Guide Me Home to Chatham, NJ

Spring is a special time of the year, especially here in Morris County. You know for sure it’s spring with the abundance of blossoming forsythia, daffodils, crocus and myrtle. The forest is starting to green up as well with the first buds starting to show.

A right of passage denoting spring in Harding is the Annual Fishing Contest held this year on April 10, 2010 from 8am-12noon at Bayne Park Pond on Blue Mill Road. Children up to 13 years old are invited to participate and prizes will be awarded.

An increase in cyclists can make driving a little tricky, but the colorful display of the cyclists’ outfits and the energy and joy displayed is a sight to see.

There are so many parks and trails in Morris County worth exploring. For instance, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which is located in both the New Vernon section of Harding Township and Chatham Township, offers many wonderful paths to walk, educational events and many quiet spots to sit and take in Mother Nature.

If all this makes you hungry, don’t miss the return of the American Harvest restaurant located in Harding next to the post office. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch or take-out from 7am to 6pm Monday through Saturday and 7am to 12pm on Sundays. Specials are offered from the deli and Panini grill as well as, fresh vegetables, salads, burgers and a kids menu.

Well, until next time, get outside and enjoy the beauty of these towns this spring.

Posted by:Lois Olmstead

It’s that time of year; pumpkins, corn stalks and Thanksgiving decorations are everywhere.

Last weekend we were blessed with beautiful weather, so we decided to get one more bicycle ride in. We set out around noon, did the loop down Long Hill Road through the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and turned down White Bridge Road to Pleasant Plains. We then stopped for lunch at the scenic overlook. The new visitor center at the Refuge is open and had many visitors. The trail head on Long Hill Road was also busy. It’s amazing how the roads you drive everyday have wonderful vistas and active wildlife that you just don’t notice while in a car. I encourage folks to get out and see their neighborhood from a different point of view, by walking or bicycling.

Harding Event:
The Fourth Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Dinner “Potluck, Prayer and Praise” will be held on Sunday, November 22, 2009 from 5-7pm. This year’s host is the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon. The dinner is sponsored by the Church of Christ the King, United Methodist Church in Green Village, and the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon.

Madison Event:
The Madison Historical Society will hold a fundraising event on December 5, 2009 from 1-5pm. My listing on 254 Woodland Road is this year’s host house and tours will be available. Wreaths and floral displays will be offered for sale, and refreshments may be purchased with all proceeds going to the Madison Historical Society. Come join in the fun and support a worthy group. I will be available to answer any questions an interested buyer may have about the house. Or email me at lolmstead@turpinrealtors.com for information.

Posted by:Lois Olmstead

Harding Township is a rural community made up of New Vernon and a section of Green Village (the rest of Green Village is part of Chatham Township).

Harding Township and its surrounding communities share a special resource: The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. It’s one of my favorite places to take a walk.

Part of “the swamp”, as it is affectionately called, is in Harding Township. It’s essential to Harding’s character and helps preserve the rural setting. Another important function of the swamp is to help clean and maintain the watershed. It is a wonderful community entity, with several educational centers and numerous trails. The “wildlife” part of the title is well deserved as it is home to a variety of thriving wildlife.

One Saturday morning we took my brother, his wife and our nephews, (who were visiting from Connecticut) on a hike in the swamp.

It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for such a venture. As we approached the Wildlife Observation Center on Long Hill Road, we noticed the parking lot was full. There were people everywhere; volunteers from the Friends of Great Swamp greeted us with lots of information about their programs and asked for donations to help support this worthy cause. Highlights of our walk included seeing, by my nephew Michael’s count, about 25 painted turtles. There was a group of adult volunteers who allowed us to look through a special telescope to see an egg that was in a nest closely guarded by a female Mallard. We were told it will be about 28 days and that she must keep the egg warm and moist for incubation. It was an exciting trip!

Posted by:Lois Olmstead