By Charlie Fineran

It’s Saturday, April 15, 2023 about 12:30 pm and I have just returned home from a very nice ‘Thank You Volunteers Brunch’ (10 am-12 pm) that was held at the Richard Gardner main branch of the Warren County Library. This event was hosted by the Warren County Dept. of Land Preservation and was attended by our three County Commissioners, who also celebrated and joined, recognizing the important work done by volunteers in maintaining, operating and supporting Warren County’s beautiful Open Space Lands and Historical Sites. During the program, it was mentioned, that the upcoming week was National Volunteers Week and what better way to celebrate same, than to sponsor this brunch recognizing our wonderful volunteers!!  Ok, my original intent, after the brunch, was to work on my Photo of the Week article, BUT, let me check out this National Volunteer Week,  Did a little internet research and copied and pasted the following:

National Volunteer Week – April 16-22, 2023

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. 

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 by the United States government. Today, the holiday is organized by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. Community-based organizations across the country celebrate National Volunteer Week as a way to recognize “the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges.”

According to the Urban Institute’s most recent data, Americans volunteer 8.8 billion hours annually.

National Volunteer Week began as–and continues to be–a national holiday that formalizes the recognition of volunteers in our communities. Organizations of all scopes and sizes should take the time to thank our neighbors, strangers, friends, and family who selflessly give their time to help others.

Each year, we shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve, recognizing and thanking volunteers who lend their time, talent and voice to make a difference in their communities.

OK, Now I am getting ready to figure out what my article for this week will be about.  After some searching through current photos I decided on focusing on the Young of Wildlife, a nice way of alerting Everyone to get ready to start witnessing Wildlife’s New Generations as we travel about this Spring Season.

Photos are from my archives and three are actually all very close to my house. The Rabbit Family is from Stuyvesant Road in Allamuchy Mtn State Park. Keep in mind the common theme behind all the photos is that I just came across these scenes during my normal travels and TOOK THE PHOTO!!  Hopefully all of you will come across your own ‘Special Moments’ celebrating Nature’s Presentation of its next generation!!

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran     

Director Open Space   

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman  

Allamuchy Historical Society – President