Bob Chernow • Jane Primerano Arielle Lane • Eric Francis
Associate Editor B’Ann Bowman
Advertising Team
Amy Bridge amy@milfordjournal.com
Kimberly Hess kimberlyhess212@gmail.com
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
Mission
Editorial Readers Robert Bowman Amy Smith
David Dangler dangler908@yahoo.com
The Poet Kara Fereno
along Warren and Sussex Counties’ 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.
It’s a Pumpkin!
Punk Goldfish. Carved by Andy Gertler
The Story of a Farmers Market
It’s hard to believe that eleven years have passed since world-famous folk singer and environmental advocate Pete Seeger graced the stage of the Milford Theatre. Pete was well known for his songs, such as “Turn! Turn! Turn!”—“To everything there is a season.” In the early 60s, Pete and his wife Toshi had built the Hudson River sloop Clearwater to clean the pollution in the Hudson River, the effects of which are still felt today.
Many may have forgotten or moved in after the fact, but the story of the Milford Farmers Market has its roots in a group that was founded in 2013 when concerned residents organized to protest a massive pipeline project scheduled to destroy seven miles of our pristine land in Pike County, PA.
We were very concerned about the environmental damage to our air, soil, and water. While none of us had been activists, we learned to be through our efforts of trying to thwart the devastation.
When social activist Pete Seeger, who lived in Beacon, NY, heard about our plight, he offered to host a benefit concert at our theater on June 8, 2013. Our grassroots group, Air Soil Water, was founded to fight the pipeline and protect the land. Pete felt strongly that all change happens at the grassroots level and that music held the power to make a difference.
Despite our dedication and efforts, the pipeline went through. But instead of dwelling on the negative, we used the positive energy brought about by our group effort.
Inspired by Pete Seeger, in 2014, Air Soil Water turned its focus to achieving sustainability for our community. And that’s how the Milford Farmers Market got its start.
Convincing local farmers to take a chance on an unproven concept in Milford was challenging, but with persistence, we put together the first market.
It has grown in size and reputation with each passing year. Local farms and artisans from PA, NJ, and NY display their goods every year to the people who come to shop. As they say, “Come meet your neighbors and stay awhile!”
It has truly been a labor of love, and we are happy that it has been going strong for more than ten years. Happy Anniversary, Milford Farmers Market!
Tours at Foster Armstrong House. Montague, NJ. Hosted by M.A.R.C.H. Free but donations appreciated. Info: 973.293.3106, Facebook: Montague Assoc. for the Restoration of Community History.
July 3rd
Wednesday 5–10 p.m.
Food Truck & Fireworks Festival. Riverside Park, Port Jervis, NY. Live bands & games. $5. Info: pjfoodtruckfireworks.org.
July 4th
Thursday 10 a.m.–dark
4th of July Celebration. Main Street, Liberty, NY. Vendors, parade, entertainment, fireworks. Hosted by Liberty Rising and Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce. Info: 845.791.4200, www.catskills.com
10:30 a.m.
4th of July Parade. Elks Lodge, Sparta, NJ. Awards, DJ, kids crafts & more after at Dykstra Park. Free. Hosted by Sparta Elks. Info: 973.726.0169, www.spartaelks.org.
9:00 p.m.
Fireworks over Lake Wallenpaupack. Wallenpaupack Area High School, Hawley, PA. Hosted by Northern Poconos Chamber of Commerce. Info: 570.226.3191, www. northernpoconos.org.
July 5th–7th
Friday–Sunday
July 4th Family Camp Weekend. PEEC, Dingmans Ferry, PA. Nature hikes, swimming, canoeing & more. $204. Info: 570.828.2319, www.peec.org.
July 6th
Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Summer Fun Fair. Kadampa Meditation Center, Glen Spey, NY. Fresh vegetarian food, art vendors, music, activities for all ages & backgrounds. Info: 845.856.9000, www.kadampanewyork.org.
July 6th & 7th
Saturday 7 p.m. & Sunday 2 p.m.
A Comedy of Tenors. Playhouse at Museum
Village, Monroe, NY. Presented by Creative Theatre–Muddy Water Players. For tickets, dates & times of other performances in July: 845.294.9465, ctmwp.org.
July 7th
Sunday 2 p.m.
A Day in the Life of Johnson Hall. Foster Armstrong House, Montague, NJ. Speaker: Frank Salvati. Hosted by M.A.R.C.H. Also July 13th: Skylands Dulcimer String Band. Info: 973.293.3106, Facebook: Montague Assoc. for the Restoration of Community History.
July 12th–14th
Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Artists’ Studio Tour. Locations throughout Wayne County, PA. Hosted by the Wayne County Arts Alliance. Info: 570.729.5740, waynecountyartsalliance.org
Milford Jazz Festival. Venues all over Milford, PA. Live jazz music weekend. For a complete schedule, visit milfordhospitalitygroup.com/ milford-jazz-festival-2024.
Founders’ Day Street Fair. Wurtsboro, NY. Hosted by Wurtsboro Board of Trade. Music, food, crafts, car show & more. Benefits scholarship fund. Info: www.wurtsboro.org
6:55 p.m.
Weekend Bag Program Fundraiser: Miners vs Boulders. Skylands Stadium, Augusta, NJ. $20. Portion of every ticket benefits fight against kids’ food hunger in Sussex County. Fireworks to follow game. Info: 833.kidsbag, www.weekendbagprogram.org.
July 13th–14th
Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.
Art & Antiques Show & Sale. Wayne Highlands Middle School, Honesdale, PA. Appraisals, demonstrations, refreshments. Hosted by Women’s Club of Honesdale. Benefits scholarships, community service, charities. Info: www.womensclubofhonesdale.com.
July 14th
Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Christmas in July. Lusscroft Farm, Wantage, NJ. Barn sale, Christmas Cottage, craft vendors, food trucks. Benefits restoration of his-
Music in the Park: Chris Raabe Band. Ann Street Park, Milford, PA. Presented by Milford Borough Parks and Recreation. Info: Facebook: Music in the Park.
July 15th–19th
Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–Noon
ProjectVacation. Project Self-Sufficiency, Newton, NJ. For children ages 4–10. Activities, games, crafts, special guest speakers. Free and open to the public. Preregistration required: info: 973.940.3500, www.project selfsufficiency.org.
July 18th
Thursday 7 p.m.
Revolutionary Reminisces of Patriot Soldier Douglas McKenna. Delaware Township Municipal Hall, Dingmans Ferry, PA. Historical interpretation by Kyle Jenks. Hosted by Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society. Info: www.dingmansferry historicalsociety.org.
July 18th–20th
Thursday–Saturday
Sidewalk Sales. Downtown Honesdale, PA. Artisan vendors, music on Saturday. Hosted by Greater Honesdale Partnership. Info: 570.253.5492. visithonesdalepa.com.
Orange County Fair. Orange County Fairgrounds, Middletown, NY. Featuring rides, vendors, exhibits, concerts and more. Info: 845.775.4968, www.orangecountyfair.com
July 19th
Friday 7–9 p.m.
Karl Latham Living Standards. UpFront Exhibition Space, Port Jervis, NY. Groove Port presents. Info: 845.754.1808, Facebook: UpFront Exhibition Space.
July 20th
Saturday 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
A Garden Tour. Honesdale, Prompton, Equinuk, PA & Narrowsburg, NY. $15–$20. Benefits Wayne Memorial Hospital. Tickets/ Info: 631.432.6364, visithonesdalepa.com.
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Music in the Valley. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, Stroudsburg, PA. Learn about folk instruments & traditional music. Info: 570.992.6161, www.quietvalley.org.
10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Designing with Nature. Van Scott Preserve, Beach Lake, PA. Permaculture workshop with Maria Grimaldi. Create a plan for your outdoor living space. $25–$35. Hosted
by Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Info: 570.226.3164, delawarehighlands.org.
5:30 p.m.
Across the Atlantic: Freelance Nun & Weird Uncle. Grey Towers. Milford, PA. Mix of medieval, American & English troubadour songs influenced by Celtic & African music. Sponsored by Kindred Spirits Arts Programs. $25. Info: 570.390.8699, kindredspiritsarts.org
8–10 p.m.
Water, Land, Life. Catskill Art Space, Livingston Manor, NY. Varied musical numbers that move with the planet. $35. Hosted by Weekend of Chamber Music. Info: 315.708.9720, www.wcmconcerts.org
July 21st
Sunday
A Happening in Hurleyville. Hurleyville, NY. Presented by Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project. Marker dedication, live music, local cuisine & more. Info: www.borschtbelt historicalmarkerproject.org.
4–5 p.m.
Mike Dettra: Pannist. Van Kirk Museum, Sparta, NJ. Bring your chair & picnic lunch and listen to Caribbean Island beach music. Non-members $10. Hosted by the Sparta Historical Society. Info: 973.726.0883, www. vankirkmuseum.org.
July 27th
Saturday 8 p.m.
Become Music. Eddie Adams Barn, Jeffersonville, NY. Three works rooted in the earth. Presented by Weekend of Chamber Music. $35. Info: 315.708.9720, wcmconcerts.org.
July 27th–August 3rd
Weekdays 3–10 p.m.
Weekends Noon–10 p.m.
Warren County Farmers’ Fair & Hot Air Balloon Festival. Harmony Township, NJ. Family fun, free concerts, tractor pulls & more. Info: www.warrencountyfarmersfair.org.
July 28th
Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Riverfest: Art, Music & Ecology. Narrowsburg, NY. Music, art, food, poster auction & more. Info: delawarevalleyartsalliance.org/riverfest.
August 2nd–10th
10 a.m.–11 p.m.
Wayne County Fair. Honesdale, PA. Rides, animals, food, shows. Info: 570.253.2942, waynecountyfair.com.
Weekdays Noon–10 p.m.
Weekends 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
New Jersey State Fair & Sussex County Farm & Horse Show. New Jersey State Fairgrounds, Augusta, NJ. Info: 973.948.5500, info: www. sussexcountyfairgrounds.org
Outdoor concert series located at the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary, 55 Suydam Dr. Hawley, PA (just off of Long Ridge Road, White Mills, PA between Honesdale & Hawley)
BEGINNINGS
A Celebration of the Music of Chicago
Saturday, July 6
SWEET BABY JAMES
The #1 James Taylor Tribute
Saturday, July 13
MORGAN JAMES
NY-Based Soul Singer, Songwriter and Broadway Actress Saturday, July 20
NY-Based Soul SInger, Songwriter and Broadway Actress
Saturday, July 20
GREEN RIVER
A Tribute to CCR andJohn Fogerty
Wednesday, July 24
KRUGER BROTHERS
Swiss Bluegrass Virtuosos Saturday, July 27
SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Acclaimed American Blues and Soul Vocalist
Saturday, Aug 3
SCYTHIAN
Celtic Rock, Irish, Americana Band Saturday, August 10
LAUREL CANYON BAND
A Celebration of the Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Saturday, August 17
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. Photos courtesy of Andy Gertler
Ephemeral Art Andy Gertler
For some, creativity flows. For those who embody creativity, their lives are oft times enriched, made interesting, and fulfilling. But creativity and talent are not synonymous, as talent is defined as an innate ability to do something well.
Within the domains of creativity, there is a transitory, temporary art form known as ephemeral art. Examples of this type of art were illustrated in the July 2009 issue of The Journal, when Jennifer Ahee interviewed Port Jervis resident Hani Shihada, a sidewalk chalk artist who uses the sidewalks of NYC as his canvas.
A relative newcomer to the Milford area is talented ephemeral artist Andy Gertler. The chapters of Andy’s life could each be their own book. The book should perhaps start with a title such as All Natural Sculpting, and the first chapter could be named “Sand.”
According to Andy, his sand sculpting “happened organically.” He was walking on Jones Beach when he witnessed a group of classically trained, high-end sculptors and was immediately smitten.
Growing up in Long Island, Andy had spent years restoring brass, string, and woodwind instruments, but his creative voice was seeking expression. He found it in sculpting and decided to study at the Arts Student League in Manhattan.
“Creativity comes from ideas and the heart,” Andy elucidated. “Everything in sculpture is about creating light and shadows.”
After a year, Andy had built a portfolio and was hired by a company that built sand sculpture attractions inside shopping malls throughout the country.
For a few summers, starting in 2003, Andy worked for a Belgian sand sculpting company. They rented out a wheat farm and brought in 24 million kilos of sand for a sculpting exhibition. Every year, his team, which consisted of Andy, a Russian sculptor, and a Belgian sculptor, was given a theme. One year it was the Road to El Dorado. The next year, it was reproducing the master works of the Italian Renaissance; they chose to sculpt the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius.
“We would build a plywood frame, compress sand into it, and then do layers, like a cake,” Andy said. “Big trucks
would spray a water and wood glue mixture to keep it from drying out. This created a skin over the top, so that it doesn’t turn to dust. We shoveled 20 tons of sand before we even worked with it! Each sand sculpture can take about 12 days, working 10-to-12-hour shifts, and the finished sculpture lasts all summer,” he explained.
In 2011, he was invited to cohost the Travel Channel’s show, Sand Masters, which he did for two years, setting up different scenarios around the world in places such as Thailand, Costa Rica, and New Zealand. “Thanks to sand, I’ve traveled to 21 countries,” he notes.
This chapter of Andy’s story keeps going. He was hired for Fleet Week to create a sculpture in Times Square. There he worked with Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy representatives to create a sand sculpture out of 60 tons of sand. “Part of that experience was that I was flown over NYC in a helicopter. We landed on an aircraft carrier, and I got to sit in the pilot’s seat! Our sculpture incorporated servicemen, jets, helicopters, and the American flag right in the middle of Times Square.”
There was also the time that he was hired by a Mexican billionaire, who flew him to Brazil to create a sandcastle with sea creatures for his two-year-old daughter.
An obvious trait of a creative is utter absorption in a project, but sometimes the challenge is to look for another medium to conquer, which brings us to Chapter Two, “Ice.”
Ice sculpting is a lot of work, Andy admitted. It’s harder to tackle than sand, so you have to have a level of certainty as a carver. In 2009, his first foray into competitive ice sculpting at the World Ice Arts Championships competition in Fairbanks, Alaska, garnered him a bronze medal in single block for his Moonlight Sonata sculpture.
Andy, who is also a musician and songwriter, noted that there seems to be a lot of crossover between ephemeral artists and musicians, “We chose Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, 1st Movement as a theme and carved a couple of shooting stars serenading the moon.”
He received a silver medal for his team’s sculpture of Raphael’s painting, The Three Graces. “It was an abstract of the three women each holding apples, with smooth flowing lines,” Andy explained. “If you have anatomy chops, you will do much better at ice sculpting. The Russians, for instance, are classically trained.
“We had gorgeous, pure, see-through ice to work with. The weather was about 20 degrees below. We would smooth the ice with a flame thrower and use water warmed in a big barrel with a heater to ‘glue’ the ice together. To make the delicate lines, we used chain saws, chisels, and die grinders in that order. Lighting with colored lights can enhance the finished sculpture,” he said.
In 2014, Andy traveled to Siberia, some 20 miles from China’s border, for two other ice sculpting contests.
Movement is important in music—so it is to Andy, as he moved on to the “Pumpkin” chapter.
His first professional gig in the pumpkin carving world was in 2010 for the Armani Exchange offices in NYC, where he sculpted pumpkins during their Halloween party and then he was flown down to Turks and Caicos to sculpt for a managers’ meeting. “It’s an amazing lifestyle,”
Andy commented about his chosen field of work. “I’m always open to being creative.”
Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes and are usually carved into jack-o’-lanterns in anticipation of their lighting on Halloween. But this is not the kind of carving that Andy had in mind. His pumpkins were going to be large, 3D bas-relief, life-sized sculptures, of course.
In 2012, Andy met Sue Beatrice, a creative sculptor and designer of equal proportion. Sue’s artistic background includes graduating from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, creating coins for the Franklin Mint, becoming a Disney and DreamWorks sculptor, designing and sculpting for the Cabbage Patch Kids line and the Jim Henson Corporation. Here was a collaboration made in creative heaven.
Pumpkins as a medium are very different than ice. They’re heavy, wet, and very delicate. For the past 12 years, every
Continued on page 17
ICE, Andy Gertler
PUMPKIN, Zebra and Elephant.
PUMPKIN, Panther.
October, the Bronx Zoo has brought Sue and Andy in for their “Boo at the Zoo” event to sculpt their giant Atlantic Pumpkins. Most are grown on farms in upstate NY.
“We base what we sculpt on the shape of the pumpkins that we have to work with,” Andy said. Among the realistic works that they’ve done are: a bat hanging upside down from a tree limb, a 900-pound leopard, and a baby elephant with a 600-pound rump. “The pumpkins are built on a wood structure and put together with wooden skewers,” Sue adds. “They are ¾ rounds, so the backs are not sculpted—imagine a façade.”
Needless to say, they have continued to take their art to new heights. So why wouldn’t the sand-sculpting, ice-chiseling, pumpkin-designing artists take their métier to a new level?
Along came “Edibles.”
In the current chapter of this book, which has not been
written, Andy and Sue have added cakes, marshmallows, and pasta sculpting to their repertoire.
There’s been a macaroni pony for the San Antonio Food Festival, followed by a lion fountain made out of elbow macaroni in the south of France. With each challenge, Andy’s answer is, “We’ll figure it out.”
In 2013, Andy made the largest marshmallow mosaic, in Times Square, no less, and it is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. He created a sweet mosaic portrait of Sam Champion from Good Morning America and was awarded the world record on the show.
Sue and Andy were then commissioned, along with Benny Rivera of City Cakes, to make a sculpted cake for the opening of the New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker in December 2023. They chose to sculpt the prima ballerina dancing as the Sugar Plum Fairy. This delicate beauty, made out of cake, candy, fondant, and chocolate was on display for a month in the lobby of Lincoln Center.
Continued on next page
Andy Gertler and Sue Beatrice with PASTA pony.
Infinite imagination coupled with a natural desire to take it to the next level is what sparks their partnership. Onward to “Cardboard.”
The cardboard lions made of Amazon boxes and paper bags went viral on social media. Andy notes that “reusing cardboard is a way to recycle that is good for the planet.”
This past March, Andy and Sue were invited to exhibit along with 27 other world-class recycling artists at Tadweer Art in Qatar. They displayed seven cardboard sculptures and a dozen of Sue’s intricate, antique watchparts sculptures, which are a part of their jewelry line.
As with so many who create, this team seems to transition effortlessly from sculpting one material to the next, understanding that their work is transient, but imparting a brilliance that makes every challenge look easy.
Ephemeral art is just that, here and then gone. One day, if the chapters of Andy’s creativity are actually embodied into a book for future generations to read, we will look forward to the sequel.
For more information, visit allnaturalarts.com.
Dr. Sherri Talbot-Valerio
Photos courtesy of Naomi J. Stubbs
Port Provision’s Cheese Curator
Naomi J. Stubbs
After leading a beer and cheese pairing event at a local brewery in Port Jervis, NY, cheese educator, Naomi Stubbs realized that she was not alone in her love of cheese, which led her to found Port Provisions. She now runs pop-up cheese board nights as well as tasting/pairing events at local businesses, curates retail cheese inventory at various stores, and offers catering and private events, allowing her to share the stories and cultures of the cheeses that have won her affection with a wider audience.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in southwest England—Cornwall, to be precise. Cheese was not a huge part of my childhood, but we did spend summers camping in France and would often have meals consisting of bread, cheese, seafood, and wine—all the fine but simple foods!
I moved to London to study, working in restaurants and event catering along the way and was exposed to still more fine foods, and I found great pleasure in the simplicity of a meal of (good) bread and cheese. After that? New York, where Murray’s and the Bedford Cheese Shop became my playgrounds.
When did cheese really enter into your life?
When I moved to Port Jervis, I quickly realized it had no easy access to good cheese. When I felt that absence, I realized how much of a role cheese played in my life, and this in turn led me to pay more attention to the varieties and styles.
I found myself drawn to truly studying cheese history and cheesemaking and embarked on a program of study—part self-directed, part online with the Academy of Cheese in the UK and Cheese State University, Wisconsin, and part in-person courses in Ireland and Vermont. Partnering with Fox N Hare and Foundry 42+ in Port Jervis, and now BetterWorld in Milford, PA, I’ve found communities of people eager to embark on this learning experience with me.
What makes “good” cheese?
“Good” can be quite subjective, but on the face of it, if you like it, then it’s good! That said, truly “good” cheese is a product of craftmanship, tradition, science, and environmental sustainability leading directly to deliciousness.
Many of the cheeses we can find in the supermarket are mass-produced with the primary concerns being consistency and cost—we want a dependable block of cheddar that always tastes and looks the same and is cheap. What is sacrificed to get that? Corners are cut, nuance of flavor is lost, small farms are decimated.
But artisanal cheese? When the focus is on artistry and the culture, then we have cheese produced in an environmentally sound and economically conscious manner, where farmers are supported, animals are humanely treated, and the cheese is infinitely varied and divine!
The flavor of hand-crafted artisanal cheese is unparalleled. Cheese exists on a spectrum, though, and it’s not always easy to tell from the label how the cheese was produced and at what cost, and this is where an informed cheesemonger (seller of cheese) comes in, helping the consumer find the right cheese for their tastes and priorities.
What distinguishes different cheeses from different countries?
Cheese is all about place and culture. Many cheeses arose out of a necessity to preserve nutritious milk so it could be consumed through the winter, and the circumstances
of the cheesemaker dictated the resulting product. For example, milk can come from several different animals, and the feed of that animal (influenced by climate, vegetation, and terrain) can further shape the milk profile, similar to the “terroir” of wine.
The processing of the milk through adding cultures, salting, heating, stirring, and then cutting the curds is all shaped by the time, resources, and technology of the cheesemaker. Each of these factors can vary widely; each decision impacts the taste, texture, and appearance of the resulting cheese; and each decision stems directly from the place and circumstances of the cheesemaker.
A French housewife making cheese as one of many tasks in any given day would be unlikely to engage in a complex cheese-making process and would probably work in short bursts and use what she had on hand (e.g. ash from the fire) to protect and preserve the cheese, while a monk, with dedicated time to create cheese, might spend longer turning and hand-washing (often with beer) individual wheels of cheese.
Similarly, as different techniques evolved to remove water, we see different cheese textures and flavors—the process of “cheddaring” led to the firm but crumbly Cheddar cheese; while the milk for Alpine cheeses is often heated to high temperatures leading to sweet and elastic cheeses.
More modern determinants of the relationship between cheese and place come from governmental regulations. For example, a Brie in the U.S. will not taste the same as a Brie from France for many reasons including those related to terroir, as well as the FDA requirement that raw-milk cheeses be aged 60 days or more. This means that younger cheeses like Brie in the U.S. must be made with pasteurized milk. While this stems from a concern for food safety, it also means that the delicate microbial cultures in the milk are altered and so everything that follows is changed too.
You studied cheese making in Ireland recently? I did! This course of study allowed me to engage in handson practice of separating curds and whey, to witness the impacts of temperature and different cultures on the resulting pH of the curds, and to try out different curdcutting techniques. The two vats we worked with then led to two very different cheese types: a bloomy-rind, smallform cheese, and a block of cheddar. Balancing time between the lab and the classroom, we examined theory and practice in cheesemaking.
While I have no interest in becoming a cheesemaker (why work with one cheese when you can have them all?!), this hands-on experience from the Academy of Cheese allowed me to get a better understanding of how the cheese on our plate comes to be.
And “Cheese Camp”?
Ah yes! That was also this year. “Cheese Camp” was a gathering of true “cheese nerds” hosted by Jasper Hill Farms in Vermont. Running over 4 days, this was packed full of learning experiences covering topics from pasture management through aging in the vaults, and everything in between.
Several of the experts we met referred to themselves as “microbe farmers,” as everything they do is about protecting and curating the microbial content of the milk from the feed through to the cheese. They aim to mow at the right moment in the grass growing cycle to ensure optimal energy per bale, and they avoid mowing after heavy rain in order to minimize mud splashing up on the grass leading to increased pathogens in the hay. Once the grass is harvested, it is dried thoroughly on giant turbines to avoid fermentation as silage feed can lead to cheeses from the resulting milk blowing (exploding!).
Once the milk is collected, they minimize pumping of the milk to avoid damaging its delicate structure and composition. The milk and its biochemical properties are further protected by stirring, heating, and monitoring the milk carefully, as different bacterial cultures thrive at different temperatures and acidity levels.
After the cheese is formed, it goes to the vaults, where the temperature and humidity levels are carefully calibrated. In the Jasper Hill vaults (bunkers blasted into the side of an otherwise unassuming hill), the cheeses are turned and washed according to their style, and graded throughout the aging process to ensure they are developing as might be hoped.
I learned so much about the whole process of cheese, and this revived my love for American artisanal cheeses, which rival (and in some cases surpass) European classics.
Do you have a favorite cheese?
That’s not a fair question—it depends on the day/time/ season/situation! That said, I do love snacking on Alpine-style cheeses as they are smooth and sweet and sometimes have those delicious cheese crystals. Ewephoria is my current go-to.
I’m also super-partial to a washed rind cheese. These are the ones with the distinctive orange rind and an aroma often compared to “feet.” I don’t use those in events often, for obvious reasons, but they really can be quite spectacular!
CHEESE PLEASE
The cheeses I have available for sale and events change often, but two staples I nearly always have are Meredith Dairy’s Sheep/Goat Persian Feta from Australia and Red Fox from the UK.
Persian Feta is smoother and creamier than traditional Feta and is delicious spread on toast or added to a salad, while Red Fox is a Red Leicester, which is somewhat similar to a cheddar—crumbly yet smooth, sweet yet tangy, with a distinctive orange color.
For current offerings, visit the website www.PortProvisions NY.com or stop by one of Naomi’s retail partners. For events and updates, follow on Instagram and Facebook.
I typically switch up offerings at least once a month to include some kind of bloomy rind (right now I have Bloomy Breeze from Maryland), an Alpine cheese (currently Ewephoria, a sheep’s milk Gouda), and a classic cheddar (Beecher’s or Vault No. 5), and some notquite-cheese options, like chocolate cheese fudge and French butter.
Naomi J. Stubbs
Some visit to relive the past and their journey to Woodstock. Others come to experience what it was like for the first time. Through artifacts, films, music -and even a hippie busyou will be inspired not only by what was the most prolific three-day festival in history, but by the ideals that still remain relevant today.
Guided Docent Tours
Get a more comprehensive idea of what went down at Woodstock. (Some of our docents were even at the festival!) +$5 with museum ticket on weekends.
Photos courtesy of the Antique Piano Shop
A Necessity in Every Home
Washington Borough in Warren County, NJ, has gone through plenty of changes over the years. Today, new stores are opening up along the business district, but some of those old brick buildings hold memories that have been long forgotten.
Between 1877 and 1900, Washington was known as the “Organ Capital of the World.” In an era when people can listen to music wherever they are, thanks to streaming services and Bluetooth headphones, it could be easy to forget that before the invention of the Edison phonograph, the only way to have music in the parlor was for someone to actually play it.
Nowadays, the guitar is probably the first instrument of choice for most young people to learn, but in the 19th century, it was the parlor organ, according to Albert Spencer, a historian of early advertising. Reed organs were less expensive than pianos and easier to transport. Spencer also postulated that organs were popular because of their association with religious music, which made them more acceptable to many people. Pianos gained in popularity as the interest in secular music grew, he noted.
Two manufacturers dominated the manufacture of organs and pianos during those years, Beatty and Cornish, according to Gladys Harry Eggler, a former Warren County Cultural and Heritage Commissioner, who researched the organ business for the commission’s newsletter.
However, neither the organ nor the piano was the earliest to come into the borough. The melodeon was a predecessor to the organ. John A. Smith began to manufacture melodeons, also known as reed organs, in a building near the Taylor Street School in about 1850, according to a pamphlet on the industry at the Washington Public Library.
Henry Kirk White moved his melodeon factory from New London, CT, to Washington, NJ, in 1853. He remained in business until the start of the Civil War, and eventually joined the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, VT, in 1865.
A larger business was established by Robert Hornbaker whose family manufactured coffins on Hornbaker Street, now South Lincoln Avenue. His first organs were made in about 1860. Hiram W. Allegar started manufacturing what he called Star Organs in 1870 and was joined by C. P. Bowlby and Edward Plotts by 1875.
Soon, Daniel F. Beatty began his business, with Allegar, Bowlby, and Plotts doing some of the manufacturing for him.
Daniel F. Beatty
Daniel Beatty was a local boy, born in Mt. Lebanon in Hunterdon County. He learned the business from Robert Hornbaker after running a store in Washington Borough.
A salesman in the P.T. Barnum mode, Beatty budgeted hundreds of thousands of dollars for advertising, including ads in slick magazines of the day such as Harpers and
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Scribners, catalogs, invitations for potential customers to tour his factory, and a banner on his private railroad car. He toured Europe promoting his organs and always arranged for a welcoming celebration when he returned.
His factory moved around the borough until 1877 when he began construction of a five-story, 57,000-squarefoot building on Railroad Avenue. The E-shaped building was 165 feet long and 40 feet wide with two 80-foot rear wings. It was frame and built in dark colors with the Beatty name in huge white letters. It had steam heat and an elevator large enough to accommodate the largest product he made, according to a monograph on the organ industry by Eileen Bogdonowicz of Cedar Grove, NJ.
Advertisements of the time said Beatty made organs as well as grand, upright, and square pianos. Square pianos had horizontal strings arranged across a rectangular case with the keyboard on the long side of the instrument. They were made, starting in the mid-1700s, as something of a successor to the harpsichord. Many harpsichord players liked the treble tones on the piano, according to the square piano website.
Beatty’s tendency to include himself in the advertising led him to politics. Running such a large and profitable business made him popular with the locals, and he won five consecutive one-year terms as mayor of Washington. He was also the most eligible bachelor in Washington until he was 35 when he met Emily H. Barnes of Somerville.
from the railroad station, according to a book, Industries of New Jersey
The factory reached peak production in 1883. However, Beatty faced anger from dissatisfied customers. A New York Times article on January 27th, 1884, reported that Beatty had talked creditors into granting him an extension on $175,000 in liability. More problematic were articles in Music Trade Review, a trade publication, full of complaints about the quality of the musical instruments.
Beatty had lots of enemies, apparently. On January 28th, 1882, the Times had received what seemed to be an unsolicited story reporting on a second fire in the organ factory, only two weeks after the new factory was back in operation. The letter claimed the south wing had been saved, as had 100 organs ready for shipment, but an employee named James Bull was killed by the fall of the south wall. On January 29th, the Times published Beatty’s counter story calling the allegation of another fire, “a vicious canard.”
His office was in the center of town, in what is now known as the Stover Building and was connected by Bell Telephone with the factory. The factory also connected by telegraph to the railroad station.
The organs were known as elegant, durable, and affordable, Bogdonowicz wrote. Because Beatty advertised himself, with no agency as middleman, and he was experienced in mail order, even on overseas orders, he could keep the prices down.
Fire
The good times didn’t last forever, though. In September 1881, a fire started in an upper floor rubbing room. Washington’s fire department consisted of a bucket brigade. A telegram to Phillipsburg brought their fire truck, but not in time to save the building.
After getting assurance that the borough would buy a fire truck, Beatty built a bigger and better factory at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Beatty Street, about 100 yards
However, the problems Beatty had, combined with the sale of Allegar, Bowlby and Co., left the door open for another manufacturer. So entered the most famous name in Washington organs: Cornish.
Joseph B. Cornish
Joseph B. Cornish worked for Beatty and learned the organ business from him. He took over the Dawes and Wyckoff organ company in 1879 and started manufacturing in a warehouse along the Morris Canal, later owned by the King Lumber Company. As his business improved, he purchased a furniture factory and warehouse on the corner of Hornbacker Street and West Washington Avenue. Cornish added to the building as his business flourished. The plant totaled 45,000 square feet in a three- and four-story building. Also on the site were dry kilns, veneer sheds, and a wire-forming building.
Cornish became the leading manufacturer of organs in Washington by 1900, turning out about 10,000 annually. He sold the organs for less than $100 each and was worth well over a quarter of a million dollars by the turn of the 20th century. He was the only organ manufacturer in Washington who didn’t lose his fortune, according to Bogdonowicz.
Cornish was a founder of the First National Bank of Washington and built a beautiful Victorian Mansion on Belvidere Avenue.
He died in 1910 and his son Johnston succeeded him in running the company.
rRAfter his father’s death, Johnston sold the mansion which, unfortunately, had spent a time as the local headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan, and then as a boarding house. After a fire nearly destroyed it, it was rebuilt, but without the distinctive Victorian style that made it one of the most prominent homes in Washington.
The younger Cornish was more interested in politics than in business. At 26 years old, he was elected mayor of Washington, then State Senator from Warren County (Senators represented counties rather than legislative districts until 1965), and finally to Congress. He moved from the Belvidere Avenue house to a brick mansion on West Washington Avenue that is now the Warren Hills Funeral Home. Johnston, however, only outlived his father by ten years.
Even if Johnston had been a more serious businessman, the company would probably have been doomed. Parlor organs fell in popularity after the invention of the phonograph. Thomas Edison invented the first phonograph with a wax cylinder. His invention was improved upon by his sometime rival, Alexander Graham Bell, and then by Edison himself. Pianos were harder to sell by mail order because of their weight and other transportation issues.
But the end really came with World War I when the manufacturers couldn’t deliver on orders placed from Europe.
Cornish was known to have shipped organs as far as Australia. In the 1990s, the Warren Reporter newspaper ran an article by Richard Harpster about a Cornish organ discovered in a church in a remote corner of Iceland. The article also mentioned Warren County resident (and Harpster’s former son-in-law), Wayne Hotchkin, who had discovered a Cornish organ in a Moravian Church in Guatemala.
Because the musical instruments had been delivered throughout the United States and Europe, and even to these remote outposts, Cornish always included a guarantee that they would hold up in the harshest conditions. The website Antique Piano Shop claims “the instruments were exceedingly well made with substantial tone quality and excellent workmanship.”
Unlike violins, pianos and organs don’t necessarily improve with age. Some well-cared-for Beatty and Cornish instruments are still used in homes and churches, and, occasionally, one will show up at a piano dealer, in need of some tender loving care, but most definitely useable, and possibly even producing a stellar sound.
by
Photos
Arielle Lane
By Arielle Lane
How Iceland Changed My Life
The Timeless Connection with Horse
For centuries, horses have played a pivotal role in our lives. People depended on horses for transportation, chores, and even warfare. In modern times, the therapeutic benefit of horses has come to the forefront, and our equine friends have stepped into the role of healers. The horse can be your teacher, companion, and friend.
My journey with horses began at a tender age, and it has been a profound and personal connection that has shaped my life. My mother was the first to introduce me to horseback riding at a small stable in upstate New York. I developed a fondness for a chocolate-brown horse named Banjo. Every trip upstate included a stable visit so I could ride Banjo, and it didn’t take long for us to get in sync.
I will never forget the first time Banjo and I took off in a run, blazing our path away from the rest of the riders. As a young girl, I was fearless, filled with joy and wonder as we galloped down the trail, the afternoon sun filtering through the trees. Our shared joy lingered when we stopped to wait for the other riders. We had a trusting bond, and I sensed Banjo enjoyed my company as much as I did his. Banjo had become my friend, and I believe he understood that relationship.
Over time, Banjo, an already-aged horse, grew ill and died. This devastated me, and I soon learned the inevitability of death. A few years later, my mother grew sick and followed his fate.
My relationship with horses and nature was lost for many years as I succumbed to New York City’s mounting pressures, as many who live and work there do. The art of mindfulness became a myth, as did joy and authenticity. Like others, I became enslaved to other people’s dogma, working many hours in a field unrelated to my passion. Life became unnecessarily complicated, and I lost myself.
Then, I discovered Iceland, and this all changed. I began spending time on things I felt passionate about, such as writing, photography, and nature. Soon, I was on the path to redefining the terms of my life. I discovered yoga, being outdoors again, and the freedom to live authentically.
This process required tremendous courage, which I sometimes lack. I often sat outside staring at the night sky, asking the universe my purpose.
Little did I know that another chocolate-brown horse was waiting to answer this question.
My Icelandic Love Affair
My travels to Iceland began in 2021 as I longed to see the places my writings were based on. It soon became much more than that. Iceland was my destiny, blazing my path to self-discovery.
The island’s unspoiled nature and lively weather patterns enlivened me—and I developed a strange connection with the land that moved me beyond words. I often say it is not what I see when I visit Iceland that matters; it is what I feel, which has no explanation. I call it magic.
I will never forget my first hike across the emerald-green pastures above Skógar, catching a glimpse of the glacier sparkling in the sunlight. Witnessing my first volcanic eruption in 2021 was so awe-inspiring that I watched for hours. Experiencing the ferocity of the Icelandic wind humbled me like nothing else ever has.
Mother Nature rules Iceland. Arrogance will not survive in the land of fire and ice, so harmony with the elements is crucial to thriving here.
Like her inhabitants, I had to accept this, even learning to find joy inside a rental cottage on a dark, cold evening. Iceland can be unforgiving, and there is no more faithful symbol of tenacity to this than the iconic Icelandic horse.
A true free spirit, it was brought to Iceland from Norway over one thousand years ago and has become a symbol of adaptability and resilience.
I had traveled to Iceland six times in three years and still hadn’t ridden an Icelandic horse. My social feeds were filled with images of people riding across majestic black sand beaches. It looked so appealing, yet I hesitated to join them.
I had to choose the experience that I would connect to. I didn’t just want to ride the horse; I wanted to connect with the horse’s spirit. During my last visit, I did just that.
His name was Johnny, and he stole my heart like the Icelandic wind.
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A Ride with Destiny
Finding myself again was no easy process. Many questions arose, and I faced many big life decisions that I lacked the courage to make. As my travels to Iceland became more frequent, more answers arrived. Ask anyone who has made a significant life change, and they have most likely faced trepidations and uncertainty. When I arrived in 2024, I was anxious and lacking focus.
Then, in February, I discovered Mr. Iceland through an Instagram post and immediately felt a connection. Mr. Iceland was precisely what I was seeking, so I booked a stay and a ride toward the end of my trip. Mr. Iceland’s owner is Hordur Bender, a nature enthusiast and horse whisperer whose passion for sustainable living and helping others connect with this mindset is apparent.
On the day of my ride, Hordur greeted me warmly outside of the barn. I explained that I was nervous, which was to be expected for someone who hadn’t been on a horse in twenty years.
Hordur spent time explaining what to expect and the nature of the horse. His patience put me at ease. It was time to choose my steed.
When I entered the barn, I was greeted by a chocolate-brown horse named Johnny, who became instantly intrigued by me. The feeling was mutual, so he became my horse for the day.
After some time brushing and walking my horse, I was ready to mount it. I was surprised at how at ease I felt when I did. As I sat atop the horse, looking out toward vast farmland, I was no longer the uncertain person who had arrived, but I was the young girl riding confidently into the wind with Banjo. I was still nervous, but the joy of returning to horseback overtook my fears.
The sun was bright, blue skies were ahead, and a slight breeze made me grateful for the wool cloak Hordur had given me to wear. We traveled on a narrow path that wound through a vast field. A river snaked through the field beside us. In the distance, the Eyjafjallajökull glacier
sparkled like a diamond between its surrounding mountain peaks.
At first, it wasn’t easy to let go and relax in the moment. But Johnny was so in tune with me that I returned to myself every moment of the ride. Hordur had taught me to focus on myself, and Johnny was there to remind me of this. Johnny knew everything I felt. In many ways, he knew me better than I knew myself.
Mindfulness is the key to joy. When we immerse ourselves in an experience, we savor its every gift: the sun on my face, the wind across my skin, the sound of his hooves, or the sweet song of the lóa as she sang. The ride was a feat of alchemy, transporting me into a state of mind I craved.
Every moment was a gift, and Johnny reminded me to savor them all. Our unspoken communication echoed what I had with Banjo: the bond that forms between horse and rider when you open your heart.
During the ride, my mother came to mind. These were not sad or distracting thoughts but fleeting whispers of her memory. I’d like to believe she was there with us.
Near the end of the ride, we crossed the river again. It was beautiful. The sun reflected off its surface, rendering the water a rich golden hue. Orange-billed oyster catchers waded at its shore, and birdsong filled the air. At this point, I was relaxed, connected with Johnny, and immersed in the experience.
One of my best memories in Iceland was lying in a field of grasses beside a stream, feeling the earth beneath me. There was no camera, phone, or distractions, just me and the connection to nature. Now, I experienced this through the spirit of the horse.
Although the ride ended, a new journey had just begun. A friendship formed between me and Johnny that gave me the greatest gift one could receive: mindfulness and the return to my true self.
That evening, above my cabin on Hordur’s farm, I witnessed the most powerful aurora display I had ever seen. There was no question in my mind that this entire experience was destiny. In Iceland, the word Tillhera means “belonging.” I knew I belonged to that moment.
So, if someone asks me what riding an Icelandic horse is like, I will tell them it is like Iceland itself; it is magical You may lead the horse, but the horse will teach you. Be prepared to find yourself.
To read the unedited blog, visit mriceland.is.
Arielle Lane is a best-selling author, blogger of “An Owl in Iceland,” and creative entrepreneur, residing in Milford, PA.
“Things draw on as destiny wills.”
- Njal’s Saga
Marketscope
For the past fifteen years, Linda Garrabrandt has followed a spiritual path. She purchased Earthly Treasures three years ago because she felt that the shop needed to remain in the area. “We’re not just a shop. We’re here to help those who need healing through Energy Work, Reiki, Sound Healing, Readings, and Salt Therapy. We host many events and workshops.”
Striking crystals and stones are on display in the three rooms of her downstairs retail area. A large piece of Pink Tourmaline catches the eye, and the sign next to it relays that this gemstone’s properties help to instill love, joy, happiness, calm, and relaxation.
There was a rare Elestial Topaz, which is protective and guards against the negative, and across the room sits a beautiful stone formed with clusters of cream-colored Albite with Lepidolite, which helps to ease depression, fatigue, and stress.
Linda purchases the crystals and stones from suppliers who have ownership in mines, and she hand picks everything that comes into the shop. She also encourages local artists to display their works. There is handmade jewelry, slate crystal grids, etched tiles, a blacksmith’s functional décor, along with repurposed guitars, which were adorned with stained glass and turned into lamps. Linda, a potter for over 30 years specializing in the art of raku firing, also sells her pottery here.
Upstairs is where healing sessions, classes, and workshops are held. “All of our healers and readers are top notch. There’s Reiki with Reiki Master Mallory of Serenity Reiki; spiritual life coaching, which helps depression and anxiety; tarot card readings with Lexi; and Shamanic Healing, Reiki, and Tarot with Vanessa,” Linda continued. “We also have two psychic mediums, Jim Byers and Star. We are always adding new healers and scheduling new sessions and workshops to help with healing and to educate those who are looking to expand their spirituality and find their paths.
“We have a Salt Room (Halotherapy), where you can relax in zero gravity chairs, with soft lighting and relaxing music. There’s pink Himalayan Salt on the floor and the Halogenerator mists pharmaceutical grade salt into the room, which helps rid the body of toxins, helps with inflammation, and is anti-bacterial. Salt therapy is also recommended for those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, sinusitis, allergies, and colds, and it is beneficial for those who have skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It is a great stress reliever.
“I love my shop and being able to help those who need it,” Linda said. “Many come in just to get their zen from the great energy we have here.”
Repurposing book pages to petals by Turner Striffler of Wantage, NJ.
Flower Show at the New Jersey State Fair
Flowers by the Book
“Walking into the conservatory filled with flowers full of eye-popping color and beautiful specimens creates a wow factor.
This may be the most memorable moment for many attendees,” states April Fisher, a twelve-year volunteer at the Flower Show at the New Jersey State Fair.
For those not familiar, the “Sussex County Fair” had its origins back in 1923 when a Sussex County riding club held a horse show for children. Constantly expanding, after relocating from Branchville to Augusta, its name evolved from the Sussex County Horse Show to the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show, until 1999 when the naming rights to the New Jersey State Fair were purchased. Its main mission has been to showcase New Jersey agriculture, and since 1933, proceeds from the fair have been donated to local charities.
The Flower Show has been a part of the Fair since at least 1952. New floral themes are chosen each year by the Flower Show Committee, which organizes the competition with support from the NJ Master Gardeners.
The entire Flower Show is planned and conducted with a dedicated team of volunteers who donate approximately 600 hours to this premier showcase event. Fisher, a committee member, admires the creativity and expertise
of the floral designers who create truly unique arrangements. She participates herself and likes the challenge and the entire process from gathering information, planning, planting seeds, choosing the container and flowers, and considering how to interpret the categories.
The annual show consists of four main juried classes or divisions: Professional Artistic, Professional Horticulture, Amateur Artistic, and Amateur Horticulture.
Nationally known garden author and photographer, Ken Druse (The Journal, Feb/March 2020, “The Art of Planting Fragrant Gardens”); former Wave Hill Director of Horticulture, Louis Bauer; and local landscape designer, Barbara Abita, volunteer their expertise and serve as judges in the Professional Horticulture classes.
Accredited State Flower Show judges, Linda Williams, Gail Bassolino, Teddy Falconer, and Caron Menger, will judge the Professional Artistic floral arrangements
The Amateur Horticultural division and Amateur Artistic division are judged by Rutgers Master Gardeners.
Two talented local artists, Toni Chaplin and Robin LaBeur-Niemis, will be featured in this year’s show, and each will submit artworks to be interpreted by the artistic
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Watercolor painting by Toni Chaplin.
floral design entrants in both the Professional and Amateur Artistic divisions. The artists’ theme for this year will be, “Flowers by the Book.”
Professional Artistic design entrants can select from one or more of the following book titles as inspiration: A Memory of Violets, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Lilies of the Field, or The Language of Flowers
In addition, participating floral designers can create an “Art in Bloom” floral arrangement as an interpretation of a painting provided by Vernon resident, retired art teacher, artist, hiker, and gardener, Robin LaBeur-Niemis. “Art is the universal language. It connects us. It humanizes us,” LaBeur-Niemis adds.
The Amateur Horticulture and Artistic divisions are open to the public of all ages, and Toni Chaplin of Sparta will be showcasing her creative inspirations for these entrants.
The Amateur Artistic entrants may make their interpretations from the following books: Flowers for Grandma, Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, The Tea Rose, The Flame and the Flower, or The Blue Dahlia.
Additionally, one may choose the “Blooming Art” interpretation of a painting by Toni Chaplin, who has been painting for nearly her whole life and teaches at several local organizations. Chaplin’s favorite subjects include
flowers, landscapes, and wildlife. Chaplin comments, “Art is great therapy. This includes the creativity of flower arranging. It’s a chance to express yourself visually in a beautiful way.”
Both the Professional Horticulture and Artistic divisions, with artist Robin LaBeur-Niemis’s work as inspiration, are open to people working in the floral/horticultural field, including garden centers, florists, and floral consultants.
Professional horticulturists must use live plants; cut flowers are not permitted. No plants on the invasive list may be used, and plants must be properly identified and labeled.
In the Amateur Horticulture division, numerous entrees include annual cut flowers, perennial and shrub cut flowers, cut flowers from bulbs, tubers, corms, potted flowering plants, potted foliage plants, potted mixed foliage, and/or flowering plants.
In the popular cut flower category of the Horticultural division, one of the judging criteria is “perfection,” which compares the entry to a perfect sample of the species, meaning that the entry is not past prime and contains no rain or insect damage. Because of the unpredictability of the weather or growing season conditions, many entrants will sign up for multiple cut flower classes representing different species. That way, if certain varieties of flower have not developed to full potential, they can still submit another species that developed more optimally.
Watercolor painting by Toni Chaplin.
Some of the most unusual entries in recent years have been succulents, which have become trendy due to their low maintenance and unusual forms. Entries can be a single succulent or group class and range in simplicity from hens and chicks in a homemade hypertufa pot to the more exotic varieties.
One of the biggest changes to the Flower Show over the years was the relocation to the Conservatory in 2008, which provided the opportunity for the flowers to show off in a beautiful space. This also afforded the opportunity for many non-profits, such as the Native Plant Society, Rutgers Master Gardeners, Sussex County Community College Horticulture program, and Sussex County garden clubs, to display their information inside the Conservatory.
So why do people attend flower shows? The Flower Show is inspirational and connects people to beauty. Fisher believes, “Some people are inspired to enter themselves and others are inspired just knowing that others do. The inspiration and connection to beauty is what feeds us.”
The Flower Show at the New Jersey State Fair will be held from August 2nd to August 10th in the Conservatory at the Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. For more information, visit njstatefair.org.
Bob Chernow is a geologist who recently retired from teaching and enjoys gardening and spending time outdoors in Swartswood Lake, NJ.
ON WITH THE SHOW
Anyone who fulfills the requirements and submits an application provided on the website njstatefair.org can submit an entry. The deadline for entries is July 26th.
Both Professional and Amateur Horticultural division entries feature outstanding specimen plants, which must adhere to strict technical judging criteria. The 100-point grading scale for the Horticultural division, includes criteria such as cultural perfection, grooming, condition, conformity to rules, and distinction.
Professional and amateur entries in the Artistic division consider the artistic floral arrangement and design theme. Judging criteria include creativity, balance, design, depth, focal emphasis, line, mechanics, scale, and unity.
Each participant can submit up to 15 entries per person, and this year it is estimated that 40-50 people will submit a total of 350-450 entries.
Judging schedule: Professional designs, August 2; Amateur cut flowers, August 6th; and the Amateur designs, August 9th.
Aries (March 20-April 19) – It’s time to mix it up, by which I mean add some diversity to your daily experience, get out more, and experience the life that you want to have. Planets in Aries are saying it’s time to connect with your motivation and your sense of direction and purpose. Do yourself a favor and surround yourself only with those who share a similar sense of derring-do and the faith that life is for living, not waiting around.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) – Venus and Jupiter have both entered Gemini, hinting strongly at the possibilities opening up for you. Therefore, give yourself time to reassess your agenda before you home in on a specific point of focus. And note that refining your purpose does not actually foreclose other possibilities. You just need to work in a logical order, and reach a point of completion before you move on or expand your agenda.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) – For the first time since mid2012, Jupiter has returned to your birth sign along with sensitive, gift-bearing Venus. There is a positive message here for everyone, though a special message for you. And that is to put your faith in the unlikely, the unseen and the unknown. These aspects describe a new life dawning for you, with possibilities you’ve never dreamed of. Yet to access them, you must stay tuned to your subtle senses and your inner being.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) – If change comes from within, you’re in the process of experiencing the dawning of a new world — and a newfound sense of purpose. Your mind is becoming a different place, with different properties and facets of awareness you’ve never noticed. Think of it as an expansion of the range of your senses, though not the normal ones. You are being granted access to your full spectrum of introspection and intuition. A portal is opening into what Jung called your “individual unconscious.”
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) – At the moment, what seem like random forces working in your favor are anything but happenstance. There is a spiritual agency of some kind; the keys to tapping into this quality are pleasure and creativity. These qualities of being are at the essence of what is described as Divine, as they can be worthy end-goals of living. What passes for luck is often the creative principle: creativity is spiritually active. It energizes something in consciousness and in relationships.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) – How do you define success? Make sure that you know, because that will determine the success that you get. You’re being given a hand of wildcards, in the form of Jupiter moving over the midheaven angle of your chart: visibility, success and the power to take action. Think carefully what you want to accomplish. One temptation will be to proceed forward in all directions.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) – Venus, the Sun, and Jupiter in Gemini are calling on you to expand your horizons and see the greater possibilities that existence is offering you. The most
significant of these is the vast and unexplored territory within yourself. It’s about feeling good within your own mind and skin. The more this is under the guidance of your own creativity, the better. As you look out at the world, recognize that what you’re seeing is at least halfway to a dream you’re dreaming; a mirror in which you’re ultimately looking at yourself.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) – This can be a profoundly fulfilling time for you, though that comes with the recognition that all we perceive and experience is a kind of fleeting dream. Your pleasure and sense of beauty will be greater if you don’t cling to it. Then you will feel the grandeur of life, and of your existence — a fact often obscured by attachment and a narrow view of oneself. The movement of many planets, especially Jupiter, will help facilitate that, though you may find yourself distracted by your involvements with other people. Focusing on their desires can get in the way of your growth.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) – Sagittarius is perhaps the ultimate sign of pursuit: the hunter who goes after what he or she wants. And you can do so with single-pointed determination represented by the arrow. However, no matter how much of a sporting mood you may be in, the time has come to learn the power of attraction. Direct your energy not outward but inward, and explore your creative process; you have a passion, many passions, and developing what you love will turn up your attractive energy and draw people and things to you.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) – You will never be one of the crowd, so you might consider having some other social goal. It isn’t that people don’t like you; they do, but you see the world your own way, and you have ways of doing things that are not the usual ho-hum. More than anything, you aspire to a kind of self-determination that makes people nervous. The particular discipline you need right now is to confront a problem, or the artifact of one, lingering from the past.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) – The Sun, Venus, and Jupiter all in Gemini must feel like the best case of spring fever you’ve ever had. Your chart is bursting with the impulse to experiment with life — real life, direct experience in the physical world, with actual people who have actual bodies and conduct conversations in spoken words, not thumb-typing. This describes unusual opportunities to do so, and the awareness to make them real. What may dissuade you is that real experience comes with a risk factor. Only you can decide if life is a risk worth taking.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) – There are many things that you possess that you don’t need, and you can make excellent progress by passing a bit of them forward every day, or otherwise purging what you don’t need. This is also an excellent time to reflect on how fortunate your life is, and to recognize the many ways you are in a state of abundance. Take care of your inner life and as the month progresses, the opportunities in your outer life will begin to become evident.
