an entomologist and wildlife ecology professor at the University of Delaware and a leading expert on the decline of native plants and how to take on conservation as a personal mission.

This writer has read all three books and learned a wealth of information. Tallamy explains concepts in a very easy-to-understand way and also provides plenty of data, evidence, and examples. The red oak tree, native to our area, for example, is host to several hundred species of caterpillars. A chickadee feeds its offspring thousands of caterpillars per season.

Top: Giant swallowtail on purple coneflower.

Bottom: Columbine.

Photos by Bob Chernow

Photo by Laurie Martin

Local governments may be slow to act in the native plants movement, so individual homeowners play a key role in conserving and expanding the use of native plants in the home landscape. “We need to take control,” says Ferrer who points to Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park grassroots organization that teaches homeowners how to plant more native plants and understand the role they have in the ecosystem.

With the increasing popularity of native plants, breeders have been developing specialized varieties known as cultivars, which may contain larger flowers, different foliage color, or reduced height. While these cultivars may appeal to people more than the original native wild or straight species, the cultivars often lose some of the original features that the insects found attractive. Therefore, when buying native plants, it is important to buy the straight species and

not a cultivar. Cultivars also have no genetic variability and may not be able to handle the stresses of climate change.

How can you tell the difference? Go to a specialty native plant nursery with knowledgeable sales staff. Or learn how to read the label carefully. If it has a name in single quotations, it is a cultivar.

Ferrer proudly states that “Wild Ones wants to be a resource. Call us. Visit our website (wildones.org). Join our hikes or webinars, and volunteer to pull invasive plants. We are here to help.” As she increases the visibility of Wild Ones in NJ, she encourages people to go to farmers markets and green events and to bring the children. “We need to get the kids involved. Children need more contact with nature, and when kids get involved, so will the adults.”

Common blue violet.

Photo by Gisela Ferrer

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Jupiter’s ingress into Taurus will be a stabilizing influence, just when you need one the most. There is really just one question that you will benefit from focusing on: What do you want? People act like they know, but where is the checkpoint to align whether some new goal comports with one’s deeper values? The message of Jupiter in Taurus is being true to yourself. Despite the seeming hype, the reality of this is not exactly trending on Twitter.

Taurus (April 19-May 20)

You are in a situation where you have the opportunity to use what you know. This time in your life is about concentrating your influence — for a purpose that is not really self-serving. Jupiter and Pluto indicate you will have access to many assets and resources over the next year. If your first inclination is toward personal advantage, you’re missing the point.

Gemini (May 20-June 21)

The challenge you face, if you can call it that, is expanding your notion of what is “spiritual” into every facet of your life. There is something in your charts about exporting what may seem like it should be totally private, into something through which you relate to other people, potentially many. What you know is relevant. The essence of your personal religion involves participating in group evolution. The time has arrived.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Let’s imagine you were to step in front of an audience and could say anything you want. What would you talk about? How would you handle the opportunity? What purpose would you serve — to everyone else? The most potent element of your astrology these days is about what you have to offer to others. This is happening in a time when nearly everyone is on the take. Your world is rapidly becoming much larger and more meaningful than this.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23)

To feel strong, and focused on a purpose, is a special kind of leadership in our times. Maybe it always was, but the insanity has not been this intense for quite a long time. Jupiter in Taurus will enhance your sense of visibility and presence in the world around you. People are likely to seek you out for assistance. At the same time, ask people in positions of power for the help that you need, and then offer them what assistance you can.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22)

It’s tough times for over-arching principles. Many factors in your chart are encouraging you to take the wide view of your world, and the long view of time. You cannot see much, or think about much, staring into a little screen. The view you want is from the top of a mountain, a high building, or any structure that gives you a real view of the landscape around you. With Jupiter now in the angle of your chart representing potential, the thing to remind yourself of every day is what’s possible.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23)

You’re in a fantastic position to ask for and receive help. This may happen without your intervention, though you can also be bold about stating your plans, your desires, and your needs. Emphasize mutual interests. They are under fantastic stars with Jupiter now in Taurus. This is the time to make

sure your plans are designed to work for all involved. Everyone talks about this and it’s a great selling point, but it’s not usually true. To get the full benefits of your astrology, make it so.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22)

Jupiter has arrived in your opposite sign Taurus. You haven’t had an easy time in your relationships the past year or so, and this represents an improvement. Yet you are, with any luck, evolving to the degree where you understand that most of your conflict comes from within you. Your relationships are, in some significant ways, a reflection of your awareness. This can be as satisfying as it is frustrating at times, though you will feel better when you understand the power of your own influence.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22)

Fuse your most creative endeavors with what you consider your ‘work life’ and you cannot lose. Yet work means collaboration; means service; means others utilizing what you do for their own purposes. These in some ways may serve your own. Meaning is always found in the context of purpose. If you want one, look for the other. This set of connections is indispensable, if you are to ever feel satisfaction in your work and allow the brilliance of your mind to have a role in the universe.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)

Pluto is heading back to your sign, after its first brief visit to Aquarius. In a sense, you are the keeper of a social constitution that far exceeds your own life and needs. It’s essential to your satisfaction that you recognize what you have to offer, and then do that nearly all the time. Our technology has become a substitute for connection, yet your life is the human experience. That means your connection to others, and to their connections beyond you. Pluto is teaching you to be a point of contact and a source of energy — and intelligence.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

One’s emotions needn’t be a response to the perceived environment, but they usually are. Yet your emotional existence is a world of its own — of your own. And what happens within your deepest and most private experience has a strong influence in the expanded world of home, family and surroundings. Jupiter’s arrival in Taurus is a reminder that you have abundant emotional resources. All you need is to tap into them.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

There’s good news coming, if astrology means anything. Your ruling planet Jupiter has entered Taurus, for a full year. The earth signs all provide Pisces with grounding in practical, physical and most of all, social reality. Taurus is a base of resources, including financial and intellectual. It’s your 3rd house, a well of ideas, which in turn connect to your immediate community. The planet that represents international culture and, in a sense, the world itself — comes to your little part of the world. As Jerry Garcia used to sing, “Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart, you just gotta poke around.”

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