Forked River Mountain
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 Newsletter of the Forked River Mountain Coalition

www.frmc.org

Vol. 11 No.2

 

***Just A Reminder***
Forked River Mountain Cleanup

Where: Wells Mills Park
Route 532
Waretown, NJ

When: Sunday, April 18, 2004
Arrive Between
8:30 am and 9:00 am
Return Between
12:30 pm and 1:00 pm

*Optional Hike Afterwards*

For more information or to register
call (609) 971-1635 or sign up here

Annual Meeting Set

    A special Thank you to the dozens of individuals who recently joined or renewed their membership with the Coalition. This support will enable the Coalition to continue our grass-roots initiative so we can all realize our goals of preserving the Forked River Mountains and the vast wilderness that surrounds them.
    Members of the Coalition will be able to participate in the tenth Annual Meeting and election of members to the Board of Trustees. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 16, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at Wells Mills County Park. The Annual Meeting Notice appears on page 4 of this newsletter.
    If you are not currently a member of the Coalition but would like to join, or if you are a member and have not yet renewed your membership, simply complete the registration form. Be sure to mark the appropriate box and return the form along with your $15 membership dues for 2004. Contributions are tax-deductible.

A Tribute to Gladys Cecelia Eayre.................................................................................................................................Page 3

Join Us in the Great Outdoors. . .

Here are some exciting opportunities to learn more about the Forked River Mountains

 Canoe Trip

      The Forked River Mountain Coalition will sponsor our tenth annual canoe trip down Cedar Creek on May 31, 2004. We will depart Double Trouble State Park at 10:00 am and return approximately 3:00 pm. The cost is $10 per person. There is a three (3) person limit per canoe.
         Bring lunch, drink, insect repellant, sun tan lotion, hat or sun glasses. Long pants and sneakers are recommended. No alcohol.
          We will provide canoes, life preservers and transportation back to Double Trouble State Park.
        Persons who are interested in attending should complete and return the registration form or call (609) 693-1268 for more information.

Treefrog Hike

       If you would like to try your luck at discovering an endangered Pine Barrens Treefrog join us on the evening of Friday, June 11, 2004. We will meet at the former Bamber Store at 7:30 pm and return around 9:30 pm. The Bamber Store is located at the intersection of Lacey Road and Dover Road about 5 ½ miles west of Garden State Parkway exit 74.

 Click on the frog to hear it's call!

There will also be an opportunity to view several unique plants during the hike including sundews, pitcher plants and the endangered curly-grass fern.
          The cost for this program is only $5 per person. You must provide your own transportation. Long pants and boots are recommended. Bring insect repellant and a flashlight. Persons who are interested in attending should complete and return the registration form or call (609) 971-1635 for more information.

* Some illustrations from A Field Guide to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey by Howard Boyd, Plexus Publishing, Inc. Medford, NJ

Barnegat Bay Festival

       The eighth annual Barnegat Bay Festival will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2004 at Berkeley Island County Park. The festival is a cooperative effort  of non-profit organizations and government agencies dedicated to maintaining the health and quality of the Barnegat Bay and its vast watershed covering most of Ocean County. The festival is designed to heighten environmental awareness about the natural resources of the watershed and the impact of human activities on these resources.  
        Open space conservation in the Pinelands compliments efforts to protect Barnegat Bay because many of the streams and rivers that flow into the bay originate in the Pinelands. The Forked River Mountain area contains the headwaters to three major tributaries of Barnegat Bay, including the Cedar Creek, Forked River and Oyster Creek. For additional information call (732) 255-0472.

Whitesbog Blueberry Festival

     The 21st annual Whitesbog Blueberry Festival will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2004.
     The Blueberry Festival commemorates the cultivation of the blueberry and the birth of the blueberry industry. The festival is held at Historic Whitesbog Village, located on the outskirts of Browns Mills, NJ in Lebanon State Forest. The festival provides activities, music, food and fun for the entire family including guided tours and walks of the area.
      The festival is presented by the Whitesbog Preservation Trust who are working to restore this important piece of New Jersey heritage. Oh yes and don't forget the blueberries! For more information call (609) 893-4646.

A Tribute

Gladys Cecelia Eayre
Founding Member, Passes On

Gladys Cecelia Eayre. Born August 20, 1924 and died November 6, 2003. Gladys was born in the house on Wells Mill Road in Waretown, Her mother died when she was about seven. After a period of separation, she grew up with her Father and five brothers. She had many happy memories of childhood. Most important to her was the guitar she got when she was about eight.
    Her brothers Norman, Clifford and George were musically gifter and soon she was playing the guitar and singing with them. Music was a big part of her life. While she served in the W.A.A.C. at age 17, she and several other women who were stationed with her formed a musical group. They entertained soldiers who were in various areas around New York City, particularly the hospitals.
    During World War II she drove trucks and motorcycles for the army. Several trips were to Orlando, Florida with convoys carrying supplies. After the army she worked for an electronics company near Eatontown, NJ, building computers. She told stories of driving double-decker busses, cutting cord wood, driving delivery trucks for a beer company and fighting fires in the woods. Most of the men were in the service and the work of daily civilian life was left to the women. She also sailed her brother Kenneth's boat, taking out fishing parties. She dug clams and sold bait shrimp to other fishermen.
    During all this time she continued playing and singing. She was her happiest when she was entertaining others. She worked as a volunteer at the Lighthouse Vacation Center in Waretown for many years and part of this was entertaining the guests. From the time she was 60 until her retirement she was employed at the "Blind Camp" as it was called by locals.
    She was a regular attendee at the Home Place. She would spend a lot of time with George and Joe Albert. She did plowing for them and whatever else she could help. The Pineconers started at the Home Place. They also played at many church suppers, Folk Festivals and concerts.
    They played at the National Fold Festival in Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. Her rhythm guitar playing was astounding, and her yodeling was fun. She was said to be able to harmonize with the Devil. She was most comfortable with the guitar in her arms. She loved the old songs and particulary the songs of the old west such as Tumble Weeds, Riding Down the Canyon, and Cowboy's Sweetheart.

    I still miss Gladys, but I am so pleased to have known her and shared part of her life.

-Janice Sherwood

Mellow Moon of old New Jersey
written by Gladys Eayre

Rising up form the sea
She is grander to me
Than a million worlds passing by.

As she crosses the bay
She is well on her way
To her throne up in the sky.

To the tune of guitars
Through a myriad of stars
Thats when all true lovers fall.

For the mellow moon of old New Jersey
Is the grandest moon of all.

(c) used by permission, Janice Sherwood

Editors Note: This tribute was writen for the Pinelands Cultural Society by Janice Sherwood, a life-long friend of Bladys and herself a founding member of the Forked River Mountain Coalition. Mellow Moon of old New Jersey was written by Gladys and her brothers; it was one she loved to sing.

 

FORKED RIVER MOUNTAIN COALITION

TENTH ANNUAL MEETING
MAY 16, 2004
1:00 P.M.
WELLS MILLS COUNTY PARK
WARETOWN, NJ

    The Forked River Mountain Coalition is pleased to announce that the tenth Annual Meeting will be held on May 16, 2004, at 1:00 p.m. at Wells Mills County Park. A brief meeting will be held to update members on current projects and activities and to elect members to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will also elect officers at this meeting.

    This year's Annual Meeting will be conducted inside the historic lakeside cabin. All persons are asked to park in the main parking lot and walk to the cabin, which is to the right of the nature center along the lake. A picnic will be held after the meeting in recognition of our tenth year of operation. All members who are planning to attend the picnic are requested to RSVP by May 7, 2004 by calling (609) 971-7192 or by sending an e-mail to info@frmc.org.

    Members of the Nominating Committee are Carol Cortelyou, Theresa Lettman, and John Sly. They have prepared the following slates of candidates:

Trustees Terms
   
Dee Burrowes 2 years
Paul Burrowes 2 years
Doug Cortelyou 2 years
Mickey Coen 2 years
Dawn Jennings 2 years
Robert Moyer 2 years
Lorraine Sansone 2 years
 

Officers

 Terms
     
President Kerry Jennings 1 year
1st Vice President Dave DiEugenio 1 year
2nd Vice President Carol Cortelyou 1 year
Secretary Theresa Lettman 1 year
Treasurer John Sly 1 year

 

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