The Signal - October 2004, Page 1

The Signal October 2004

The Newsletter of The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee: P.O. Box 175, Andover, NJ 07821, Call 908 684 4820.

Annual Dinner 13

Activity Schedule 5, 6 & 7

7

Businesses Along Our Trails 13

Dues News Flash 4

Gift Order Form 9

Hike and Bike Locations 10

KVSP Interpretive Programs 11 & 12

New York City Off Trail Hike 4

Projects for 2004 3

Rail Kabooms 2 & 3

Trail of the Month 8

Inside this issue:

Thank you from the editor to Marge Barrett, Roberta Bramhall, Susan and Marty Grossman, Lynn Groves and Lou Turse for their contribution and assistance with this issue of The Signal.

Visit our new and improved

web site at: www.pvtc-kvsp.org

PVTC 2003

Volunteer of the Year

T h e

P a u l i n s k i l l Valley Trail C o m m i t t e e nominated Gail Ewin as our volunteer of the year for 2003. Gail is an active member of the PVTC and regularly assists with memb ersh i p , publicity and m a i l i n g activities. In addition she has worked on special projects

for the committee. In 2003, Gail made a tremendous contribu-

tion to our organization by editing and compiling a reprint of our book The Paulinskill Valley Trail, Before and After. Gail spent more than 115 hours scanning text and photos from our original book. She then reformatted these documents and created individual page layouts and Adobe PDF files. It took several meetings with the printer to yield the beautiful product we now have available for sale.

Photo of Gail by Marge Barrett

Page 2, The Signal - October 2004

Rail Kabooms

By Roberta Bramhall

V ehicle accidents have been a fascination for years. Looking at a photo of an acci-dent, one readily sees crowds gathered to

stare at the sight whether the mishap happened last decade or this. I can tell if there is a noteworthy accident on Route 80 by the sound of news helicop-ters circling over my house to get pictures of over-turned trucks and cars. Today one does not have to rush to the scene to get a view, for the details are splashed across the TV screen or printed on the front page of a newspaper. I recall when the horrific fiery accident that melted the roadway and bridge in Denville years ago that people scaled the sound barrier walls and sat on top to see the fireball. Such notable accidents are not only interesting to people, but also are attractive to animals. When I was in Holland years ago, traffic was stopped on a road-way paralleling a field where cows were grazing. Suddenly the cows started running toward an inter-section further up the road where I later discovered had been the site of an impact between a bicycle and a car. When we finally crawled past the scene, the cows were leaning over the fence just as eager to catch all the details as humans staring at an acci-dent scene. Train accidents are just as fascinating. I have looked at many photos of past train accidents,

and most of them have crowds posing in front of the overturned engines and tipped over cars. Some of the accidents that occurred on both the New York Susquehanna and Western and the Sussex Branch involved the same individuals. Mike Car-roll, engineer, and Billy Henry, fireman, were in-volved in train accidents in 1913 and 1916. The Blairstown engine hit a Lehigh and New England freight train at Hainesburg Junction. Although Billy Henry jumped off the train before the impact, Mike Carroll's leg was crushed between the engine and tender. Using an artificial leg, Mr. Carroll contin-ued to work for the Blairstown Railroad, which later became the NYS&W. In 1916 the same indi-viduals were involved with another accident with a L&NE just east of the Blairstown Station when Mike Carroll's engine hit a stalled freight train. Again Billy Henry jumped clear, but Mike Carroll had to crawl out of the cab window after the engine rolled over. Mr. Carroll retired after this second accident. Photos of this accident can be seen in Fre-derick W. Heilich's book The History of the Blairs-town Railway; the expected crowd is posing by the wreck. On the Sussex Branch an individual also was involved in two train accidents. Flix Burns, a baggage master working the Sussex Branch sur-vived a derailment in December 1868 but was killed on May 18, 1869 when he was run over by a train. Other notable impacts occurred. On Nov. 4, 1891 after taking on coal in Blairstown, an engine, flatcar, and passenger coach were hit. The engine separated from the other cars and made an incredi-ble solo trip of nine miles between Blairstown and Portland in six minutes. The runaway engine slowed on the upgrade after the Portland station so that a trackman could jump into the cab and stop the open-throttled engine. The engine was operat-ing at full speed because when the engineer realized that a train was barreling down on him, he had at-tempted to avoid the collision by reversing at full speed. Both the engineer Simson and the fireman Blaxzier jumped clear when the train was hit and were fired, for they had not checked the operator at Blairstown for clearance. It is amazing that there were no accidents at the various crossings that the solo train made because there was no engineer aboard to blow the warning whistle. On the Sussex Branch an unfortunate accident occurred which re-sulted in the brakeman, Patrick Whelan, losing his

Continued on page 3 A Wreck at Stillwater July 9th, 1956

The Signal - October 2004, Page 3

Continued from page 2

job. It occurred at the intersection where the old line joined the new cutoff, which opened in July of 1901. In August of 1901, the brakeman of a gravel train fell asleep instead of flagging down an on-coming freight train. The collision damaged the engine of the gravel train and destroyed the other engine.

Accidents occurred at crossings with streets, hence the need for the cross bar warning signals--the remnants of which can still be seen on the trail. At the country road crossing just after the Swarts-wood Creamery, a salesman from Easton was driv-ing down the hill when the train's engine hit his horse with such force that it was thrown down the embankment. The salesman was seriously hurt, and the horse was killed. At the intersection at Stillwa-ter Road a fatality occurred when a train smashed into a pickup truck one foggy night. Although there were no warning lights at this intersection, the child who was killed lived in the old Roy house whose property abuts the tracks. Weather could be cited as the cause of some accidents on the railroads. On March 31, 1941 such an accident occurred in front of the Stillwater Sta-tion. Ice and snow had caked the rails on the road crossing. As a result, a Lehigh and New England forty-car train derailed. The locomotive and eleven cars were off the track. Surprisingly no one was injured. Another weather-related event happened on July 9, 1956: a little creek that feeds the Paulinskill just west of Hensfoot Road became swollen after about seven inches of rain fell in one day. Fourteen cars of twenty-four-car Susquehanna freight de-railed because of a washout. Although property damage was extensive, there were no injuries. Even today in a field to the left of the trail, an undercar-riage from one of the turned over coal cars can be seen. To look at the little bridge that connects the trail over a seemingly insignificant stream, it is hard to imagine it was the scene of such havoc. Impacts between vehicles are not a current problem on the Paulinskill Valley Trail and the Sussex Branch Trail. However, there is a need to employ right of way rules on the trails as can be seen on the signs utilized on the Sussex Branch giv-ing the right of way first to horses, then to bicy-clists, and last to hikers. To me, it is interesting to imagine the havoc of twisted metal when I pass the places where train accidents had occurred.

Sources

The History of the Blairstown Railway by Frederick W. Heilich III. The Lackawanna Railroad in Northwest New Jersey by Larry Lowenthal and William T. Greenberg, Jr. The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad by Robert E. Mohowski Harold Fredericks The New Jersey Herald John L. Treen

PVTC PROJECTS FOR

2004 The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee has been involved in many different projects through-out 2004. They include:

Publicized hikes, bike rides and horse rides on the Paulinskill Valley Trail and the Sussex Branch Trail, both rail-trails of Kittatinny Val-ley State Park. Off-trail hikes across famous bridges. Slide/digital presentations involving the his-tory and the natural history of Kittatinny Val-ley State Park with emphasis on its rail trails. Purchase of a Baggit Pet Waste Station for use by KVSP dog walkers. Membership donations to the following con-servation organizations:

1. New Jersey Audubon Society 2. Ridge and Valley Conservancy 3. NY-NJ Trail Conference

Community outreach and educational pro-grams. Maintenance of a website (pvtc-kvsp.org) to provide information and answer questions about the rail-trails of Kittatinny Valley State Park. Clean-ups on the Paulinskill Valley Trail. Creation of visual displays depicting historic sights along the rail-trails of KVSP. NRT grant approval for right-of-way signs to be installed on the rail-trails of KVSP, details

Page 4, The Signal - October 2004

Visit our new and improved web site at:

www.pvtc-kvsp.org

Brooklyn Bridge

Fall History Walk

and Visit to the NYC Transit Museum

and Brooklyn Historical Society

Sunday October 24 8:30 AM

RSVP by Sunday October 17th, 2004

Rain or Shine -

(If it rains hard we will carpool to the museum)

Walk will begin at: Refrigeration Specialty Associates, Inc.

Located in the basement of Apartment Building 550G Grand Street

Corner of Lewis & Grand Streets New York City, NY

Note: Use ramp entrance to basement laundry room

on Lewis Street. DIRECTIONS: Take Holland Tunnel. Keep left when exiting tunnel and follow signs to Exit 5 Canal Street East. Follow Canal Street East and keep left as you will have to make a left turn at Center Street which is approximately ½ mile from tunnel. Note: Center Street is 2 blocks east of Broadway. Look for Charles Schwab sign on your left and a green and white traffic sign on light pole at the corner that reads Local Traffic with a left arrow on it. Once on Center Street, go north 2 blocks to Grand Street and turn right onto Grand Street (eastbound). Follow Grand Street through Little Italy and Chinatown. Note: Grand Street becomes two-way east of Forsythe Street. Stay on Grand Street and head toward tall apartment buildings in the distance. You will cross Allen Street, Essex Street, and Clinton Street. You are now in the Lower East Side district. Continue east on Grand

Street a few blocks and turn left onto Lewis Street (a wide two-way street). It will be the first apart-ment building on your left 550G Grand Street. Its entrance is on Lewis Street. Please allow sufficient time for parking. Marty will show you where to park. We will assemble by 8:30 AM Sunday Oc-tober 24 and have refreshments at the shop. There is a rest room at the shop. Please bring lunch and a drink which will eat on the bridge. Buses in New York City charge $2.00 per fare and take coins only, so bring plenty of quarters! To reserve a space or for further informa-tion, please call Marty and Susan at (973) 324-0922. (973) 477-0206 ONLY for last minute directions or if you are running late on the morning of the event please call this number after 9:00 AM and ask for Marty (212) 777 4222.

DUES NEWS FLASH!

T here is no increase in the PVTC annual membership fees for the year 2005. They remain $10 for an individual and $20 for a

family. Keep your membership card handy for a 10% discount on selected purchases at Ramsey Outdoors! You may join the PVTC for the year 2005 any time by using the application blank on the back page of The Signal or by using the applica-tion blank on our website www.pvtc-kvsp.org.

The Signal - October 2004, Page 5

October 2004 - January 1, 2006 PVT Activity Schedule

Continued on page 6

DAY DATE & TIME ACTIVITY & LOCATION 2004

SAT Oct 9, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

SUN Oct 10, 8 am & 10 am-12 noon

BIRDING AND NATURAL HISTORY INTERPRETIVE WALK; call 908-684-4820. Meet at Kittatinny Valley State Park, Twin Lakes parking area on Goodale Road (CR623), 0.6 mile east of Route 206, north of Andover. Bring binoculars. Meet at either 8:00AM for early birds or 10:00AM for later birds. Sponsored by the New Jersey Audubon Society & PVTC.

SAT Oct 16 20 MILE FULL TRAIL HIKE (Sussex Branch); over by nightfall; call Bruce at 973-334-0181 (between 10AM-3PM Monday-Friday)

TUE Oct 26, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820

SAT Oct 30, 10 am Warbasse Junction - HIKE

SAT Nov 6, 10 am Footbridge - HIKE

SUN Nov 7, 8 am & 10 am-12 noon

BIRDING AND NATURAL HISTORY INTERPRETIVE WALK. See same activity for October 10 for details.

SAT Nov 13 30 MILE FULL TRAIL HIKE (Paulinskill Trail); over by nightfall, call Bruce 973-334-0181 (between 10AM-3PM Monday-Friday)

SAT Nov 13, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

SUN Nov 14, 8 am & 10 am-12 noon

BIRDING AND NATURAL HISTORY INTERPRETIVE WALK. See same activity for October 10 for details.

TUE Nov 23, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820.

SAT Nov 27, 10 am Warbasse Junction - EXPLORER HIKE on the PVT & other rail trails; 7-9 miles.

SAT Dec 11, 10 am Warbasse Junction - HIKE

WED Dec 15, 6 pm ANNUAL DINNER at the Lafayette House, see page 13 for more details.

SAT Dec 18, 10 am Footbridge - EXPLORER HIKE

FRI Dec 31 ; call John & Susan 908-725-9649; bring your own horse.

ACTIVITY & LOCATION 2005

SAT Jan 1, 10 am 2005 - Footbridge - 20th - call 908-684-4820.

SAT Jan 8, 10 am EXPLORER HIKE (Warbasse)

TUE Jan 25, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820.

SUN Feb 6, 10 am Footbridge - GROUND HOG DAY HIKE - (or XC skiing - weather permitting). Call 908-684-4820

SUN Feb 6 HORSE RIDE on PVT; call John & Susan at 908-725-9649 for details; bring your own horse. Jointly sponsored by NJRT & SCH&PA.

SAT Feb 19, 10 am EXPLORER HIKE (Footbridge)

TUE Feb 22, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820.

SAT Feb 26, 10 am Footbridge - - (or XC skiing - weather permitting)

SAT Mar 5 20 MILE FULL TRAIL HIKE (Sussex Branch), weather permitting, over by nightfall; call Bruce at 973-334-0181 (between 10AM-3PM Monday-Friday)

SUN Mar 13, 10 am Warbasse Junction - HIKE - (or XC skiing - weather permitting)

SUN Mar 20 30 MILE FULL TRAIL HIKE (Paulinskill Trail), weather permitting, over by nightfall; call Bruce at 973-334-0181 (between 10AM-3PM Monday-Friday)

See page 10 for PVTC Hike and Bike Locations.

Page 6, The Signal - October 2004

October 2004 - January 1, 2006 PVT Activity Schedule - Continued from page 5 DAY DATE & TIME ACTIVITY & LOCATION 2005

TUE Mar 22, 7:30 pm PVTC QUARTERLY MEETING, Hackettstown Community Center; speaker & refreshments; call 908-684-4820

SAT Apr 2 HORSE RIDE; call John & Susan at 908-725-9649; Bring your own horse

SAT Apr 2, 10 am Footbridge HIKE

SAT Apr 9, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE. Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled

SUN Apr 17, 10 am Warbasse Junction HIKE

TUE Apr 26, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820.

SAT May 7, 10 am Footbridge HIKE

SAT May 14, 10 am Footbridge - SPRING FLOWER WALK.

SAT May 14, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE. Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

SAT May 21, 10 am Warbasse Junction (Sussex Branch) HIKE

TUE May 24, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820.

SAT Jun 4 NATIONAL TRAILS DAY CELEBRATION. Call for time & location. 908 684 4820

SAT Jun 11, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE. Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

SUN Jun 12, 10 am Warbasse Junction HIKE

SAT Jun 18, 10 am Footbridge HIKE

TUE Jun 28, 7:30 pm PVTC ANNUAL MEETING; Hackettstown Community Center, speaker & refreshments followed by elections; call 908-684-4820.

TUE Jul 26, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820.

SUN Aug 7 HORSE RIDE; call John & Susan at 908-725-9649; Bring your own horse

SAT Aug 13, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE. Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

TUE Aug 23, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820.

MON Sep 5, 10 am Footbridge - LABOR DAY HIKE

SAT Sep 10, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE. Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

SUN Sep 18, 10 am Footbridge HIKE

TUE Sep 27, 7:30 pm PVTC QUARTERLY MEETING, Hackettstown Community Center; speaker & refreshments; call 908-684-4820

SUN TBA HORSE RIDE -A-Thon FMI: either email Sandy at ladydunit@s-rothschild.de or call 973-691-8641. Bring your own horse

SUN Oct 2, 10 am Warbasse Junction - FALL FOLIAGE HIKE

SAT Oct 8, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction BIKE RIDE. Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

SAT Oct 15 20 MILE FULL TRAIL HIKE (Sussex Branch); over by nightfall; call Bruce at 973-334-0181 (between 10AM-3PM Monday-Friday)

SAT Oct 22, 10 am EXPLORER HIKE (Warbasse)

See page 10 for PVTC Hike and Bike Locations. Continued on page 7

The Signal - October 2004, Page 7

Pet Waste Station to KVSP

T he Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee, a

Valley State Park located in Andover, NJ. Park Superintendent Rocky Gott suggests that pet own-ers take advantage of the bio-degradable bags to pick up and remove waste from their pets when walking them within KVSP. The unit is located next to the main parking lot on Goodale Road. Left to right: Rocky Gott, Superintendent of Kit-tatinny Valley State Park, Marge Barrett and Paul Briggs of the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee with Bonnie in the foreground. Photo by Lou Turse.

October 2004 - January 1, 2006 PVT Activity Schedule - Continued from page 6 DAY DATE & TIME ACTIVITY & LOCATION 2005

TUE Oct 25, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820

SAT Oct 29, 10 am Warbasse Junction HIKE

SAT Nov 5, 10 am Footbridge HIKE

SAT Nov 12 30 MILE FULL TRAIL HIKE (Paulinskill Trail); over by nightfall, call Bruce 973-334-0181 (between 10AM-3PM Monday-Friday)

SAT Nov 12, 11:30 am Warbasse Junction Bike Ride Bring helmet, lunch & drink. Call or email Paul anytime: 973-887-4332. paul_rottmann@hotmail.com. If no one contacts him, ride may be cancelled.

SAT Nov 19, 10 am EXPLORER HIKE (Warbasse Junction) on the PVT & other rail trails; 7-9 miles

TUE Nov 22, 7:30 pm PVTC MONTHLY MEETING; call 908-684-4820

SAT Dec 10, 10 am Warbasse Junction HIKE

TBA Dec, TBA ANNUAL DINNER, TBA.

SAT Dec 17, 10 am EXPLORER HIKE (Footbridge)

SAT Dec 31 ; call John & Susan 908-725-9649; bring your own horse

ACTIVITY & LOCATION 2006

SUN Jan 1, 10 am 2006 - Footbridge 21st - call 908-684-4820

See page 10 for PVTC Hike and Bike Locations.

Page 8, The Signal - October 2004

Trail of the Month

Paulinskill Valley Trail

New Jersey

June 2004

T he Paulinskill Valley Trail has been named "Trail of the Month" by the Rails to Trails Conservancy. The RTC featured the

Paulinskill Valley Trail on their website (www.railtrails.org) for the month of June, 2004. The following text is from the featured story: Up in the northwest corner of New Jersey lies a wonderful woodland rail-trail that is such a well-tell you how to find it or where exactly it leads. Those who know and love the 27-mile Paulinskill Valley Trail, however, treat it as the treasure it is, distinct and dramatic in every season; a course used by hikers, bikers, dog walkers, horseback riders, birders and cross-country skiers. The Paulinskill has been kept in a natural state and is as much visited by deer, flying squirrel, even black bear, as

way, a 12-foot-wide, crushed-cinder trail that darts through hardwood forests, skirting river, lake and trim horse farms, never quite touching the towns and villages that grew up near the tracks. The trail runs southwest from Sparta Junction, in Sussex County, into Knowlton, a few miles east of Columbia, in Warren County. There are many points of trail access. One access point is a few miles outside Newton, the Sussex County seat, off county road 519. Heading toward Columbia, trail users can cruise through stone gorges carved out by the railroad builders, skirt the narrow, blue-mirrored, Lake Paulinskill, and enjoy the scenic run beside the Paulins Kill River. Along the way are inviting wooden benches and small

historic sites and lore, such as long-ago train wrecks and abandoned creameries. Rusted, crumbling remnants of the railroad age can also be seen, including battery boxes, mileage markers and moss-covered rail ties. The Paulinskill Valley Trail owes its existence, in large part, to a small but dedicated group of rail-trail backers who formed the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee in 1984 when the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) considered purchasing the long abandoned rail corridor from the city of Newark. In 1963, former New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad right-of-way following the closing of the line one year earlier. Newark had plans for a water pipeline along the route that would connect with a proposed dam on the Delaware River, but when environmentalists helped stop the dam project, Newark let the idea grow cold and for 20 years the corridor lay dormant. In the summer of 1986 the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee achieved a breakthrough when a poll by a new local magazine, the Sussex Voice, showed that 90 percent of area residents were in favor of the rail-trail. The Newark City Council still had to be persuaded to sell the corridor, and they eventually did - to the tune of $600,000 after then-Governor Tom Kean authorized DEP to buy the corridor in 1992. In the years since, the Paulinskill Valley Trail has quietly flourished. In this bucolic corner of the Garden State trails and other public natural areas are in abundance. The slightly older 20-mile Sussex Branch Trail intersects the Paulinskill not far from Kittatinny Valley State Park, which maintains them both. The Appalachian Trail is only a few miles away and the Paulinskill is one of three rail-trails that will be part of the planned Liberty-Water Gap Trail, a scenic, history packed trail that will connect New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The purpose of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is to enrich America's communities and countryside by creating a nationwide network of public trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. The RTC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 members and supporters. Founded in 1986, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is located in Washington, D.C. and has offices in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The Signal - October 2004, Page 9

Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee Gift Order Form

Looking for a gift for that special hiker or nature lover in your life?

Purchase a gift from the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee and sup-port your multi-use rail trail at the same time

T-shirts, golf shirts, books and maps are a major source of income for the PVTC as well as our way of publicizing the trail. Please consider helping our cause through the purchase of these items for your-self, a family member or friend. T-shirts are silk--screened with a design portraying the users of the trail on the front (horse rider, hiker, jogger, cyclist and cross-country skier) and our trail map on the back. Golf shirts have our original logo embroidered on the left front. Send your order to: PVTC, PO Box 175, Andover, NJ 07821. Make your check payable to the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee (or just PVTC). All items include shipping via U.S.P.S. Please include ship-to information (please clearly print ship-ping name and address). Thank you!

The Paulinskill Valley Trail (PVT) and the Sussex Branch Trail (SBT) are part of the Kittatinny Valley State Park (KVSP). Together they make up 48 miles of cinder-based rail-trails which lend themselves to multi-use, excluding motorized vehicles. The Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee (PVTC) is a not-for-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to promoting the public interest, appreciation and conservation of the resources of KVSP with emphasis on its rail-trails. For information regarding the PVTC, please call 908-684-4820, write to PVTC, Box 175, Andover, NJ 07821, or access our website at www.pvtc-kvsp.org.

GIFT ORDER FORM

Books

Title Price with Shipping Quantity Total

The Paulinskill Valley Trail, Before and After.

A 59 page book with text and pictures about the PVT. $13.00

T-shirts - Available in green with the design in yellow or white. Sizes: medium, large, extra large, and extra-extra large.

Size Price with Shipping Quantity Total

$14.00

$14.00

Golf shirts (Closeout Special) - Available in green with the design embroidered. Sizes: small, large, and extra large.

Size Price with Shipping Quantity Total

$18.00

$18.00

Trail Maps: Regular

Item Price with Shipping Quantity Total

Paulinskill Valley Trail & Sussex Branch Trail

$6.00

Trail Maps: Topographical

Item Price with Shipping Quantity Total

Sussex Branch Trail

$3.50

Sussex Branch Laminated

$6.25

Paulinskill Valley Trail

$3.75

Paulinskill Valley Trail Laminated

$9.00

Page 10, The Signal - October 2004

PVTC HIKE

AND BIKE LOCATIONS

A ll hikes and bike rides (helmets required) take place on the Paulinskill Valley Trail or on the Sussex Branch Trail, both of

which are part of Kittatinny Valley State Park. They are cinder-based rail trails that provide easy, level walking. There are two starting places for hikes and bike rides. This arrangement gives us the opportu-nity to cover the entire 27-mile PVT in several hikes. We offer 5, 7, 10, 20 (full Sussex Branch) or 30 (full PVT) mile hikes. Bring lunch and wa-ter, wear comfortable shoes and enjoy.

FOOTBRIDGE PARK Route 94, Blairstown, NJ. Take Route 80 to Exit 12, Route 521. Go north on Route 521 for 5 miles to Route 94 in Blairstown. Turn left onto Route 94 and take the second left into the park, designated by a small white sign with black letter-ing. WARBASSE JUNCTION Route 663, ½ mile south of Route 94 in Lafayette. Take Routes 206 and 94 through New-ton and continue north for 2½ miles. At the light, turn right to follow Route 94 North. Continue two miles to Warbasse Junction Road, Route 663 South. Turn right and go ½ mile to a parking lot on the right.

PVTC Officers: President: Marge Barrett. Vice President: Paul Briggs. Secretary: Chris De Vries. Treasurer: Gail Ewin.

PVTC Board of Directors: Bob Barth Roberta Bramhall Joy Fernbacher Marty Grossman Howard Reed Lou Turse

Note:

T he PVT schedule may be subject to change. For the most current information, please either call the activity contact number, ac-

cess our web site at www.pvtc-kvsp.org, or call the PVTC phone number 908-684-4820. The Signal is published two times a year to share information. Articles and/or material may be submitted to the editor (Graham Finlayson, e-mail: signaled@msn.com) or to PVTC, P.O. Box 175, Andover, New Jersey 07821. We reserve the right to edit for space considerations.

The Signal - October 2004, Page 11

KVSP Interpretive Programs Fall 2004 / Winter 2005

Programs sponsored by the park are free of charge and unless otherwise noted meet at the visitor center located 1.1 miles north of Route 206, off Goodale Road in Andover Township. Pre-registration for park-sponsored programs is required as space is limited. Pets are not permitted during any program. Children must be accompanied by an adult during programs. In case of inclement weather, all participants are urged to contact the visitor center at 973-786-6445 to determine whether programs have been cancelled or rescheduled. All programs are subject to change.

Continued on page 12

DAY DATE & TIME ACTIVITY & LOCATION

WED Oct 13, 4-5:30 pm

MEET THE TREES, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 8-12.

THU Oct 14, 4-5:30 pm

MYSTERIES OF MIGRATION, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For chil-dren ages 8-12.

WED Oct 27, 4-5 pm SKINS-N-SKULLS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 8-12. ADA accessible.

THU Oct 28, 10-11 am CAT-TALES STORY HOUR, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 4 & 5. ADA accessible.

THU Nov 4, 10-11 am BIRDS AT YOUR FEEDER, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 8-12. ADA accessible.

THU Nov 4, 4-5 pm BASIC ORIENTEERING SKILLS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 10-12.

FRI Nov 5, 10-11 am BASIC ORIENTEERING SKILLS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults and children ages 10-12.

FRI Nov 5, 2-3 pm NATURE IN NOVEMBER, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults and children ages 6-9.

THU Nov 11, 10 am RED, WHITE & BLUE HIKE, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults.

THU Nov 18, 10-11 am

CAT-TALES STORY HOUR, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 4 & 5. ADA accessible.

FRI Nov 19, 8-10 am BIRDWATCHING FOR BEGINNERS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring binoculars.

SAT Nov 20, 11 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm

, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults and children ages 8 & up. ADA accessible.

TUE Dec 7, 3:30-4:30 pm

BIRDS AT YOUR FEEDER, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 8-12, bring binoculars.

WED Dec 15, 4-5 pm OWLS: HUNTERS OF THE NIGHT, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults and children ages 8-12. ADA accessible.

THU Dec 16, 8-10 am BIRDWATCHING FOR BEGINNERS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring binoculars.

TUE Dec 21, 10 am-12 noon

WINTER SOLSTICE HIKE, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults.

THU Dec 23, 10-11 am CAT-TALES STORY HOUR, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 4 & 5. ADA accessible.

WED Jan 19, 8-10 am BIRDWATCHING FOR BEGINNERS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring binoculars.

Page 12, The Signal - October 2004

KVSP Interpretive Programs Fall 2004 / Winter 2005 - Continued from page 11 DAY DATE & TIME ACTIVITY & LOCATION

THU Jan 20, 10 am-12 noon

WINTER GREENS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults.

SAT Jan 22, 10-11:30 am

ANIMAL TRACKING & AWARENESS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults with children ages 9-12.

WED Jan 26, 4-5 pm OWLS: HUNTERS OF THE NIGHT, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults and children ages 8-12. ADA accessible.

THU Jan 27, 10-11 am CAT-TALES STORY HOUR, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 4 & 5. ADA accessible.

SAT Jan 29, 10 am-12 noon

3rd ANNUAL HOT CHOCOLATE HIKE/SNOWSHOE, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring your favorite mug and snowshoes (if necessary).

SAT Jan 29, 1:30-3 pm WILDFLOWERS IN WINTER, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults.

WED Feb 2, 4-5 pm ANIMAL TRACKING & AWARENESS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults with children ages 9-12.

SAT Feb 5, 8-10 am BIRDWATCHING FOR BEGINNERS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring binoculars.

SAT Feb 5, 11 am-12 noon

BIRDS AT YOUR FEEDER, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 8-12. ADA accessible.

THU Feb 24, 10-11 am CAT-TALES STORY HOUR, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 4 & 5. ADA accessible.

SAT Feb 26, 10 am-12 noon

BEGINNER HIKING/SNOWSHOEING, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring snowshoes (if necessary).

SAT Feb 26, 1:30-3 pm

WILDFLOWERS IN WINTER, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults.

WED Mar 16, 9 am , Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring binoculars.

THU Mar 17, 10 am-12 noon

WINTER GREENS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults.

MON Mar 21, 10 am-12 noon

SPRING EQUINOX HIKE, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults.

MON Mar 21, 4-5 pm SIGNS OF SPRING, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults with chil-dren ages 8-12.

WED Mar 23, 4-5:30 pm

THE NATURE OF VERNAL POOLS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults with children ages 9-12.

THU Mar 24, 7-9 am BIRDWATCHING FOR BEGINNERS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For teens and adults, bring binoculars.

WED Mar 30, 4-5:30 pm

THE NATURE OF VERNAL POOLS, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For adults with children ages 9-12.

THU Mar 31, 10-11 am CAT-TALES STORY HOUR, Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sponsor: KVSP. NOTE: For children ages 4 & 5. ADA accessible.

The Signal - October 2004, Page 13

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Please say thanks to our advertisers by patronizing their business

Kittatinny Valley State Park Information

KVSP: P.O. Box 621, Andover, NJ 07821; Call: 973 786 6445; Fax: 973 786 6874

KVSP Superintendent Rocky Gott Chief Ranger Kay Compton Naturalist Lynn Groves Maintenance Supervisor Jim Kielty Customer Service Representative Kerry Debski Trail Emergency 911 Law Enforcement 973 786 6445

and visit our web site, www.pvtc-kvsp.org, for more information

PVTC ANNUAL DINNER ON DECEMBER 15, 2004

T he Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee, a non-tatinny Valley State Park, will hold its an-

nual dinner on December 15, 2004 at the Lafayette House in Lafayette, NJ. The speaker will be Chris DeVries, a PVTC member and teacher at Pope John High School in Sparta. Her slide presentation is titled Family Trails in Africa. In this 30-minute program you will discover the sights and sounds of Africa along with an American family who lived and taught in Gaborone, Botswana for three years. Southern Africa has much to offer the adventure-some in terms of cultural diversity and wildlife. Glimpses into the unique beauty of several coun-tries will be shown during the program as well as updates on current environmental and political

shine, blue skies and the smiles of friendly African peoples. Mail in the enclosed flier today to reserve your place. The information on the flier will also be on our website www.pvtc-kvsp.org.

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Page 14, The Signal - October 2004

PAULINSKILL VALLEY TRAIL COMMITTEE

Membership Application

The annual membership contribution is $10 for an individual and $20 for a family. Larger contributions are encouraged to help carry out our programs. Please make checks

175, Andover, NJ 07821.

Please print clearly. Name________________________________________________Tel. (______)-______-______________ Address_______________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code____________________________________________________________________ E-mail Address_________________________________________________________________________ Membership year is from Jan. 1 To Dec. 31.

PVTC P.O. Box 175 Andover, NJ 07821

Visit our new and improved web site at:

www.pvtc-kvsp.org