Tuesday, June 26, 2012
A group of local mayors is proposing the construction of a dry detention basin to help alleviate flooding in Millburn, Union, Springfield and Cranford.
The Mayors Council on Rahway River Watershed Flood Control will host a presentation on a proposal to develop a South Mountain Dry Detention Basin in the South Mountain Reservation near Campbell's Pond. The meeting will be held June 27 at 7 p.m. at the Millburn Municipal Building. The watershed suffered in excess of $75 million in damages when Hurricane Irene tore through the region last August. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/DEP evaluation has indicated up to 3 feet of water elevation during peak storm conditions can be reduced in Millburn, Union and Springfield with 1.5 feet in Cranford. "We understand the development of a dry detention basin will have environmental effects and there will be a need to sort out the impact and mitigation…
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
South Mountain Reservation gets five miles of upgrades and new trails.
Seventy percent of a $985,000 project has been completed, after over 300 hours of labor on the South Mountain Reservation, which has repaired two and a half miles of trails and added another two and a half, county officials said June 18. The first part of the project was to repair two and a half miles of trails in an attempt to deal with the ongoing issue of erosion on the reservation. "This stuff [the trails] hasn't been touched in over 110 years," a representative of the conservancy, Dennis Percher, said about the 2,000-acre reservation in West Orange, Millburn and Maplewood bordering South Orange. Percher explained further, before the the trails were redone runners would come back from a run covered in mud because of the water …
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Take a historical tour through the southern part of town
Looking to find some more out about the town you live in? Well on Saturday, come out and stretch your legs while finding out about Millburn’s industrial past and the creation of the South Mountain Reservation. Hosted by South Mountain Conservancy, it invites residents to join them at 9:30 a.m. in the Locust Grove Parking area for a historical tour of the southern Millburn section of the reservation. The tour is free for residents, starting in the Locust Grove parking area, at the end of a short driveway into the park opposite the Millburn First Aid Squad building on Glen Avenue. The event will be over by noon. Taking a look at history in the town, the tour will visit the North Jersey Quarry Company site, specifically the Lighthipe quarry…
Saturday, May 26, 2012
A Patch reader wondered about a photo his mother kept; you answered!
Patch asked and you answered -- and how! Earlier this month, a reader sent in the following query along with the photo: My mom (and her sisters and mother) were very active in Girl Scouts in the Oranges in the 1920s. Mom's maiden name was Irene Tonks. Mom and her sister - Betty Tonks - were Golden Eaglets," writes a reader. "I now own a very good quality 8 x 10 photograph of a US flag being formally raised on a flag pole. The following is written on the back of the photo: 'October 26, 1923. First flag raising at Camp Natalie Kip.' Can you tell me more about this setting and event? Thanks! He also notes that, "There is also something else on the back of the photo: a large, black ink rubber stamp 'impression' that reads 'From Drew, Bynum, …
Friday, April 6, 2012
Balmy weather draws people outside.
This week's sunny skies and mild temperatures have people enjoying the great outdoors. Patch captured scenes of locals dining al fresco, enjoying Taylor Park and strolling in South Mountain Reservation.
Monday, February 20, 2012
A visit to Washington Rock in South Mountain Reservation is the way to celebrate the day.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Mary Mann
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Monday, February 20, 2012
On a beautifully sunny — albeit chilly — day like today, could there be any better way to celebrate Presidents' Day than by heading up to Washington Rock in the South Mountain Reservation? You'll find the rock at the end of the roadway on Crest Drive. Park where vehicular traffic ends at the old deer paddock/the new dog park area and enjoy a leisurely walk, run or bike ride down to the site. Back during the Revolutionary War, Beacon Signal Station 9 was located at the site of the rock. It was one of 23 beacons built by General Washington to observe British troop movements quartered on Staten Island and New York City. This from the Essex County Parks website: It was from this outlook that, on June 23, 1780, Essex County and Newark Militia …
40.731
-74.27828
Lions Club of Maplewood
5 Highland Pl, Maplewood, NJ
/articles/presidents-day-rocks-locally
3115
/locations/6414139
Saturday, February 4, 2012
As the annual deer management program reaches the midway point, we'd like to know your thoughts.
Essex County is midway through its annual winter deer hunt that started on Jan. 17 in the hopes of curbing the whitetail deer population. Since 2008, volunteer sharpshooters have stationed themselves at platforms in county reservations to cull deer. Last year, the county reported that the efforts had curbed 1,089 deer since the program's beginning. In 2010, the deer hunt spread to three reservations - South Mountain, Eagle Rock and Hilltop. In addition, the county has installed traffic deflectors and started replanting the undergrowth in some of the reservations as additional methods to curb deer. This year's hunt will finish on Feb. 23. Even after four years, some people object to the hunt and say it's inhumane and ineffective. We'd like …
Friday, December 16, 2011
Jointly owned venture between Tim McLoone and Essex County is warm, welcoming and inviting place for a meal.
At first glance, the interior of McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant, the newest component in the South Mountain Reservation complex, is reminiscent of an enormous country inn. The 12,000-square-foot restaurant, a joint venture between Essex County and restaurateur Tim McLoone, features multiple gas-fueled fireplaces in each room. During our visit, the fireplaces were set at a high setting for both effect and warmth. The restaurant seats 250 guest in rooms decorated with dark wooden walls and model ships. The outdoor area seats an additional 85-100 people and overlooks the Orange Reservoir, owned by the township of Orange. The restaurant is just the latest installment in a series of improvements in the South Mountain Reservation complex -- …
40.768463
-74.286616
9 Cherry Ln, West Orange, NJ
McLoone's Boathouse Restaurant
/articles/settle-in-for-a-comforting-meal-at-mcloone-s-boathouse-restaurant
/locations/6027784
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Conservancy needs volunteers Nov. 6 to help remove branches and trees near Forest Preserve.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
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Thursday, November 3, 2011
Editor's note: The following is an announcement from the South Mountain Conservancy. WE URGENTLY NEEDS YOUR HELP. If you have walked in the Reservation this past week, you know the freak October snowstorm has been a disaster with hundreds if not thousands of trees losing limbs, or toppling completely. It has caused the greatest damage to the forest in anyone's memory. We need volunteers to help in the cleanup before the weather turns colder. The County barely has the manpower to provide triage across the park system and just recently cleared Crest Drive. This Sunday, forecast to be sunny and in the 50s, come and lend a hand. Bring pruners, loppers, a chainsaw if you have one, and your friends (over 15 years or older). Meet at the dog park …
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Hundreds of people gather for the second South Orange International Blues Festival — in the South Mountain Reservation for the first time.
The blues vibrated throughout South Mountain Reservation on Sunday, where hundreds of concert-goers enjoyed the scene from the park lawn and dozens of musicians jammed away from afternoon through evening at the second annual South Orange International Blues Festival. Festival creator Michael Griot, a bass player, said he organized the free concert as a way to share the great music he's heard and performed at other music festivals throughout the country and the globe. Last year, the blues festival was held at Floods Hill in South Orange. Griot said the musicians played in the rain for an audience of about 400 people. This year, the festival drew more than 800 people, Griot said. What was the best part of blues festival? "The look of …
Jim Buettner
7:34 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Mayor, If only the freeholders would use the OSTF for the procurement of open space as most taxpayers intended instead of the maintenace of exsisting parks and the paying of county Parks and Rec salaries maybe the people in Cranford would stand a chance of finally getting flood relief. If the county would get out of the business of being in business, ie.20 million dollar GHGC golf banquet hall … more ›