MENDHAM TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY

The Ladies’ Auxiliary of Ralston Engine Company No.1 is hosting a grand Pasta Dinner at the Ralston firehouse, Mendham Road West . If you’ve enjoyed Ralston’s popular firefighters’ Pancake Breakfasts, you just know you’ll be in for a great time at this event –fun for young and old, good food and plenty of it!

This is a chance to show your support for the women-behind-the-men of the Ralston Engine Company, while you and your family savor some great home-made pasta “Mendham-style.” It’s the area’s best dinner bargain: just $10 for adults, $5 for children, free for tots under 3. You don’t need reservations, just show up … and bring your appetite!

Saturday, April 6, 2002 Arrive 6:30 - 8 p.m. sharp See you there!

è April 16 is School Budget/Board Election ç

è June 4 is Primary Election Day ç

è Be Sure to Vote! ç

I am pleased to greet you once again as Mayor of our great township. The year 2001 was a productive one with the adoption of a new Master Plan and the passage of several important land use ordinances that will help us to continue the protection of our lovely town. I know that 2002 will be an active year as well.

At the time I am writing this letter perhaps the most serious problem facing us is the lack of snow or rainfall. We are in the middle of a four-year drought cycle, and this spring may be the driest since 1965. Your Township Committee has been watching the situation closely, and while the State may yet enact water restrictions, we already have done so.

Among the restrictions are a ban on use of outdoor automatic sprinklers, no watering of shrubs or lawns no filling of swimming pools and no washing of vehicles. A list of specific conservation actions you should take in your own home and around your property is available in town hall and on our website. I ask that you be aware of your family’s water usage, pass the word to all family members, and practice water conservation as a responsible way of life.

I am pleased and proud to tell you that, for the fifth year in a row, there will be no tax rate increase in Mendham Township . In fact, there has been only one small municipal tax rate increase in the past 12 years!

Your Township Committee puts in many extra hours on the budget between November and February, working closely with our department heads, administrator, financial officer and auditor. Every year our goal is to produce a responsible budget with no tax increase and no cutback on municipal services. I am proud of our success -- again. Copies of the new budget are at town hall for your perusal.

In January I called a meeting for several of our committees and commissions – Environmental, Historic Preservation, Open Space, Tree Preservation, Recreation, and the Schiff Natural Lands Trust. Each group presented their accomplishments for the previous year and outlined their goals for 2002. Recreation Commission has its own article in this issue; Environmental Commission will be continuing the restoration of Buttermilk Falls and the development of more trails; the Township Committee and the Historic

Preservation are moving ahead with the preservation of the Nesbitt Mill, still one of Morris County’s "10 Most Endangered" historic sites.

There are linkages between all of these committees and their goals. So, this year I have asked these groups to plan a "Mendham Township Day" for the fall that will feature activities in each of our parks and will be open to all residents, young and old. Be on the lookout for information on this special day and plan to attend with your entire family. There will be a need for many volunteers as well.

A small committee comprised of representatives from the Environmental and Recreation Commissions and the Open Space and Historic Preservation Committees has been studying the Seeing Eye property, which the Township purchased last year. We want to develop the best plan for the uses of the land and existing buildings. This is an exceptionally beautiful site and lends itself to both passive and active recreation. With the data that the committee compiles we will be able to hire a consultant to design a master plan for the property. We must think of a name for this new park as well. Any ideas?

The Township Committee continues to work on renovation plans for the Brookside municipal complex that includes Town Hall, the Police Department and the Brookside fire house. Presently, the architects are researching the site to confirm that there are not any environmental or other constraints on the property. I assure you that as soon as the Township has a proposal we will bring it to you and give you opportunity to express your ideas.

There will be a new park for our young folks to enjoy this summer! Thanks to the Finley family, who raised the money, Nickelodeon Playground, named in memory of their little boy, Nicholas, will be built this spring at Wysong Field in Ralston and will be ready for use in June. In the Recreation article there is a call for volunteers to help construct the park and we hope you will respond.

Are you aware that the Township has a website? It is www.mendhamtownship.org and it’s where you can find timely information about the activities of all our committees and commissions, ordinances, minutes of the Township Committee and Planning Board meetings, and much more. The information is updated regularly, so click in and learn more about what is happening in your town, right from your computer.

We want to express our sincere appreciation to outgoing Chief Bill Grier for his more than 30 years of dedicated service and his previous service as Chief of Ralston.

The Ralston Engine Co. is awaiting delivery of a new 4000-gal. tanker truck sometime in early Spring. The new tanker will double the capacity of our present unit, providing extra fire fighting capability to residents. The tanker will also carry 40 gals. of “Class A” foam which, when combined with water, enhances our ability to knock down a fire three times faster than with water alone.

The Township Committee, noting the imminent arrival of our new tanker and a need for supplemental water supply, has begun a comprehensive program to install a number of 30,000 gal. underground water cisterns in various locations. The first cistern is being installed on Oak Knoll Road and will be in service shortly

Recently, 17 members of our Company completed the Professional CPR course which includes training on the town’s defibrillators. Defibrillators are now carried in both of our First Aid Squad ambulances as well as all township police vehicles.

There is an ongoing need for new members, to serve in all capacities, especially as drivers, pump operators and, of course, firefighters. There is a task in Ralston for every volunteer and we hope you will join your neighbors and friends in service to our community.

This newsletter is scheduled to be in your mail in early April so we hope you made it to our March 17 Pancake Breakfast … but if you missed it (or even if you made it) we’ll have another in October! They are great fun for the whole family and we look forward to greeting you. Mark your calendar and call us for information: 973-543-4763.

In the last few years the Brookside Engine Company has welcomed many new firefighters to its ranks, including several Juniors. These young men are on their way to becoming full-fledged active members of the Company and have been training with regular members and learning under their direction. Their participation is vital for the role they now play in continuing the long and honorable tradition of the Brookside Company.

They also are to be commended for willingly demonstrating the quality of dedicated public service, a quality that is especially noteworthy in citizens so young. We are very proud of all our volunteers, none more so than the men and women -- of all ages -- who serve us in our fire companies and on our First Aid Squad. Our town and our lives are in good hands.

To help alleviate a shortage of professional firefighters, the County College of Morris (CCM) in collaboration with Passaic County Community College is now offering a degree program in applied science. The Associate in Fire Science degree is designed for volunteers who want to improve their standing in volunteer fire companies and advance through the ranks. It is also of interest to paid firefighters who may be eligible for higher pay based on this additional education, as well as to individuals interested in a career in a related field such as hazardous materials, or with fire sprinkler and alarm companies.

Courses include topics such as fire insurance, building and construction codes, laws, and standards regarding hazardous materials, and arson investigation. For more information on these courses and the program, call Dean Tim Patschke at CCM, 973-328-5340.

The Construction Department provides services mandated under the administration and technical standards adopted by the state of New Jersey for construction.

The primary responsibility of the Department is to process construction permits, perform inspections, to track and address code violations and unsafe structures. After a mandatory zoning review, the permitting process begins with plan examination and ends with inspections to verify conformity with the approved plans. The goal is to make

all buildings and structures erected in the Township safe for their intended occupancy and use.

In addition to issuing permits and inspecting the work, the Staff is available to assist residents in matters involving construction of any type, including building, plumbing, electrical and fire protection work.

The owner or the responsible person in charge of the work can request inspections. Inspection requests should be made at least 24 hours prior to the time the inspections desired. When calling for inspections, please have the following information at hand: the permit number, the tax block and lot number of the work site, the address of the work site and the owner’s name. Inspections will be performed within 72 hours of the request.

During the winter months the building department has been working on closing out any old permits. If you should receive correspondence please contact us at 973-543-4555. We are “open for business” Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thanks to your efforts, our recycling program is very successful. Recycling is required by law. It has the extra benefit of substantially reducing the weight of trash you put out for weekly collection, thereby saving you money on your per-bag fee! If you put out a 15 lb. bag of trash every week you pay a mere $30 for a full year (50 weeks) of trash collection!

Saturday, April 6 and Saturday, September 8, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. you can drop off your old computers, monitors, printers, television sets, household cleaning products, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paints, thinners, and much more. A full list of acceptable materials and the small fees for certain items is available in town hall, and on the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority web site www.mcmua.com or you can phone the MUA at 973-829-8006 for more details. Clean out your excess and your garage and potting shed all at once. As Martha says, “It’s a good thing.”

Spring HazMat (Tire/Battery/Oil Recycling): 8 a.m. - noon, Saturday, May 18, 2002

Fall HazMat (Tire/Battery/Oil Recycling): 8 a.m. - noon, Saturday, October 19, 2002

Collection of used tires, vehicle batteries, and used motor oil – all designated as hazardous materials (HazMat) -- will be held at the Mendham Township Public Works Garage, 40 Mt. Pleasant Road, between 8 a.m. and noon on the specified dates, above.

HazMat Fees: Tires, $2 -- Tires with rims, $6 -- Batteries, $1 each -- Oil, no charge.

Public Works Superintendent David H. Read, Sr., asks that you place material at the side of the road by 7 a.m. with the ends facing the roadway. All bundles must be tied with string only -- do not tie bundles with wire! Bundles should be less than 12" in diameter and less than 6 ft. in length. Please, put out no stumps, and no logs longer than 6 ft. -- they will not be collected. All material must fit through the chipper.

Homeowners or contractors must dispose of cleared wood themselves. Brush pick-up is intended for the purpose of clearing away only that brush which has fallen naturally during the previous season’s storms, and for homeowners who have no wooded or natural areas on their property to dispose of the material.

Important: It is crucial NOT to include in your bundles any material other than branches, scrub, or brush. When wire or metal rods are tucked inside the bundles, as they pass through the chipper these types of material may cause serious injury to township workers. In addition they damage township equipment which must be repaired or replaced with your tax dollars.

The town is pleased to continue providing these services to residents and we strongly encourage your cooperation. If you have any questions please telephone the Dept. of Public Works at (973)543-4509.

Mendham Township is one of only two towns in New Jersey selected for a Lyme disease intervention study: That is an equivocal designation, a “yay-boo,” as it means we are suitable for this study because have a high incidence of Lyme cases, but we also may be valuable in helping to combat the prevalence of the disease.

Our health officer, John Clayton, B.S., as asked us to pass along the following information to residents:

“Sometime in March, you should have received a questionnaire that deals specifically with the Lyme Disease Intervention Program. From start to finish the questionnaire should take between 5-10 minutes to complete. Completion of your questionnaire is vital to our intervention program.

“We will use this questionnaire to help evaluate the community and develop education programs specific to the results of the questionnaire. Please do not put your questionnaire aside but complete it as soon as possible. Help make a difference in your community.”

We believe this is a special opportunity to participate in an important project, and urge you to complete the questionnaire and return it as soon as you can!

Our Environmental Commission (the “EC”) is one of many volunteer groups that assist the governing body, the Township Committee, with a wide array of programs of benefit to our residents. As the name implies, the EC focuses on matters involving water quality, stormwater management, the preservation and restoration of our natural environment, and provision of opportunities for residents to learn more about and enjoy the many natural features in Mendham Township. The EC develops and maintains walking trails in our natural areas, has local oversight of State administered programs for water quality and watershed management and wetlands regulation, and advises the Planning Board on environmental aspects of land development.

For more information on environmental issues or the work of the EC, please contact the Commission Chairman, Ralph Rhodes, at 973-543-6878.

The EC sponsors the award-winning Adopt-a-Byway program, which is comprised of township residents -- 87 as this is written, and more are needed -- who voluntarily adopt and keep clean their respective sections of neighborhood byways. For the small reward of complimentary garbage stickers, the volunteers help keep our roads clean and green for all of us. For more information or to volunteer for Adopt-a-Byway, please call Debbie Faiello at 973-285-9505.

As part of the Adopt-a-Byway program, the EC sponsored a very successful Clean-up Day at Meadowood Park last April. An estimated 30-cubic yards of trash was collected by an enthusiastic band of volunteers, including members of the EC, the Mendham High School Environmental Club, and the Mendham Area Boy Scout Troop #1. In addition to hundreds of bottles and cans, the volunteers found a wide variety of other articles including about 35 tires, a 250-gallon oil tank, two vintage motorbikes, and numerous remnants of the cottages that once dotted the site. The EC is restoring the park’s trail network to make this beautiful area more accessible to residents.

Mendham Township has over 55 miles (!!) of public walking trails, only minutes away from all residents. The trails range in difficulty from almost sidewalk quality to fairly challenging, steep, rocky woodland trails. While none are truly remote from homes or well-traveled roadways, most have been successfully designed and built to provide users with a feeling of escape from familiar suburban scenes.

Foot travel is permitted on all trails and motorized vehicles are prohibited. Horses and bicycles are excluded from all trails in Mendham Township except for most of the length of Patriots’ Path. Posted restrictions are applied where necessary to preserve the environment and should be observed.

Free trail maps are readily available. The EC has produced descriptive brochures of Buttermilk Falls/ India Brook and Dismal Harmony, as well as a trail map for the entire Township. These are available at Town Hall and the library. Morris County has maps of Lewis Morris Park and Patriots’ Path, the US National Park Service for Jockey Hollow, and the Schiff Natural Land Trust for the beautiful Schiff Nature Preserve.

The EC works to expand and improve the network of trails as well as maintain them, with the invaluable assistance of the Department of Public Works. Wear and tear, natural erosion, and sometimes vandalism all take their toll. In addition to designing. clearing, and blazing new trails, the Commission seeks state and federal grants for projects to maintain and restore natural ecosystems in Township natural areas. These projects include planting native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, constructing and restoring wetlands, and providing interpretive signs.

· The Township lies at the headwaters of three major river systems: the Whippany, the Passaic, and the Raritan

· All but one of our streams are classified as having the State’s highest water quality classification, trout production. The remaining stream is nearly as clean, classified as trout maintenance

· The Township natural areas support a diverse population of wildlife, including such rarely sighted species as foxes, weasels, coyotes, and bears

· Over the past few years, volunteers have planted more than 1,000 trees and shrubs in Buttermilk Falls Natural Area to repair damage done by a developer before the land was acquired by the Township as open space in 1997

· We have over 55 miles of trails open to the public on township, county and federal lands and private property.

· The heavily wooded India Brook valley was once a major industrial center during colonial times. In India Brook and the adjoining Buttermilk Falls area, hikers can discover ruins of abandoned mines, traces of charcoal hearths, and abandoned mills. Interestingly, the area was once valuable for industry due to the abundance of wood to burn, water falling energetically from heights, and the presence of valuable minerals; now the area is valuable for its absence of industry.

Here is a quick reference chart to some of Mendham Township’s Open Space areas. Even if you do not have opportunities to visit these areas in person, our Open Space benefits you by helping to provide a cleaner environment, adding to the semi-rural character of our town and enhancing property values. They also offer wonderful opportunities for you and your family to enjoy their unspoiled beauty, interesting wildlife, and the solitude of quiet strolls in Nature’s realm. Many residents are truly surprised that areas such as these exist so very close to home.

Not included in this table are the portions of Jockey Hollow and Lewis Morris parks that lie within Mendham Township. Information and hiking maps are available at these locations.

Township Master Plan Revision Nearing Completion

Last year the Planning Board adopted six elements of a new Master Plan recommending major changes to Township planning policies guiding future development. The net effect will be a substantial reduction in the future development.

The new plan is felt to be more consistent with the goals of most residents for the future of the Township. It emphasizes preservation of the Township’s traditional historic character and its high quality of environmental resources, especially surface water and ground water.

The Township Committee already has implemented the new Master Plan’s most important recommendations, including rezoning large parts of the Township and adopting ordinances limiting maximum house size relative to its property size.

The new Master Plan also brings the Township’s planning into greater conformity with the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan’s “environmentally sensitive” designation of our area.

Four additional elements of the Plan are nearing completion by the Master Plan Drafting Committee. (An article on the Open Space Element appears elsewhere in this edition.) We expect to present them to the Planning Board for public hearings this spring. They will complete the new Master Plan and also will include a list of properties recommended for acquisition in order to implement the goals of the new plan. All the listed properties are recommended for acquisition for open space purposes. Acquisition may be fee simple, easements, or development restrictions, depending upon the specific circumstances of the specific property and its anticipated use.

Local newspapers will be encouraged to give notice of the hearings on the final elements when the dates are set. Anyone interested in reviewing the draft elements and recommended property acquisitions list may do so at the Planning Board office at the Municipal Building in Brookside. Public input is welcomed, as always.

As residents and taxpayers, we have been very supportive of the town’s program over the past nine years to acquire and protect properties for open space, but planning for that open space is critical. Now for the first time Mendham Township will include open space as an element of the new Master Plan. That is important for many reasons:

5. Proper planning helps maintain stream and drinking water quantity and quality.

6. Appropriate open space planning also helps to support other elements (recreation, for example) in their own plans.

The new Township Master Plan is not complete without the Open Space element. It is the “green” portion of the plan that will help to ensure that Mendham Township remains the special community it is today.

We'd like to hear from you about any issue in the Township or in this Newsletter, whether your views are pro or con, and particularly if you have suggestions for future articles. Write to: Newsletter Editor, Box 520, Brookside, NJ 07960.

Seven years ago Bob Pierson put together a volunteer committee of qualified residents to study current and future space needs in Mendham Township-owned buildings. This “Buildings Study Committee” made its report to the Township Committee (“TC”) six years ago. From that time forward the TC has been aggressively pursuing solutions to the needs articulated in the report, needs which have not diminished and indeed have grown more urgent.

More than two years ago we presented residents with a strong concept plan and invited public comment. As a result of that input we undertook reconsideration of the plan and are moving ahead, albeit slowly. Presently, we are awaiting a comprehensive environmental report and continuing our detailed concept discussions with our architects.

By all measures, the most pressing needs identified in the original study were additional office space, meeting rooms and records storage for the Township municipal building. The Brookside firehouse also needs major attention, as well as the First Aid Squad facilities and Police Headquarters. Equal in priority is the need for a larger version of our popular but very overcrowded library. (As you may know, the library is an independent non-profit organization dependent on public and private funding.)

Although some tentative agreements have been reached, there will be ongoing discussions based upon public input and the aforementioned environmental report, due this Spring. After a thorough review, decisions will be made and we will move forward.

In the meantime, you are encouraged to come to Township Committee meetings and express your own views. The governing body meets at 7:30 p.m. on the 2^nd Monday and 4^th Tuesday of each month. We look forward to seeing you, and hearing from you.

The Mendham Township Recreation Commission office is located in our municipal building. Recreation Director, Jeanne Montemarano, can be reached at (973) 543-7301.

Big Production: Mendham Township Recreation Commission and The Board of Education present "Guys and Dolls” on Friday and Saturday, March22 and 23 at 7:30pm and Sunday March 24 at 3:00pm at Mendham Township Middle School. Tickets are $10.00. For reservations and information call Jeanne at the Recreation Office at 973-543-7301.

Family Skate at Mennen Arena, Friday, April 12 from 7:00-10:00pm. Cost is $15.00 per

person. Registration deadline is April 8. Registration fee includes skating, skate rental, pizza and refreshments. To register contact Jeanne at the Recreation Office.

Pre-School Day Camp: A mini 2 week day camp for children age 4 (by May 1, 2002) and pre-K 5 years old will take place at the Mendham Township Elementary School July 8-19, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9:00am to Noon. Registration fee is $75.00 per child. Registrations are limited to 30. All registration forms must be received in the Township Recreation Office no later than April 30 . They will be numbered and a lottery will be held for the 30 registrants on Tuesday, May 7. The registration fee must accompany the form. You will be notified if your child has made it into the program. All other fees shall be returned.

Tennis Registration begins on Saturday, May 11 at l0:00am at the Borough Firehouse Courts. Our tennis program this year will consist of week long camps for children grades 2-9 from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm (Friday is a rain date each week) at a cost of $192.00; and a five week two day a week clinic for children ages 3-7, either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday from 4:10-5:00pm. Cost for that program is $120.00. Both programs begin the week of June 25.

As part of the tennis registration there will be a Little Tennis Carnival for children ages 3-7 from 10:00 to 11:00am. This is an hour long program that is an introduction to the program and an opportunity to meet some staff. Lots of non-competitive games will be played and stickers and prizes will be distributed.

Brookside Beach Opens for the Season: Come rediscover the best kept secret around.

school lets out around June 21. Then we open full-time Sunday - Saturday. Hours of operation are 11:00am -7:00pm Monday - Saturday and 12:00 - 7:00 on Sunday.

Swim Team: This program takes place at Brookside Beach. We swim in the North Jersey Regional Lakes League. Practices are usually Mon- Fri 11:00am - 1:00pm (subject to change) and meets are on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Children ages 6 - 18 are welcome. Cost is $50-00 per person if you are not a member of the beach and $25.00 per person if you are a member of the beach.

Family Hiking Program: This brand new program which is sponsored by the Recreation Commission and the Environmental Commission has been added for your summer/fall enjoyment. Did you know that Mendham Township has over 50 miles of hiking/walking trails? Come discover the beauty of our town while getting some easy exercise and quality time with your family. This program will officially open on Saturday, June 8th at Meadowood Park. Bring your family, a picnic lunch and your walking shoes. We will register families; explain more about the program hand out trail maps and give log books out to keep track of your miles. Hike all summer and into the fall. We will all meet back at Meadowood Park on Saturday, October 19 at noon. We will pack a lunch and take another hike to end the program. T-shirts will be distributed, and we can compare notes on our favorite trails.

Ralston Playground at Wysong Park (formerly known as Nickelodeon Park) is ready to be constructed. We are looking for members of the Community to come join the fun and assemble the playground we have been working so hard on. May 17-19 are the dates set for construction. We need contractors, equipment, and plenty of hands to help put together the components and rake and spread the sand and mulch. Many hands will make light work. We need approximately 40 people on Friday, May 17th and 100 people each day on Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19. You need not be specialized in any contracting, landscape or engineering field. We will provide expert supervision. All you need is a willingness to work and raise this playground to completion. To help, contact Jeanne at the Recreation office (973-543-7301) and she will give you more details on what you can do to help.

Any questions about the programs listed above, or any Recreation Program, should be addressed to Jeanne Montemarano, Recreation Director, at (973) 543-7301.

Here we go again! With the unusual lack of snow and rain for at least the past three seasons, it is well known that we are experiencing a water shortage that is potentially dangerous. So much so that Mendham Township – and, in fact, our entire county as well as others – has declared it to be an emergency. As a result, certain mandatory restrictions on water use are now in place and will remain until the orders are rescinded.

So, while your horticultural efforts may be more limited this summer, you still can bring blooms to life and enjoy the pleasures of gardening, but with rules that are a bit different. The following information may help keep your thumb green even as your lawn browns:

First, don’t worry about your lawns too much. Many people love their green lawns and are concerned about them browning-out badly during this drought. But lawns that are otherwise-healthy will snap back very well when conditions ease.

If your lawn still looks bad by Autumn and restrictions are eased, you can rake up any dead and unattached grass, lightly fertilize, then over-seed. (Autumn actually is a preferred time to improve your lawn, as the annual weeds are dying and many of the perennial weeds are becoming dormant.)

Kentucky Bluegrass, which is what most sod is, is not the best grass for heat, drought or shade. When seeding, over-seed your lawn with a mixture of Perennial Ryegrass, Red Fescue, Chewing Fescue, and Tall Fescue. These grasses will stand up better to tough conditions and require less water than Kentucky Blue Grass.

Grass grows well in cooler temperatures. Indeed most grasses will continue to grow until mid-to-late November. Lightly fertilize your lawn again in November and early Spring next year. It is not necessary to fertilize in the summer, especially if water restrictions are still in effect. When you are able to water your lawn, do it just once a week and get 2" of water down. It is unnecessary and wasteful to water lawns every day or even every other day.

If water restrictions continue into the fall, forget about the lawn but try to make sure your trees and shrubs are well watered before the cold weather comes. This is especially important for evergreens. Plants going into winter in drought situations may become "permanently dormant" if they have not had adequate watering in the fall. Trees and shrubs take many years to reach mature size; don't risk losing them at the expense of having a green lawn.

There also is a concern about how well gardens will bounce back, and if plants may have to be replaced. Fortunately, a number of plants can survive a drought and return to healthy growth the following year.

Many of the early spring-blooming flowers will go dormant a little early if there is a summer drought, and will return the following year. Plants in this group include Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Trilliums (Trillium spp.), Jack-In-The-Pulpit (Arisaema spp.), Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), Poppies (Papaver orientale), Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) and bulbs of all types. Ferns also have this ability.

Other perennials are drought-resistant because they have thick, fleshy roots that resist dry weather. Examples of this type include Bearded Iris (Iris), Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), Blazing Star (Liatris spp.), Peony (Paeonia spp.), Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) and Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.).

Some perennials are naturally drought-resistant because of the area of the world where they originated. This includes many of the sun-loving summer-blooming natives such as Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.), False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), Back-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida), Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.), Orange Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), and Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea purpurea).

Other naturally drought-resistant plants include Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), Garden Sage (Salvia spp.), Stone Crop (Sedum spp.), and many grasses. All these types of plants should go through drought well and be fine the following year.

Perhaps these recent droughts have given you the incentive to rethink your lawn and garden. It’s a good idea. Many residents have turned their gardens over to Mother Nature, with surprising success. If you plan to rework or redesign an area, consider the amount of water that plants will need before buying them. Avoid impulse buying. Choose plants with waxy, hairy, or gray-colored foliage.

Narrow-leaved plants will fare better in drought than wide-leaved plants. Native species will always shine no matter what the weather brings. Bulbs and early spring bloomers are also excellent choices for drought resistance. And don't forget to mulch plants to a depth of about 2" with an organic mulch that will break down over time. This will retain moisture and keep the surface of the soil soft, allowing water and rain to penetrate more easily.

And if you know a good rain dance, put on your dancin’ shoes and get out there!

Library News

The Library has lots of new books to curl up with during the last few weeks of winter and into early Spring. New books come in every few days, but probably the best day to find new titles on the shelves is Wednesday.

If you aren’t sure about what to read, take advantage of the latest enhancement to the WEB2 catalog (if you’re logging in from your home computer, use this URL: http://web2.morris.org Using the Power Search Screen, type in an author’s name, a subject, a title, or a keyword. When you get a list of books, and you’re curious about the details of a particular book, click on the red line, “MAIN Libraries”, it’s right below the blue line, “click below for all library holdings and more details.” The details include: a color picture of the book jacket, a “title summary,” which lists characters, setting, and a summary of the story; but the best feature is book reviews. So, give it a try, either at home or here in the Library.

Remember our hours are expanded: We’re open Monday through Thursday, 10-9; Friday, 10-5; Saturday, 10-3 and Sunday (except in the summer) 2-5. Our phone number is 973-543-4018, and our website address is www.git.net/main/ment/

As I write this, a parade of two-year olds and their Moms or Nannies streams past the windows of my office. Each child carefully carries a paper snowman, and one toddler remarked with both astonishment and enthusiasm, “Mom, it was all…FUN!” This was Winter Story Time which ran through the month of February. Check the library and local newspapers for announcements of Spring Story Time, which will commence in late April. Announcements will run in both The Observer Tribune and The Daily Record (both available in the Library).

Another patron, who is just a bit older remarked today, “I thought for a minute that I was in Barnes & Noble!” We do have a bookstore café look today, and the whole place smells of coffee, due to leftovers from a breakfast party in honor of our fabulous volunteers. But we also have something a bookstore café does not have, a gorgeous floral centerpiece created by our Children’s Librarian, Paula Benham. This party was a gift from Paula and me, given with heartfelt appreciation!!!

Our February Art exhibit has a floral theme. Alana Van Rensselaer, of Mendham, is displaying her elegant botanical watercolor paintings in our little gallery. Last month, Ernie Maw and Connie Gates displayed their carefully constructed maps of the historical sections of Mendham Township. Each map was clearly linked to photographs of historical homes, and residents were invited to contribute pictures of their homes for updated editions of the maps.

We are also very grateful the Brookside Woman’s Club for donating 40 copies of the latest edition of Neighbors to the Winter Camp, originally written in 1977 by a committee of the Woman’s Club. The book is a history of the families of Mendham during the Revolution. All proceeds from the sale of this attractive hard cover local history come to the Library, and so far we have raised $368.

Our card catalog has relocated to the reference room, and when the empty cabinets in the old location are removed, we will have a new Young Adult section! The mixed media shelving is on order, and we hope to have it set up by Spring. When we shift the Young Adult books to the new section, we can move the Audiobooks into the old Young Adult section, giving us more room for these chunky cases of cassette tapes, and room to add Books on CD, and large print books.

Whether first on the scene of an auto crash or responding to a call for help after a fall at home, our First Aid Squad members hear those two words often. For those of us who say it, a simple “thank you” doesn’t seem to be enough to adequately express our gratitude for the swift, selfless, highly professional care we receive.

Our Squad members are your neighbors, men and women who volunteer for the job of giving up their evenings and weekends many times, to be ready to assist you in need. They are trained, and retrained and certified in all manner of medical techniques.

We hope you consider joining, too. It won’t take putting in a 40-hour week to be valuable. You could start as a First Responder and go on from there only if you want to. Many f our present EMTs started that way. And if you are available during the daytime, when other Squad members are away at work, that’s worth a lot to our town.

The rewards you’ll get are simple. Just two words. But you’ll never know how much thankfulness and admiration they carry with them, when you hear them from someone you’ve helped.

The Mendham Township First Aid Squad has a limited number of various surgical aids and equipment for loan to Township residents. Items include crutches, canes, footed canes, walkers, tub seats, and wheelchairs. The Squad also welcomes donations of any clean, usable equipment of this type. For an equipment loan, to make a donation, or for more information our Squad, call Linda Brusco during the day at Township Hall (973-543-4555) or at home (973-543-2830).

As the weather warms, black bears awaken and start looking for food. In greater numbers they have been seen in developed areas including our own town. Bears are not vicious creatures; they want to stay away from you just as much as you want to stay away from them. It’s food they’re after – and you are not it. But there are some facts you should “bear” in mind.

Black bears are the largest land mammal in the Garden State and live in forested areas throughout northern New Jersey. Here in the most densely populated state in the nation black bears are thriving in close proximity to people. They are native to the state, but as land was cleared for settlements, timber and farms, and bears were killed indiscriminately, their numbers decreased and their range was reduced to the most remote areas in the northern part of the state. The population recovered after the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife afforded the bears protection, and habitat improved as forests matured. Today, New Jersey's black bear population is increasing and expanding -- as is the number of conflicts between humans and black bears.

In an effort to reduce those conflicts, the Division has conducted an extensive education program and produced educational and informational materials about living in "bear country." The following information is available on-line:

· Questions and Answers About New Jersey’s Bears - Factual answers to the most commonly asked questions about NJ black bears.

· Living In Bear Country - A brochure with information about bears in the state. Includes steps to take to minimize the likelihood of bear/human conflict for those living in bear habitat, and what to do if you encounter a bear. In PDF format*, 370kb.

· You Are In Bear Country - A brochure developed for those camping, hiking or fishing in bear country. Includes bear facts, how to minimize the likelihood of a bear entering a campground and what to do if you encounter a bear. In PDF format*, 292kb.

On-line brochures are in black & white to avoid large file size and lengthy download time. To receive the four-color print version of the "Living In Bear Country" brochure, or to request bulk quantities, please contact the Division at 908-637-4125 or njbearedu@nac.net