Water, water, ........

With Spring's arrival has come the long anticipated snow melt and unexpected downpours. The rise in the Delaware river is reminiscent of freshets which helped support the transportation of logs downriver to Easton, Philadelphia and Trenton in the olden days.

All along the Delaware and far up along it's branches, men engaged in logging hemlock, pine, maple and oak. These would be brought to local sawmills and the logs would await the seasonal rise of the river. They would be lashed into rafts and floated downstream. This industry was maintained until canals, aqueducts and bridges impaired the rafts easy passage on the river.

During the journey, the men steering the rafts would tie up at locations along the river, to be able to stop for meals or to rest.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig

Today we celebrate St. Patrick's Day & the contributions of individuals of Irish heritage.

John A. O'Grady was born on July 3rd, 1849 in our own hamlet of Montague to Irish parents: Michael and Bridget O'Grady. Fr. Senez, a travelling missionary serving Sussex and Warren Counties, would baptise this child of a Catholic family he "discovered in Montagu, near the Delaware River". The family would eventually relocate to Randolph Township's Dover area.

At the age of sixteen, he chose to follow a calling to enter the priesthood and attended the seminary at Seton Hall - being ordained in 1874 and worked in the diocese of Trenton. While residing in New Brunswick, during his assignment to St. Peter's Parish, he became more than a denominational figure. His sympathies and interests extended into all fields affecting the welfare and happiness of his fellowmen, irrespective of race or belief, his admirers being found in all classes alike. Rev. O'Grady became active in civic affairs and served as a member of the City Park Commission and of the Board of Trade. A devoted friend of Rutgers College, for several years he was the donor of an annual oratory prize, known as the "O'Grady prize."

He accomplished much during his life and was responsible for the the founding of St. Peter's General Hospital as a non-sectarian institution, and was elevated to the status of a Monsignor. For a number of years he also occupied the position of Rural Dean of the northern section of the diocese of Trenton. Monsignor O'Grady died January 15th, 1919.

Celebrate the month of March as Women's History Month!

One of America's unsung heroine's is Ellen Swallow Richards.
If you're confident that your tap water is safe to drink and that your groceries are safe to eat, your confidence rests on her work.

Born in 1842 - Ellen Swallow Richards received no formal education until the age of 16, and was the first woman admitted to MIT. She was the first American woman to earn a degree in Chemistry, helped pioneer the field of Home Economics, and is called the founder of Ecology.

Spring forward, Fall back

Daylight Saving Time [DST] returns March 14th

During DST, clocks are turned forward an hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.

Daylight saving time was first used during World War I, as part of an effort in the United States and other warring countries to conserve fuel. In theory, using daylight more efficiently saves fuel and energy because it reduces the nation's need for artificial light.

The first American to advocate for daylight saving was Benjamin Franklin. He realized in 1784 that many people burned candles at night yet slept past dawn in the summer, wasting early-morning sunlight.

Don't forget to reset your clocks when you go to bed Sat. evening !

Many fire departments encourage people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they reset their clocks. A correctly functioning smoke detector more than doubles a person's chances of surviving a home fire.