Thanksgiving Day during COVID 

is very different for many.,

Have a safe & blessed Thanksgiving!

 "This year we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s arrival in Cape Cod in November of 1620. 

That means this year is also the 399th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving (the famous meal shared between the Pilgrim colonists and the Wampanoag people didn’t occur until 1621). 

It goes without saying that Thanksgiving looks much different now than it did in 1621, and indeed for many of us this year will look much different than it did in 2019. One thing about Thanksgiving that has remained constant, even throughout 400 years and now through a global pandemic, is that it is a time to be grateful and celebrate the good things we have."

Quote is courtesy of Family Tree Magazine

Advice for a Happy Thanksgiving 

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to ? 

Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you a chance to learn. 

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. 

Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement. 

Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength of character. 

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. 

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you made a difference. 

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things. 

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who also are thankful for the setbacks. 

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. 

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. 

 --Anonymous

This vicious, tree-killing insect has been found in New Jersey.

This is an old video posted by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station but is useful to help you identify them. 

"Adults feed in large congregations from August – October and are easily recognizable. Because they spend at least one month as adults before laying eggs, this could be a critical time for management. Mating and egg laying is delayed and egg laying does not occur until October. Egg masses are laid on smooth surfaces and appear like a patch of mud. They spend the winter in this stage and thus are very likely to be accidentally transported to a new location."

There is further NJ specific and detailed info about this insect and what/where to watch out for it, and how best to eradicate them at this link.

To help survey efforts, the general public should report sightings (please include the town and county where the specimen was found and attach a photograph) to slanternfly@njaes.rutgers.edu. Farmers, nurserymen and vineyardists should also report sightings to SLF-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov. 

Apple trees and grape vines are favored by it, as well as  Black Walnut & Ailanthus trees among othar hardwoods.

Spotted Lanterfly are now being seen along the river in NJ & PA.

The National Park Service has sent an alert to park volunteers that: "Spotted Lanternfly have been spotted at the following sites in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation areas:

Weygadt - Columbia, NJ.  

Kittatinny Point -  Bushkill , PA

Coppermine Area -  NJ Pahaquarry area

Camp Mohican - Blairstown, NJ

Mount Minsi [PA] Delaware Water Gap

around 739/209 area [PA]

Marie Zimmerman House  [ Above the Dingmans Ferry Bridge in PA] "

NPS also relates:

"Currently, we have been working on treating the Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven) trees in the 209 area as these are the trees that seem to be attractive to the invasive spotted lantern fly." 

Please be very alert for this invasive species. Parts of PA had been overrun by them the past 2 years. It is very easy for this insect to hitch-hike on a car or in anything that they can latch unto - if you commute to these areas or travel through them.

 

Recent Changes in Montague Township

  If you haven't been out and about town due to COVID restrictions, you may not have noticed some changes.

The biggest news if long-awaited new firehouse/community center/storm shelter is coming along and nearing completion.

Take a look at all the progress since the ground-breaking on  March 7th at:

     http://montaguefd.org/montague-fire-dept-future-home.html

For security reasons, the Montague Post Office no longer leaves its postal boxes accessible overnight.

D&B Deli in the mini-mall on Clove Road has closed down. 

On 206, there's a new store in town, DOLLAR GENERAL.

It's located at 45 Route 206 - south of Thompson Stone, just before the former Antique Shop.

     Postponed til the Fall:   Township Cleanup 

   & Paper Shredding on Fri., 9/11 only

Courtesy https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/

The Township of Montague formed 
17 years prior
to the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.

Have a safe & blessed Fourth!