The monthly meeting for Jackson Pathfinders was held on Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 8:00 pm in the Jackson Public Works Building on Don Connor Boulevard. Tom Stevens, Treasurer, presided. Members and guests present were Tom Stevens, Treasurer, Karen Borga, Ronnie Bruchez, Leo Kissling, Jr., George Nebel, Roger Friend, Dawn Sentore, Fred Gan and Bill Tuohy.
Brenda Gregory's letter of resignation was circulated. Karen Borga took notes for meeting minutes. The June minutes, submitted by Karen Borga were circulated and approved with additions.
Treasurer, Tom Stevens reported a balance of $4024.06, June meeting. No new spending since last meeting. July balance same. Requisitions pending approval are as follows: 1. $400.00 education assistance for wildlife and environment course for wildlife committee chairman, 2. $122.40 for website and domain name registration fees, 3. Approximate $150.00 for 1000 Pathfinders brochures for Jackson Day handout, 4. Approximate $200.00 various record keeping and office supplies (Staples Order)
Corresponding Secretary, Sarah Ralston was absent. Sarah's thank you letter to Public Works was circulated.
Jackson Day: Bernadette Gill, absent. Jackson Day is planned for Saturday, September 21. Volunteers are needed for the information booth and also to march in the parade.
Wildlife
Preservation Report:
Tony Santa Maria submitted: The wildlife
viewing area at F.A. is coming along nicely. So far, 2 benches and 2 feeding
stations have been installed. A sundial is presently in the works awaiting
the fulfillment of a materials request submitted to the Forestry Resource Center
for lumber to construct 2 more benches and the sundial which will be made from a
3 inch slice of a twenty inch diameter log. A wildflower/ herb garden will be
created between the 2 previously installed benches when the weather cools down.
I am presently collecting white cedar logs approx. 4 to 6 inch diameter and 5 to
15 ft. long. I hope to get assistance with the acquisition of these logs from
the township as previously discussed with Tom Stevens. The white cedar will be
used to construct a fence around the garden and for various other applications.
We will need to organize a major wood chip moving event to cover the ground (
after weedwacking the area) in order keep the weeds down and to reduce the tick
population.
Grants: Dawn
Rakow reported: I am researching a Grants-in
Aide Program grant from NJCF to be sure we are eligible to apply for it to use
at the FA property for more interpretive trail signs. If not, I would like
to apply for it to use towards a survey of the Township property adjacent to the
NJCF property if we get committee approval to add it to our trail system.
Unless the township already holds a survey for that property, then it would
be used for the town engineer to place monuments so we know the boundaries.
Any other suggestions are welcome. Karen Walzer and Kim Venezia have
offered to work on grants with me.
Membership: Dawn Rakow reported: No activity at this time. The Pathfinders press release continues to appear in the Jackson Times weekly.
Frank Applegate: Dawn Rakow reported: I have seen Tony Santa Maria's addition of deer and bird feeding stations as well as benches. It looks great. Are we able to provide the feed out of our budget if Tony agrees to monitor it. I was in touch with Anthony Marano in reference to his Eagle Project. He can't get his final approval without a copy of the stream encroachment permit. He is ready to start the bridge at the end of September or early October. I gave him some grant information to try to get the funding for the bridge materials. When we get an engineer signature on the bridge plans, I will mail everything to Lisa MacCollum at NJCF for approval. I need someone to write up a project description to include with the application. Please contact me if you are interested in taking the job. How can we get corrections workers over there to spread more woodchips?
Boy Scout Projects: Leo Kissling, Jr.: A sample workbook that an Eagle Scout completes for service projects was circulated. A service project could be the construction of boardwalk at the NJCF Frank Applegate Road Nature Trail. Leo has contacted a scout about helping out at Frank Applegate by constructing a bridge or boardwalk. Several scouts are working with Leo in various areas of the FA trail. Leo volunteered to contact Anthony Marano to locate an engineer to sign the bridge plans for the stream encroachment permit.
Mapping: Tom Stevens explained that there was no mapping done since Pathfinders last meeting. Roger Friend looked at a trail on Kolondorsky Road near Diamond Road. Tom volunteered to research property owner's information.
Biking: Ron Bruchez explained details of upcoming bike rides. Saturday, August 17th will be a 10 - 25 mile bike ride through the Pine Barrens, benefiting Multiple Sclerosis fundraising. September 7th or 14th a training ride is planned in Jackson. Ron asked for help in promoting the October 19th Jackson Bike Ride. The group discussed making the October 19th bike ride a benefit for the Jackson Women of Today. Tom Stevens volunteered to contact the Jackson Women of Today and Karen Borga volunteered to get permission from the township committeemen. Ron expects to have a sample flyer to circulate during the August 15th Pathfinder meeting.
Johnson Park: Roger Friend has posted a lymes disease prevention poster in the Pathfinders trailhead sign at Johnson Park.
Forest Resource Education Ctr./Bowman Road: Karen Walzer absent. The forestry center is planning their fall festival celebration for Saturday, October 5th. Volunteers are needed to help with the Pathfinders information booth.
Hiking: Jim Doyle reports no activity since Pathfinders last meeting.
Website: George Nebel, Fred Gan. Fred talked about the redesigned Pathfinders home page. Karen Borga offered to post monthly meeting minutes directly to Pathfinders website. George requested input from each committee chairperson concerning information for website posting. The group requested George and Fred to make up a membership form page that visitors could use to sign up on line.
Scrapbook: Lauren & Alyson Stevens reported no additions since last month.
Land Acquisition: Karen Borga. Tom Stevens explained that Andy Strauss is still working on our list of properties.
Next monthly meeting scheduled for August 15, 2002. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 PM.
Submitted by Karen Borga