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(Mendham Twp. Newsletter - Autumn 2005)
MENDHAM TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY
www.mendhamtownship.org
Town
Hall (
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Mon.-Fri.)....(973)543-4555
Stephen
P.
Mountain
,
Administrator
Penny Newell, Clerk
Public
Works/Road Department ......(973)543-4509
Construction
& Zoning Office ....…..(973)543-7464
Municipal
Court .................………..(973)543-7526
Police
Dept. (Non-emergency only)..(973)543-2581
EMERGENCY ONLY......
9-1-1
Township Committee
Richard
H. Krieg, Mayor
(973)543-6755
Robert
D. Pierson Deputy Mayor (973)543-5606
Phyllis
Florek
(973)540-9543
Brian
J. Phelan
(973)895-3031
Jack
Schrier
(973)543-2447
===
Vote On Tuesday, November 8th
Election
Day this year is Tuesday November 8. On the ballot you will see choices for one
position on the Mendham Township Committee, one for
county
Freeholder
, two for state Assembly and one for Governor of
NJ. Each of those offices – from
the local to the state level -- has a great impact on the future of our town.
Suffice to say, your vote is critically important.
Tuesday November 8 Is Election
Day --
Your Vote Will Count!
Township
of
Mendham
Main Street
&
Cherry Lane
P.O. Box
520
Brookside
,
NJ
07926
IN THIS ISSUE
·
Live With Nature – Harmonize!
·
A Train in
Brookside
?
·
Keep Your Septic Flowing
·
Why Cats (Usually) Land on Their Feet
·
Recreation for Fall & Winter
·
Township Now on Patriot Ch. 25
·
Autumn Adventures at Schiff
·
Driveway Paving? Permit Required
·
Dates for Fall Brush Pick-Up, Xmas Tree Disposal
·
Mayor's Report: "What Can I
Say?" text to come
...
and more
Published by Your Township
Committee
===========
Vol. XIV No.
2
AUTUMN 2005
OUR
256th YEAR
Letter
from the Mayor
What
Can I Say?
Dear Friends:
Despite the extreme heat I
hope you all enjoyed a relaxing, pleasurable time this past summer.
Drought
wrote to you last Spring about the lack of rainfall and the drought conditions.
Well, here it is October and we have experienced one of the driest summers on
record. Our groundwater levels have diminished by at least 14 inches. Watering
restrictions were imposed on the entire state in March. After some refreshing
(same sign-off as previous
issue)
====
Open Space Committee
Our Great Open Spaces: How Much Are You
Enjoying?
You’ve heard of studies
showing that we use only a small portion of our total brainpower. But how much
of our wonderful open space properties are you using?
Recently, in the small
parking lot for our Buttermilk Falls Natural Area on
Calais Road
, a jogger stopped and asked what was “in
there,” and were there any hiking or jogging trails?
She mentioned that she had lived just up the road for over a year but had
never been inside. “Inside” - -
as if it were some deep dark forest from The Lord of the Rings where one goes in
and never comes out. I gave her my trail map and noted that yes, there are miles
of beautiful trails, most of them very easy and all of them interesting and
beautiful. I started thinking what a
shame it is that we have these magnificent public resources -- and how few of
our residents are using them!
More recently at a Township
meeting, proposals were made for using the former Seeing Eye property which the
town now owns and has renamed “India Brook Park.” Someone asked why we would
spend money to create more facilities when only a tiny percentage of our
residents has ever set foot inside our existing open spaces -- and so few are
using only a fraction of our 54-miles of existing trails (yes 54 miles)!
Considering the many plusses
that walking/hiking our open space areas offer – relief from stress, the
chance to lower blood pressure, scenic beauty that most towns can’t even come
close to matching, the indescribable sensation of breathing real country-fresh
air, it’s sad to not see more of us on our trails. “Our” trails, because
they’re right in town, and no more than about ten minutes away from wherever
you live here. While there are a few that have hills to climb or rocky footing
that might not be for everyone, by far most of our trails are clearly marked,
quite effortless to walk, and a good, safe, rewarding outdoor activity for the
whole family.
Everyone from small children
to seasoned citizens will benefit from the simple physical joy of experiencing
these trails, taking in the beautiful surroundings and splendid views,
interesting historical features, captivating streams, waterfalls, and pools.
Indeed, our right-around-the-corner trails demonstrate what “recreation”
literally means, as in being “re-created” or renewed.
We encourage you to visit at
least one of our town’s open space properties this fall but surely before next
spring. Wander around a little, explore aimlessly, just have fun. Take along our
excellent trail maps available in the Township Library and in town hall, or
check the maps posted at most entrances. You’ve already made the investment,
now reap the reward.
===
Septic systems are
not sewers!
Managing Septic Systems for Clean Water
By
Abbie Fair, ANJEC Water Resources Director
Sewage and wastewater. We flush
them underground and put them out of our thoughts. Unfortunately, “out of
sight, out of mind” can get us into real trouble with septic systems. (Because our town is unlike a city where large water systems are in
place, we mostly rely on our wells for water and our septics for disposal. The
differences are critical! – Ed.).
If not used and maintained
properly, septic systems will fail,
create unpleasant problems in our homes and contaminate the groundwater that
feeds drinking wells and nearby lakes and streams.
Repairing or replacing failing systems is expensive. Septic users need to
be vigilant and conscientious. Remember:
we all share the water.
About 1.2 million NJ residents
in 417 municipalities rely on septic systems, where wastewater from sinks, tubs,
toilets and washing machines runs into a large underground tank near the house.
Solids settle to the bottom of the tank and liquids, called “effluent,”
eventually run out into a system of perforated pipes in a drain or leaching
field, and seep down to the groundwater through several feet of soil. If the
system is working right, natural filtering processes make the water drinkable
once again. It’s quite simple.
Septic Management Makes Good $ and
Environmental Sense
Municipalities that require
septic management are doing their residents a favor.
Environmental commissions can work with their municipalities to inform
first-time homeowners about proper septic system care and use.
As an essential part of
residential infrastructure, properly functioning systems add to property values.
Lending institutions usually require proof of a working septic system
before approving a mortgage. Too
often, homeowners are unaware of problems with their septics until there is a
crisis – overflow or back-up for example. It is especially important to
maintain older systems since their location and design may pose serious threats
to ground and surface water quality
The
Care and Feeding of A Septic System
Some warning signs of septic
system problems include foul odors; slow draining toilets or drains; backups;
ponding or unusually lush, green growth over the drainfield. With any of these
conditions, call a septic maintenance professional immediately. Postponing
action will only increase the likelihood of groundwater pollution, expensive
repairs and nasty cleanups.
The National Small Flows
Clearinghouse and the NJDEP recommend the following approaches for homeowners
who want to insure proper operation of their septic system:
·
Have
the system inspected every 1-2 years by a professional.
Follow the inspector’s advice on pumping out the tank or other
maintenance. The schedule will vary
depending on tank capacity, number of people living in the home and level of
water use. Generally, tanks should
be pumped at least once every three years.
·
Learn
about your system:
its age, capacity, and the location and size of drainfield.
·
Practice
water conservation.
Too much water does not allow time for settling and bacterial action, and
overloads the drainfield. Try not to
operate several water-using appliances at once. Spread laundry washing through
the week.
·
Do
not pour fats, oils, oil-based paint, paint thinners, insecticides, toxics of
any kind down the drain; minimize use of harsh cleaning products.
These substances interfere with the systems’ bacterial process. Try baking
soda to clean toilets and sinks.
·
Do
not flush non-degradable items
like diapers, sanitary napkins, cigarettes, cat litter, or paper towels.
·
Don’t
use a garbage disposal
since it tends to overload the system.
·
Don’t
use septic tank additives/treatments.
These products are not necessary and may harm the system.
·
Keep
the drainfield clear to allow it to function fully.
Paving
deprives the drainfield of the air it needs to function.
Driving and parking over or near it will compact the soil.
Trees can clog the pipes. And
downspouts flowing over the drainfield can overload the system.
Reprinted
from the ANJEC Report, quarterly newsletter of the Association of NJ
Environmental Commissions, www.anjec.org.
====
Wildlife
Management
Township
Continues Addressing Deer Problem
For the past several years
the township has responded to the over-population of white-tailed within deer in
our borders. NJ Division of Fish
& Wildlife experts recommend a maximum of 20 deer per square mile as a
sustainable number, allowing the animals to roam away from heavily traveled
roadways and densely populated areas and to feed on naturally-occurring
vegetation.
Mendham
Township
now harbors a deer population that exceeds that
limit and residents have expressed distress when their costly and well-nurtured
plantings are subjected to deer “browse” damage. Beyond that, we are
concerned about public safety and the dangers that deer pose to all who drive on
our roads.
IN a related article,
Committeeman and Freeholder Director Jack Schrier speaks more about these
reflectors and the deer issue. But the town’s own Wildlife Management
Committee chaired by John believes the the most effective method of deer
population reduction is achieved through our controlled hunting program. We have
by this method significantly thinned
deer numbers on township-owned properties over the past few years. The Committee
has recommended that program will be implemented again this season in
Meadowood
Park
, Burnett Brook Natural Area, the former Seeing
Eye property, and Cold Hill Preserve.
Notices will be posted at
the entrances to these properties listing the dates and times they will be
closed to the public to allow hunting to take place.
All other public Open Space and Parks owned by
Mendham
Township
will continue to be available for public use.
Licensed hunters wishing to
hunt on our public land must register with the police, pay a special permit fee,
and pass a qualifying test. Applications for township hunting permits may be
obtained at police headquarters.
(Thanks to RDP)
===
Keep Alert for Deer
Drivers
-- Autumn is Dangerous
by
Jack Schrier
Many
Mendham
Township
residents know that I completed five years of
service on the NJ Fish & Game Council a few months ago.
Among the many things I re-learned is that deer and cars make a
dangerous, sometimes deadly combination, and that Autumn is one of the most
dangerous seasons on our roads.
Autumn is the breeding
season for deer, during which they are increasingly mobile. That means you, as a
driver, must make an extra effort to stay alert and drive with particular
caution. Deer are easily startled and when that occurs they often run into our
roadways. Remember this: When one deer crosses a road, you can be pretty sure
that others may be following!
In the fall, deer population
numbers peak, resulting in greater potential for drivers to encounter them on
the roadways. The risk is especially great for drivers who violate local speed
limits.
When you see deer alongside
the roads, that’s a reminder for you to reduce your speed and be especially
wary of any sudden movement. While
deer may be seen crossing roads at any time of day, they are most active at dawn
and dusk. Of course, these are the
same times when most commuters are traveling to and from work.
Drivers can lower their chances of hitting deer by slowing down and being
particularly alert in areas where deer typically cross.
Along
Mendham Road
, from its easternmost portion starting in
Morris
Township
, you see deer reflectors installed at intervals,
through to
Cold Hill Road
. A
one-mile test area was installed in the late 1990’s and when I became a
Freeholder I persuaded the Board to extend the reflectored area on two
occasions, until it met the Mendham Borough border.
While we monitor the numbers annually, it is difficult to be certain
about the specific effectiveness of reflectors (they only work at night, of
course) but there is agreement that they do help.
My own car was involved in a
collision about eight years ago when a deer appeared from nowhere and plowed
into the front passenger-side door. In
broad daylight. No one was hurt but
damage to the car was extensive. Sometimes
that’s what happens no matter how careful we are.
But in the main, it is up to us as drivers to be extra alert, adjust our
speed, and sharpen our driving habits so as to minimize the risk to our property
– as well as to our lives and the lives of our passengers.
===
First Aid Squad
Crutches, Wheelchairs,
Other Equipment Available to Residents
The Mendham Township First
Aid Squad has medical support equipment available to lend. Our supply consists
mainly of crutches, canes (one four-legged ), walkers, commodes and toilet
risers. Occasionally, a wheelchair
is available. The Squad also welcomes donations of wheelchairs and any clean,
usable equipment of this type. For a loan or to make a donation, call Linda
Brusco at Town Hall (973)543-4555 or at home (973)543-2830.
====
Recycling is the law
Recycling Every Other Monday, Townwide
Have
Your Containers & Bundled Newspapers at Curbside by
6 a.m.
Recycling
is required by law. As
a bonus, recycling also lets you reduce the weight of trash you put out for
weekly collection, thereby saving you money on your per-bag trash collection
costs!*
How to Prepare Newspapers
for Recycling
To properly prepare
newspapers for curbside collection, bundle them and tie the bundles with string
or twine. Keep newspapers separate from all other paper, and do not place
them in plastic bags. It is OK to include coupon flyers, glossy special
sections and all paper that actually comes with the newspaper.
Pick
up an illustrated flyer at town hall that describes all recyclable materials,
with information on our simplified recycling collection procedure.
*
(You pay only for the weight of trash you put out for collection, 65c for
one 15 lb. bag. For example, one 15 lb. bag of trash per week means that a full
year of trash collection is a mere $31.20! Stickers are available at Mendham
Apothecary as a convenience to residents. To learn more about our bargain trash
collection service, call town hall – 973-543-4555.)
=====
Time
Change is Time to Change
“Fall Backward” and Replace Your Smoke Alarm
Batteries
Take
a walk through your home and check all smoke detectors today. You should have
detectors on each floor level and in each bedroom. Devise an escape plan for
your family and practice it monthly so it becomes second nature. Test your units
monthly. If batteries are more than six months old, replace them. An easy way to
remember when to change smoke alarm batteries is to do so twice a year in Spring
and Autumn, when we change from daylight savings time to standard time, and
vice-versa. Be prepared … to save your family!
(Thanks
to RH)
=====
Letters
to the Editor
Thank
you for your letters and comments to the Township Newsletter. We also welcome
your photos and article ideas for future issues. Write to: Newsletter Editor,
Box 520
,
Brookside
,
NJ
07926
.
====
Do
you know?
Why
Cats Land on Their Feet
by
Virginia Wells, edited by: Dr.
Nicholas Dodman
Whether or not a cat lands on his feet depends on the distance he falls and the
surface he falls onto.
Contrary to popular belief, falling cats do not always land on their feet. In
fact, every day cats sustain serious injuries from falling out of open windows,
off balconies, and from rooftops. Cats do not fear heights and will often leap
after a bird or a butterfly only to find themselves falling through the air. The
trauma sustained from a fall of over two stories (24 to 30 feet) is known as high-rise
syndrome.
If a cat falls a short distance, he can usually right himself and land on his
feet. If he falls more than one or two floors, however, he may sustain injury.
Although he can right himself, his legs and feet cannot absorb the shock.
Cats have exceptional coordination and balance and a flexible musculoskeletal
system. They are normally able to orient their bodies in space in such a way as
to land on all four limbs. Here is what happens when a cat falls:
-- The cat determines which way is
up and rotates the head until it is right side up.
-- He brings the front legs up close
to the face, ready to protect it from impact.
-- He twists the upper part of the
spine to bring the front half of his body around in line with the head.
-- He bends his hind legs so that
all four limbs are ready for touchdown and, as this happens, he twists the rear
half of his body to catch up with the front.
However, whether or not a cat lands on his feet depends on
several factors, including the distance he falls and the surface onto which he
falls.
The “Righting” Reflex
Cats have the ability to right themselves in midair thanks to the vestibular
apparatus. This is a tiny fluid-filled organ housed deep in their inner ear that
is responsible for their remarkable balance. It is composed of tiny chambers and
canals lined with millions of sensitive hairs and filled with fluid and minute
floating crystals. When cats move, the fluid shifts, giving readings on the
body’s position – similar to the instrument in an airplane called the
“artificial horizon” that tells the pilot the position of the plane’s
wings in relation to the horizon.
(insert
(silhouetted?) photo of cat from floppy disc, with captionJ
“Mr. Winston” thinks about jumping from the
window. Don’t let him!
When a cat falls, the vestibular apparatus becomes active and helps the cat
register which way is up. This allows the cat to right himself in midair by
adjusting the orientation of the body. The righting reflex appears in a kitten
at three to four weeks and is perfected by seven weeks.
Musculoskeletal System
The uniqueness of the cat’s skeleton is another reason they can right
themselves. A cat does not have a collarbone and the bones in his backbone have
more mobility than in many other animals. So cats have free movement of their
front legs and they can bend and rotate their bodies like a pretzel.
Terminal Velocity
In a study from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, two
veterinarians examined 132 cases of cats that had fallen out of high-rise
windows. On average, the cats fell 5.5 stories, but 90 percent survived,
although many suffered severe injuries. The number of broken bones and injuries
increased with the number of stories the cat had fallen – up to seven stories.
Above seven stories, however, the number of injuries declined. In other words,
the farther the cat fell, the better were his chances of escaping injury.
The reason for this may be that after falling five stories or so, cats reach a
terminal velocity. The velocity or speed of a falling body does not increase
forever because the rate of increase in speed is interrupted by air resistance.
A skydiver reaches a terminal velocity of around 130 to 140 mph after about 30
seconds of free-falling. Cats reach terminal velocity much sooner at a speed of
60 mph.
It’s instinctive for both humans and animals to tense their muscles when
free-falling, which makes them more susceptible to injury. When cats land before
reaching top speed, they are rigid and flexed and prepared for the landing. This
results in most of the force impacting the parts of the body that hit initially.
However, after reaching terminal velocity, cats relax their muscles and spread
themselves out like flying squirrels. This allows the impact of the fall to be
spread across a larger surface area.
Safety First
Cats are good at surviving falls. However, there are many examples of cats
falling only a short distance and acquiring severe injuries. The best way to
keep your cat safe is to make sure there are no high-up open windows in your
home without heavy screens. Make sure screens are intact and strong as cats
insistent on going outside have been known to slash through thin screens.
Finally, unscreened balconies and upstairs porches should be off-limits to your
cat.
It’s true, your cat may be able to survive a fall – but, then again,
he might not. You never know. And prevention is better than a visit to the
veterinarian’s office.
===
Environmental Commission
News of Our Natural Areas
Enhancements, minor and
major, to our precious Natural Areas are underway to make your visits even
more enjoyable. Visit soon and check out some of the more noteworthy
improvements.
- Perhaps the biggest improvement this year has been the program to mow
the grass along our Natural Area trails. Under the direction of Department of
Public Works Superintendent Dave Read, the neatly trimmed grass reduces
potential for contact with ticks and poison ivy, and also makes walking much
easier.
- Visitors to the Burnett Brook Natural Area who (understandably) dislike
sinking into mud up to their shoe tops, on the Western leg of the loop trail in
the lower parcel, will find that some 250 feet of boardwalk has been installed
to keep walkers safely above the mire. This project was greatly aided by a
donation of support timbers from township resident Paul Hogan of Somerset
Turf.
- New bulletin boards were installed by DPW at Tempe Wick Natural Area and India
Brook Park. Maps have been posted to
help visitors become familiar with the recently developed trails there. A
new bulletin board was installed at the Dismal Harmony entrance on
East Main Street
; the board replaces a lovely, rustic structure
built by township Historian Ernie Maw that fell victim to the depredations of
time and careless motorists.
- An improvement that isn’t evident yet, but which has consumed quite a lot of
time and effort by the Environmental Commission and Township consultants, is
construction of a bridge across the India Brook to join India Brook Park with
Buttermilk Falls Natural Area. The agonizing process of acquiring a state
stream encroachment permit is underway. It is hoped that a permit will be
received by year-end so that construction can take place during the summer of
2006.
The township and our volunteers are doing a great job of making these areas
useful and enjoyable. But all users
of our natural areas can help, too, just by respecting certain basic rules of
natural area etiquette:
- Please don’t litter. Trail users are generally respectful of their
surroundings and there is very little littering in our natural areas -- but if
there were no littering at all, the more conscientious visitors wouldn’t have
to carry out others’ trash.
- Please don’t pick
wildflowers. We hope you admire them, smile, and walk on, leaving them for the
enjoyment of all.
- Please keep your dog(s)
under control. You may consider your dog to be friendly, but some people
(and some dogs!) are not comfortable in the presence of unrestrained dogs. And,
of course, even a normally friendly dog may feel just a little grouchy
now and then.
Above all, we hope you will visit often and take advantage of our town’s
natural areas. They are a unique resource open to all but you can’t
experience them at a distance. Stop in at town hall for a map … and take
a walk.
(Thanks to RR and SDL)
(insert photo of kids with
caption)
Brownies
from Mendham Township Troop 2071 hiked the Burnett Brook Natural Area earlier
this year. Tour was a joint program of the township Environmental Commission and
the Open Space Committee, organized by OS Committee Vice-Chair Sally Mulcahy.
From left, in front: Alison Pappalardo, Geena Santomo, Phoebe Pappalardo,
Samantha Smith, Danielle Beggan, Brooke Tolley, Aimee Freeman and Erin Morris,
and in the back row, Amanda McDonough. The tall kid in the cap is EC Co-Chair
Ralph Rhodes.
===
Fifteen
Minutes of Fame
Town
and
County
Now
on TV
By the time you read this
newsletter, it is expected that
Mendham
Township
will be “on the air” on Patriot Media cable
Ch. 25.
The Recreation Commission,
working with Mayor Richard Krieg and the expertise of Committeewoman Phyllis
Florek, spent several months working out the details and getting the equipment
obtained and set up. You’ll see a scrolling bulletin board of events of
interest to all residents, with more enhancements as we gain experience. We even
have our own “studio” on the west side of town.
(You can be sure it will be more fun to watch than the color bars that
used to inhabit Ch. 25!)
The Morris County
Freeholders also have an informative cable show that was unavailable here until
Patriot Media agreed to carry it. That
show, Focus on Morris County, may now
be seen on Patriot Media's Ch. 8 (as well as Cablevision
Ch.
21).
The Freeholders’ show is
scheduled to air weekdays at
8:30 a.m.
and Fridays at
10 p.m.
Patriot
Media Ch. 8 can be seen in both Mendhams as well as
Chatham
Township
, the
Chesters, Long Hill and
Harding
Township
.
Focus on Morris County, an
informative program designed to provide information about county government
agencies and the programs and services they offer, is now airing on Patriot
Media's Ch. 8. The show, which is produced by the Morris County Board of Chosen
Freeholders, airs weekdays at
8:30 a.m.
and
Friday nights at 10. The 30 minute program is also intended to keep county
residents up to date on the actions taken by the freeholders.
===
Recreation
News and Events
Summer Through Winter, the Fun Goes On!
The Recreation Commission’s activities
began early this summer with tennis lessons for all ages.
Other program offerings included SmartSitter Babysitting class, Pony
Share Program, US Sports Institute camps, Preschool Day Camp and a Biology
Preparation Class for incoming freshman. All
programs were well attended and thoroughly enjoyed.
Many of these programs are offered several times through out the year.
See below for the Fall offering of programs.
Summer at
Brookside
Beach
“
Brookside
Beach
” adjacent to the elementary school had another
successful year under the great leadership of Director Jim O’Neill.
The water remained a beautiful Caribbean Blue and was a welcoming sight
especially during the very hot summer we encountered.
The clean water and beach gave over 5,300
visitors (including members, thier guests, the day camp and several parties) a
break from day-to-day activities. Every
Tuesday and Thursday for most of the season the children’s librarian, Jennifer
Lemoine, was on hand to provide story hour and crafts.
The beach hosted a movie night and Lobster Bake, both of which were well
attended. Swim lessons were offered
for three weeks in June and July, with over 60 children learning to improve
their water skills.
This summer, in its 36th season,
the Mendham Swim team was made up of 40 swimmers ages 6 to 18. They were led for
a second year by Shannon Koenig (age 17) and Kris Dambach (age 18), both of whom
competed as swimmers in addition to their coaching duties. The team participated
in 10 meets held across Morris and
Sussex
County
, as well as at its home base,
Brookside
Beach
.
This year the team parents made a Herculean
effort and hosted the North Jersey Regional Lake League Championships for about
400 swimmers at
Horseshoe
Lake
in Roxbury. During this meet, 18 Mendham
swimmers participated to win many ribbons and a total of nine medals. Medals
were awarded to swimmers who placed in the top six of the entire League.
Lisa Bond (age 8), Ryan Oram (age 9),
Kathryn Oram (age 11), and Ian Graham (age 9) received medals for their medley
relay. Congratulations also to Brittany Bundschuh (age 9) for her swim, which
helped the relay move on to the Final race. Kyla Dambach (age 15) received 5th
place for her backstroke. Kris Dambach, as a senior, finished his career with a
bang; receiving medals for all four strokes and winning 1st place in
the 50 meter breaststroke. The team is especially proud of winning the
League’s Good Sportsmanship Award.
The Township Committee joins the Recreation
Commission in thanking the entire
Brookside
Beach
staff for their hard work and dedication in
making our unique beach a safe, fun place to be throughout the summer.
Fall
Programs
Just because summer is over doesn’t mean
the Recreation Commission stops. In fact, we’re gearing up for a full slate of
Fall activities. Please check for information on the following programs in your
children’s backpacks, the Township web site (www.mendhamtownship.org)
and local newspapers.
SmartSitter
Babysitting Class:
To be held Saturday, October 1st from
9:00
-am to
3:00pm
at the
Municipal
Building
. Cost
$42.00 for children ages 11 to 15.
Volleyball
Program for girls 5th – 8th
grade beginning in October on Monday evenings and at the Middle School.
Pony
Share Program held at
Meadowood
Park
for children 4 to 12.
This class will begin Tuesday September 27th and continue for 6 weeks.
Cost of the program is $180.00.
Squirts
Multisport Program for children 3 to
5. –Tuesdays, at
Brookside
fields
1:30-2:30pm
beginning September 20th and continuing for 6 weeks. Fee $95.00.
Tennis:
Peewee (ages 4-7 yrs) Saturdays,
9:15 - 10:00am
for 5 sessions beginning 9/17
Fee: $52.00
Juniors (ages 7-13) 5 sessions September
26, 28, 30, October 3, & 5 from
4:00-5:30pm
. Fee: 77.00
Mad
Science: Tuesday or Wednesday
from
3:50-4:50pm
at
Mendham
Elementary School
. You
must choose either day. Each session
is 8 weeks long. The program is open to children in 1st-4th grade.
Fee $95.00 and classes begin the week of October 4th.
Ski
Club:
Mendham
Township
Recreation Commission and Mendham Borough
Recreation Committee will again bring you the MENDHAMS SKI CLUB.
We will be taking four trips to the Poconos and one-day trips to
Windham
Mountain
in January and February 2006.
This makes a great Holiday Gift! All
the details will be released late October.
For registration and to have any questions
answered about the above programs, contact the Township Recreation Director,
Jeanne Montemarano at 973-543-4555 ext. 122.
===
Schiff
was saved for your enjoyment
Schiff Nature Preserve
The Schiff
Nature Preserve, located on
Pleasant
Valley Road
in Mendham, offers numerous public programs throughout the year.
Pre-registration is required for all events. Here’s the upcoming line-up:
In October
Recycled
Crafts For Kids
- Draft Dodgers
Tuesday
October 11th
4-5:30 p.m.
(ages 6-8)
Wednesday October 12th
4-5:30 p.m.
(ages 9-12)
COST: $10 Members, $20
Non-Members
Songbird
Saturday Birdwalk
Saturday October 15th
8 a.m.
COST: FREE (Ages 12 and up)
Environmental
Book Club
Monday October 24th
7 p.m.
COST: FREE (Adults only)
Eye
of the Albatross: Visions of Hope and
Survival by Carl Safina
Bats
of
North America
Friday October 28th
7 p.m.
COST: FREE
(All ages)
In November
Basket-Making Class for
Adults
Saturday November 5th
1-
4 p.m.
COST: $ 35 Members, $50
Non-Members (Ages 15
and up)
Recycled
Crafts For Kids
- Cloth Napkins
Tuesday November 8th
4-5:30 p.m.
(ages 6-8)
Wednesday November 9th
4-5:30 p.m.
(ages 9-12)
COST: $10 Members, $20
Non-Members
Let’s
Talk
Turkeys
Wednesday November 9th
7 p.m.
COST: FREE
(All ages)
Environmental
Book Club
Monday November 28th
7 p.m.
COST: FREE (Adults only)
Desert
Solitare by Edward Abbey.
In December
Safari
on the Serengetti
Sunday December 4th
2 p.m.
COST: FREE (All
ages)
Recycled
Crafts For Kids - Surprise
Holiday
Gift and Recycled Wrap
Tuesday December 13th
4-5:30 p.m.
(ages 6-8)
Wednesday December 14th
4-5:30 p.m.
(ages 9-12)
COST: $10 Members, $20
Non-Members
For
more information you can visit the Schiff website at www.schiffnaturepreserve.org
or e-mail: schiffnaturepreserve@yahoo.com
Contact
Tanya Bisignano,
Nature
Center
Director, Schiff Nature Preserve, 339
Pleasant Valley Road, Mendham, NJ 07945. Phone 973-543-6004, fax 973-543-5464.
(Thanks to TB)
==
Historic Preservation
Committee
The
Day the Train Came to
Brookside
A train?
In
Brookside
?? Why, that would be news, don’t you think?
And so it was, when the “Jerseyman,” the newspaper of the time, ran
the following:
“On
Monday, last week, the
village
of
Brookside
was
noted in its history as having a locomotive in it for the first time as it came
in whistling with ringing bell and stopped at the new siding for the place just
finished. The roar of a cannon was
heard, and from the grove came the citizens to meet it with welcome rejoicing;
wreaths of flowers were hung over the headlight and other parts of the engine,
and a big bouquet was presented to the superintendent.
A feast of welcome was provided for the laborers and all felt thankful at
the reception the town gave the stranger. Cheers
were given for the president of the Construction Company, followed by more for
other officers of the Company. After
several short speeches, the day’s work being over, all went home rejoicing.”
Jerseyman,
June 29, 1892
Sounds like a big deal…and it was.
Because trains in the 1800s brought growth and prosperity to the towns
they visited. For Mendham (there was
only one Mendham back then, 14 years before the Borough was carved from the
Township), accessibility to a train meant faster, cheaper delivery of our
products to the larger markets of Morristown, Montclair, Newark and New York.
The lime from our kilns, iron from our forges, grain from our mills, plus
the lumber, milk, vegetables and other items produced in Mendham, could be sold
in big markets at competitive prices for greater profits.
The train also offered
convenience and economy to our residents. Coal
delivered from Morristown by horse-drawn cart at $2 a ton could be delivered by
train for $1 – not only a 50% saving but a considerable sum saved at a time
when workmen earned about $1.75 a day. It
also offered our students convenient transport to the high school -- in
Morristown
-- or weekend excursions for anyone to the Black
River Glen “out west.”
Hopes were high the day the
train arrived. But the promise, it
turns out, exceeded performance. The
railroad was poorly financed, even more poorly constructed, and met with some
disastrously bad luck.
The railroad was the
property of the Rockaway Valley Railroad, a company incorporated on March 28,
1888. It was described as a
short-line railroad that would extend the 24 miles from White House Station to
the Watnong section (near Lake Road) of Morristown.
Its purpose was primarily to carry peaches from the huge orchards in
Warren and Hunterdon counties to the markets and distilleries in Newark and New
York. The company estimated 200,000
baskets of peaches would travel the rails each year.
To build the railroad, the
company sought economy instead of quality. It
selected John Melick, a resident of Hunterdon County who had inspected
railroads, but had never before built one. At
a time when others were quoting construction costs of $27,000 a mile, Melick
quoted $15,000.
How could he come in at so
low a price?
First, he selected
light-weight rail rather than standard weight.
Then he placed crossties 30” apart when others placed them 19” apart.
And then there were the beds. Properly constructed rail beds were made raised at
least 6” to 12” inches above the ground, and spaces between the ties filled
with a porous substance to assist in drainage.
Not Melick’s. His tracks
were laid on the ground like trolley tracks, and the spaces between ties were
filled with mud and, in some places, a sprinkling of cinders.
There was no excavation. Brush
was cleared. Low points were filled
in and high points leveled. Except
for a few trestles, the entire project was completed with pickaxes, shovels and
wheelbarrows.
The combination of poor
construction and unevenness of the ground caused the train to lurch and sway as
it traversed the rails. Passengers
noticing this, referred to “The Rock-a-Bye Baby Railroad” – a name more
recognizable by people today than its proper “Rockaway Valley Railroad.”
The first spike was driven
May 1888; the last rail laid July 1893; and after valiant efforts to keep it
alive, operations mercifully stopped just 10 years later, October 13, 1913.
The problems that faced the
Rock-A-Bye Baby comprise a litany.
Any venture dependant on
peach production places its future in the hands of Mother Nature.
And to the railroad, Mother Nature was not kind.
Expecting to ship 200,000 baskets of peaches each year, 1889 saw only
80,000. Blight hit the orchards in
1890, and shipments dropped to just 104 baskets.
The next few years saw some recovery, but blight struck again in 1895,
and within a few years the peach orchards, and revenues from them, had
disappeared.
Derailments and accidents
were common – nine in 1908 alone. Arsonists
destroyed two coal trestles, a newly built station and four freight cars, one of
which was filled with beer. Tracks
were submerged in the spring as the Whippany River overflowed its banks.
Locomotives were purchased that were in inoperable or too heavy for the
light-weight rails. The list goes
on.
The railroad filed for
bankruptcy in 1895, 1906, and 1912. Finally,
in 1917, after four years of inactivity, the company tore up the rails and
crossties as part of the war effort. They
sold the ties for $84,000, and the rails for about $150,000.
It was easily the most
profitable year in the company’s history.
Sources:
Taber, Thomas T. III, The
Rock-A-Bye Baby, © 1972
Johnston
, Howard E., The
Rockaway
Valley
Railroad, © 1958
www.members.tripod.com/njrails/18th_Century/Rockaway_Valley/RockawayValley.htm
(Thanks
to Tim Timpson)
(Photo caption, photo on
CD:)
Brookside
Train Station, ca.
1906.
Located near Cherry Lane, it was made from one of the two four-wheel
cabooses owned by the railroad. Note
the present Community Club building in the background.
===
MENDHAM TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS
Fall
Brush Collection, Fall Tire, Battery and Oil Collection
Submitted by- David H. Read, Sr., Superintendent of Public Works
DATES
Fall- Brush Pick-up
Tuesday
– October 11, 2005
Fall- Tire, Battery, Oil
Recycling
Saturday- October
15, 2005
Christmas Tree Pick-up____________________________Week
of -
January 9, 2006
The
Fall Brush Collections will begin on Tuesday, October 11, 2005. Please place
brush at the side of the road by 7:00 AM, with the ends facing the roadway.
ALL
BUNDLES MUST BE TIED - WITH STRING, NOT WIRE.
BRUSH WILL NOT BE PICKED UP, IF IT IS NOT TIED.
Brush bundles should be
less than 12” in diameter and 6’ in length. No stumps and no
logs over 6’ in length or over 6” in diameter will be picked up. All
material must fit through the chipper. BRUSH
WILL ALSO NOT BE PICKED UP if lot or wooded areas are cleared by either the
homeowner and or contractor. Homeowners and or contractors must dispose of
cleared wood themselves. Brush pickup is mainly intended for the purpose of
clearing away brush which has fallen during storms.
It is crucial NOT
to include in your bundles any material other than branches, scrub or brush.
When wire and even metal rods are tucked inside this damages township equipment,
which must then be repaired or replaced with your tax dollars. MOST
IMPORTANT, it can easily cause serious injury to our workers as the material
passes through the chipper.
The Fall Tire, Battery and
Oil Collection will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2005
Location: DPW Garage, 40 Mt.
Pleasant Road.
Hours: 8:00 AM until
noon
.
Charges are: tires--$3.00,
tires with rims--$5.00, batteries--$2.00, oil--no charge.
DRIVEWAY PERMIT
A driveway permit is required
when replacing a existing one, | 
