Jackson Pathfinders
Monthly Meeting
October
Meeting Minutes (final)
The
monthly meeting was held on Thursday, October 17, 2002 at 8:00 PM in the
Jackson Public Works Building on Don Connor Boulevard. Dawn Rakow, Vice
Chairperson, presided. Members present were Karen Borga, Recording Secretary,
Tom Stevens, Treasurer, Jim Doyle, Ronnie Bruchez, Leo Kissling, Jr. and Bill
Tuohy.
The
September minutes were circulated and approved with
corrections.
Treasurer,
Tom Stevens reported $3440.31
balance at September meeting. New
spending $400.00 for Wildlife and Conservation Study Course. October balance = $3040.31 Items pending approval are
as follows: $450.00 digital
camera, $180.00 two pairs of
two-way radios, $900.00 t-shirts, $750.00 for a commercial grade lawn mower and
$300.00 for a weed whacker. New
requests are as follows: Tony Santa
Maria submitted a list which was approved by the group for supplies needed to
continue birdhouse and other wildlife housing construction, $250.00. The group approved the purchase of a
copier, $400.00 and a replacement cartridge, $50.00, two 2-wheeled plastic wheelbarrows,
cedar posts and one dozen frames for certificate of appreciation
presentations. $280 was approved
for wildlife feed.
Corresponding
Secretary,
Sarah Ralston was absent. A letter
of support asking for funding for a bike path study was written to James Snyder,
Director, Local Aid at the NJ Dept. of Transportation at the request of Heather
Mahaley of Community Grants and Planning. Sarah’s letter was read to the
group.
Grants:
Dawn Rakow : no activity to
report.
NJCF
Frank Applegate Road Nature Trail
trail
workday, Sunday, October 13th was rained out. However Tony and Damon Santa Maria and
Karen Borga worked for two hours in the wildlife viewing area. Tony planted while Karen and Damon
wheelbarrowed the rock pile from the wooden bridge to the
garden.
Mapping:
Tom
Stevens discussed planning an outing at the NJCF Frank Applegate Road Nature
Trail to place distance markers.
Boy
Scouts Projects
Leo Kissling had written a letter to the Boy Scout Council concerning Frank
Peterson’s trail widening project.
Leo and Karen Borga corrected the wording on a sample certificate of
appreciation that Pathfinders plans to use for Ryan Schulein’s court of honor
ceremony. Leo met with a local cub
scout pack and spoke with boys and parents about the upcoming trail
workday. Leo explained that permits
for Anthony Marano’s bridge plan are still pending
approval.
Biking:
Ron Bruchez cancelled his bike ride that had been planned for October
19th.
Membership:
Dawn Rakow explained that Barbara Usack has volunteered to be membership
committee chairperson. Members
information will be given to Barbara.
Hiking:
Jim Doyle discussed planning a hike in November. Date and time will be announced via
e-mail.
Land
Acquisition:
Karen Borga reports that Andy Strauss is making steady progress. US Homes/ Westlake tract (aprox. 580
acres) is being worked on by Andy and the township attorney. Several of the parcels that Pathfinders
had suggested to Andy are also being looked into.
Wildlife
Preservation:
Tony Santa Maria was absent but submitted the following report: Rocks have been acquired and set in
place at the wildlife viewing area.
I would like to extend my appreciation to Mike & Kim Venezia for
donating the materials necessary to complete this phase of the project. Garden soil and compost have been added
to the garden site and the following plants have been planted – Milk Thistle,
White Foxglove, Sea Holly, White Hollyhock and Teasel. These plants will flower in the early
summer to come and will attract a wide variety of winged creatures. The only things necessary to complete
the wildlife viewing area are woodchips, feed, and a little weed whacking. When that has been accomplished, the
vision becomes reality. Another
bench has been installed around the bend of the first right on the trail. Another woodpecker nest box will be
installed near that recently installed bench and a wood duck nest box will also
be installed down the path near the stream where ducks have been spotted. There is presently a repugnant odor
emanating from the trail area from the gate to the wooden bridge due to the
sprouting of the infamous Stinkhorn Mushroom. They are the largest specimens I have
ever encountered and seen to have an affinity for our woodchips. The odor may be compared to a cross
between decaying flesh and effluvium and may even overcome your sense of
smell. Consider this an official
Stinkhorn alert. The recent rains
will no doubt contribute to an increase in the sprouting process. Beware!
Scrapbook:
Lauren and Alison Stevens (absent) – no additions.
Bowman
Road / Forest Resource Education Center:
Karen Walzer reported that the Fall Festival held at the forestry center,
Saturday, October 5th was a success.
Bernadette Gill, Jim Doyle, Barbara Usack, and I answered questions and
distributed info about the Pathfinders. Tony demonstrated the construction
of his owl houses. The youngest (and cutest) Pathfinder member, Alexa
Usack, was there too. Thanks to the canopy we were able to get some shade
on that unseasonably hot day. We made two interesting contacts: R.D.
Ossowski, a former Jackson policeman who has GPS mapped local sand roads and has
maps he will copy for us, and Lester August, who has a brushhog and loader and
will help with clearing but only in the winter months.
The
next monthly meeting will be held November 21, 2002
at 8:OOPM at 209 West
Veterans Highway, the Golovaty House, Jackson.
Meeting
was adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Submitted by Karen Borga.