Come out & learn about the D & H Canal !
Sat., March 23rd  -  2pm at the Grange Hall  - No admission fee & Open to all

Remnant of the canal - stll visible by NVAM

Seth Goldman, Executive Director of the Neversink Valley Area Museum , will be hosted by the Montague Grange and offer a presentation at their site, located on River Rd. [CR 521] between Millville and Weider Roads.

Seth will tell about the history and significance of the D & H Canal which transported coal from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to Kingston, New York from 1828-1898. It was a major influence in the development of our area during the 19th century.

The Montague Grange No. 140, P.O.H. was founded as a local organization in 1904. The construction of the Hall began in 1905, being formally dedicated in 1906. It was acquired for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in 1974, as a result of the Tocks Island Dam acquisitions.

The Grange is primarily a fraternal organization. Our local group has remained active and retains use of the building through a negotiated agreement with the Dept of the Interior. They continue to welcome new members.

GREEN ACRES  Administrative Transfer of Parkland
Little Flatbrook Valley Preserve, Montague Township, Sussex County

The Nature Conservancy, 2350 Route 47, Delmont, NJ 08314 held a public hearing March 20th, 2013 to obtain comments regarding the proposed administrative transfer of ownership interest in parkland between The Nature Conservancy and the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This transfer is subject to approval from the Green Acres Program.

Written comments may still be submitted to the agencies listed below. All written comments must be received by April 3, 2013.

The proposed administrative transfer would involve the transfer of undivided interest held by The Nature Conservancy in 89.38 acres at the Little Flatbrook Valley Preserve, to the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection. The properties shall continue to be used solely for recreation and conservation purposes and shall be reasonably accessible to the public to the same extent as or greater than prior to the transfer. The Green Acres restrictions and any other applicable recreation and conservation restrictions on the parkland shall continue to apply.

All written comments should be submitted to The Nature Conservancy, with copy to the NJDEP Green Acres Program, at the following addresses:

The Nature Conservancy   2350 Route 47  Delmont, NJ 08314 501

NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship

501 East State Street, 1st. Floor      PO Box 412   Trenton, NJ 08625-0412

Attention: Dave Smith

Questions may be directed to: (609) 861-4122

Heather Austin, Conservation Operations Manager

If you're wondering what the folks standing on Clove Rd. by the pipeyard are about....

  They are relating information to passersby about the current Tenn. Gas Pipeline [TGP] Northeast Upgrade project, which seems to be gearing up to move once Army Corps of Engineer permits are granted.   

Snow, snow.... go away!

Need to chase away Winter blues or blahs?

Think Spring! 
Annual Springfest Garden Show was held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on March 14th through 17th  - even amidst the weekend's snowshowers.

Montague Elementary News!
Kindergarten Registration dates are March 5th, 6th, and 7th
from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and are by appointment only.

Also:          Frankford mulls school link with Montague
"Currently, Montague is the only school district in the state whose students are sent out of state for a portion of their public education. About 125 Montague students in grades seven through 12 attend Port Jervis {Middle and} High School, in Port Jervis, N.Y., according to recent data from Port Jervis.
The arrangement has been in place for nearly a century but has been undergoing a re-examination ever since the Montague Board of Education formed an advisory group early this year to study the issue.
In December, the High Point Regional Board of Education voted unanimously to enter into discussions with Montague about accepting its students in grades nine to 12. However, for the arrangement to work, Montague also would need to find a home for its students in grades seven and eight.
Earlier this year, after exploratory talks between Montague and Lafayette fell apart, Frankford Superintendent Braden Hirsch said talks were initiated between Montague and the Frankford School District, which educates students from both Frankford and Branchville through the eighth grade. "

The only options, aside from private school attendance or home-schooling, is the Sussex County Charter School or the Sussex County Technical School.

Winter blahs chill chaser!

The Sterling Hill Mining Museum has partnered with local wineries in offering  "Mining & Wining";  our very own Westfall Winery, along with Cava Winery and Ventimiglia Vineyard are participating.

Check the Vintage North Jersey site for more Wine Trails events.