The advertisement read “RIVERFEST: MWA’s 30^th Anniversary @ Donaldson Farm” (Note: MWA stands for Musconetcong Watershed Association)

Come out to Friday Nights on the Farm at Donaldson farms to celebrate 30 years of the Musconetcong Watershed Association. Food trucks include Marley’s Wings & Things, Latin Bites, Angry Archies, Bucks BBQ and Sweet Concessions. Live music by The Emulators – NJs premiere anti glam 80s cover band featuring ex-members of Professor Plum, Narayan, and Lucky/Standby/Steadfast United. 

What a great evening in was this past Friday, even if it was a little nip and tuck with the weather. It truly was a fun celebration for all  HAPPY 30^th ANNIVERSARY MWA! Thank you for all you do AND Keep up the great work.

There was a section of tents and tables for Friends and Partners of the MWA. One of those tents was for the Allamuchy Township Open Space Program.  A part of Allamuchy’s presentation is a large chart titled, “What Is Your Wingspan.”  The chart has photos of our larger birds, eagles, hawks, owls etc..  Each bird has two photos on the chart and the distance between the photos is the maximum wingspan of the those birds. Always a fun time, “Checking your wingspan”  The photo above shows Alan Hunt, Director, Policy & Grants for the MWA and his daughter Madison, having some fun, checking their wingspans!

During the course of the evening, I was visited by Dan Hirshberg, President of CHP Communications, who just happens to oversee InsideWarren.com. During our talk, Dan asked if I had any favorite photos and maybe once in a while post a couple of those photos with a short story. I came up with two of my favorites right off the bat; see below!

NOTE:  I included some photos of Friday night’s affair, because for me, it was a special night!  The first time I have been able to put on a public display for Allamuchy Open Space since Covid and my hip replacement!  Kind of nice to be getting back into the swing of things!

Getting back to the “My Favorite Photos” theme, these two incidents jumped right out at me!  Bear atop Mt. Tammany above Delaware Water Gap.  First understand, this is back in 2005 and this was my FIRST encounter with a black bear, out in the wild!  PLUS, what a view! I was atop Indian Head and working my way down the rock to the cliff’s edge, to get a photo looking straight down. Never made it, but there came to a point on the rocks where I noticed this bear just sauntering slowly across the rocks below. Took several photos before he disappeared into the shrubs.  Decided not to continue my adventure down the rocks as I didn’t want to be caught between a cliff and a black bear!

My second favorite photo also involves Black Bears, 4 cubs all in a row, scrambling up the trunk of a tall tree along Donkey Hollow Trail just outside of Millbrook Village. I like the photo with the four in a row. Lucky!! BUT, the more exciting part of this incident was wondering where MOMMA WAS?

I am walking along the trail (old road) at this point. The left side of the trail is elevated with heavy coverage of shrubs. I can’t see anything! Suddenly, I hear some scrambling behind the heavy bushes next to me, then I hear this scratching noise, and notice a little black object going up the tree, a little down the road, NOTE:  At this point I have started walking backwards hoping mommy would see me going back the way I came. All in all, never saw mommy and got this nice photo of all four in a row going up the tree.  The lead cub actually swung around and raced back down the tree almost colliding with the others! He then went up a tree further down the lane. I was left wondering if mommy was there all the while, and he just wanted a tree closer to her?

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Director Open Space   

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman  

Allamuchy Historical Society – President