Jackson Pathfinders Monthly Meeting                                November Meeting Minutes   (final)

The monthly meeting was held on Thursday, November 21, 2002 at 8:00 PM at 209 West Veterans Highway, Jackson (Golovaty House). Tom Stevens, Treasurer presided. Members present were Karen Borga, Recording Secretary,  Jim Doyle, Ronnie Bruchez, Leo Kissling, Jr., Karen Walzer and Sam Wimmer.

The October minutes were read and approved with corrections and additions.

Treasurer, Tom Stevens reported October balance = $3040.31 and no new spending since our last meeting.    Amounts pending township committee approval are as follows:   $450.00 digital camera,  $180.00 two pairs of two-way radios, $900.00 for 150 Pathfinder t-shirts, $780.00 for power tools, $250.00 for supplies needed to continue birdhouse and other wildlife housing construction,  $200.00 for two 2-wheeled plastic wheelbarrows,  $279.70 for wildlife feed.  If all our requests are approved 61 cents will be the balance.

Corresponding Secretary, Sarah Ralston was absent.  Sarah is working on a letter asking the township committee to re-resolute Pathfinders for next year. An e-mail from the Land Trust Alliance about an upcoming seminar entitled "The Art of Negotiating & Drafting Conservation Easements" was circulated. 

Mapping: Tom Stevens explained that during the trail workday at the NJCF Frank Applegate Road Nature Trail half mile distance markers were placed along the trail.  The trail is actually one and three quarter miles long.  Tom is working on an updated map of this trail that will show all the improvements that have been completed including the benches and walkways. A mapping trip in December is being planned in the area near Clayton Block nearby Manchester Gardens.  Tom explained that there are horse trails by Vath Street and Basso Street.  A map was circulated.  Ronnie Bruchez and Sam Wimmer pointed out these areas.  

Scrapbook: Lauren and Alison Stevens (absent) – no additions. Karen Borga offered to print the digital photos from the trail workday at the Frank Applegate Nature Trail.  

Biking: Ron Bruchez is planning a route for a bike trip through Jackson.  April 26th, 2003 was chosen for the spring bike trip with April 27th as a rain date.  Ron is going to work closely with the Jackson Police Department through all aspects of the bike trip. 

Bowman Road / Forest Resource Education Center: Karen Walzer reported that the Forest Resource Education Center new building construction is coming along nicely. 

Hiking: Jim Doyle discussed planning a hike in December that will coordinate with the mapping committee.  Karen Borga volunteered to e-mail the American Hiking Society and update Jackson Pathfinders mailing address.  Jim explained that Pathfinders membership in the New York/New Jersey Hiking Society is now up for renewal.  The group approved $55.00 membership spending. 

Boy Scouts Projects: Leo Kissling discussed Frank Peterson's trail widening project is close to approval.  This trail widening project is planned for the Frank Applegate Nature Trail past Bernadette's valley, past the proposed bridge crossing up the hill.  Anthony Marano is still waiting for the stream encroachment permit approval to construct a bridge.  The group discussed possibly changing Anthony's plan to a temporary crossing that would not require a stream encroachment permit.  Leo spoke at a cub scout meeting the last week of October and promoted the next trail workday.

Membership: Dawn Rakow absent.  Fred Gan is working on an on-line information form that website visitors will complete and e-mail to Barbara Usack.

NJCF Frank Applegate Road Nature Trail:   Karen Borga reports that Sunday, November 10^th trail work day went really GREAT. Three boy scouts, Dennis Decasse, Brian Decasse, Bill Tallman came for the entire day.  Bob Decasse (father) helped all day, also.  At least thirty wheelbarrows of chips were moved from the parking lot pile to the first bench area, which is now pruned, chipped and completed. The group moved to the bridge area and another thirty wheelbarrows of woodchips were moved from the bridge pile to the wildlife viewing area. The wildlife viewing area still needs more. Jim Doyle and Tony Santa Maria were working there all day also. Dan Green helped out in the morning for about two hours.  Mike Kaufmann and Dan Mooney helped out for most of the day. Two families came to the bridge area around 1:00 and did about ten wheelbarrows with their two webelos and siblings. These families were at the cub scout meeting where Leo talked about our work. Tom Stevens came by around 1:30 and went with Jim around the trail and put up mile markers -- he had the GPS... every half of a mile. WE HAD THREE WHEELBARROWS GOING nonstop from 9:45 am straight through until 2:45 pm! Next trail workday is planned for Sunday, December 8th,  9:30 - 2:00.

Land Acquisition: Karen Borga reports no activity since our last meeting.

Wildlife Preservation: Tony Santa Maria was absent but submitted the following report:  Vandalism during the last month has forced me to remove the sundial from the wildlife viewing area. I have decided to install a large compass in its place. The compass will be completed as soon as the brass letters are acquired. At the last trail day, a wood duck nest box, a screech owl nest box ,a downy woodpecker nest box and a barred owl nest box were installed at various locations on the trail site. A materials request has been submitted to the Forestry Resource Learning Center for 3 more hardwood bench tops. Several boy scouts will be clearing the " ravine - overlook" area where 2 of the benches will be installed. The scouts will contact me when they are ready to begin and if time allows, I will supervise their efforts. If I am unavailable at that time I will contact other members who may be of assistance. The names Tom Stevens and Leo Kissling come quickly to mind and I will contact both of them in an effort to coordinate this objective. I am currently seeking a location for the third bench and perhaps this could be discussed presently.  The group discussed a new location for Tony's sundial and the schoolhouse area at town hall was decided.

Johnson Park: Sam Wimmer reports that renovations are slowly progressing.  Johnson Park now has a black tar and chips road. A street light is coming to Manhattan Street. 

Discussions:  The group decided to make our December meeting a social event.  A brief business meeting followed by a bring your own / Pot luck menu with a start time of  7:00 pm.  Karen Borga volunteered to be the contact person.  Barbara Usack was volunteered to make up a flyer.

The next monthly meeting will be held December 19, 2002, a SOCIAL EVENT,
at 7:OOPM at 209 West Veterans Highway, the Golovaty House, Jackson.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.                            Submitted by Karen Borga.