March 2013 Events

Friday, March 8, 5.30 pm

Evening Woodcock Watch at Kingston:

Join NJ Audubon volunteer (and Kingston resident)Arlene Oley and Park naturalist, Stephanie Fox,

 as they lead a dusk walk into the Mapleton Preserve in Kingston

 to search out the sites and sounds of the Woodcock. 

This unique looking bird provides a fanciful flight and sound display that will delight all that attend. 

Depending on the weather, the group should also hear the chirps and peeps of frogs and toads from the surrounding area. 

The program will begin at 5:30 pm. Participants are asked to meet at the

 D & R Canal Kingston Office located at 145 Mapleton Road

 (.2 miles from Rt. 27/Main Street).

 Participants are asked to bring a flashlight for the walk back to the cars.

Pre-registration IS REQUIRED

. INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS. 

  Register for this program

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saturday March 9, 1-3 pm

The Blackwells Mills Canal House Hosts “St. Patrick's Day Song Fest”:

Come to the historic bridge tender's house located on the corner of Blackwells Mills and Canal Road in Franklin Township for an afternoon of music. Bob Denson, local musician, will entertain as a solo acoustic performer, playing audience requests, Irish ballads, and music from the American songbook. The house will be open from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Come by, stay a while and enjoy music by the canal.

 Registration is NOT required and admission is FREE! 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sunday, March 10, 10 am
Walk the D&R Canal ~ Kingston to Alexander Road
Join the D&R Canal Watch as they host a walk along the canal path in Princeton
 Participants are asked to meet at the Alexander Road parking lot at 10 am
 for this 3.8 mile walk (or do a shorter walk, ending at the Millstone Aqueduct - 2.2 miles).
 Plan to join the Watch for this late winter walk.
 Program leaders will provide information about both canal and local history.
 For further details contact Bob and Linda Barth at (201) 401-3121 (or email: barths@att.net). 

The walk is sponsored by the D&R Canal Watch.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 16, 9am-3pm
Raritan-Millstone Flood Commission to Present Workshop on

Flood Mitigation ; Hazard Reduction,

at the Conference Center at Raritan Valley Community College, 

Conference Rooms A/B/C,

 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, N.J. 08876 

To participate in the workshop advance registration is required. 

Please contact Sara Malone at 908.892.0020 or sjmalone@ejb.rutgers.edu by Thursday, March 14 to register.

The Raritan-Millstone Rivers Flood Control Commission (RMRFCC), in conjunction with the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, is presenting an all-day “Workshop on Flood Mitigation and Hazard Reduction: Best Practices to Reduce Hazard and Mitigation Flood Conditions Now,” on Saturday, March 16. It will be held from 9am-3pm at the Conference Center at Raritan Valley Community College, Conference Rooms A/B/C, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, N.J. 08876 

In existence for about 18 months, the Raritan-Millstone Rivers Flood Control Commission (RMRFCC) was initiated by a group of concerned citizens who live along the Millstone and Raritan Rivers’ flood plains. With flooding increasing in frequency and volume, the boroughs of Manville, Millstone, Rocky Hill, Somerville and South Bound Brook, along with the townships of Bridgewater, Franklin and Hillsborough joined with Somerset County to create the commission in 2011 with an organized focus on the flooding affecting their towns and trying to find ways to help the residents. The commission’s mission is to collect, study and share flood data, coordinate flood mitigation efforts, and educate the public and residents about flood prevention and preparation.

Workshop sessions will address steps that can be taken now to reduce the effects of future storms, and mitigation strategies that can be implemented across the region to reduce risks for everyone. 

“This workshop will bring all three facets of the Commission together,” said Frank Jurewicz, chair of the commission. “We are assembling the combined knowledge of various experts and groups who specialize in flood mitigation and preparedness in a one-day workshop that will allow citizens who have been impacted by these disasters to be better informed and make them aware of available resources.”

Workshop panelists will include Cynthia Addonizio-Bianco, PE, CFM, Tetra Tech; Clay Emerson, PE, Princeton Hydro; Michael Foley, FEMA; Mark Gallagher, VP, Princeton Hydro; Alicia Gould, PE, US Army Corps of Engineers; Alec McCartney, NJDEP Forestry Program; Bill McDonnell, FEMA; John Miller, PE, CFM, Association of Floodplain Managers of New Jersey; Kerry Miller, ANJEC; Dr. Chris Obropta, PE, Rutgers Cooperative Extension; Dr. David Robinson, State Climatologist; Joe Ruggeri, NJDEP; Dr. Judy Shaw, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy, Rutgers University; Jim Waltman, ED, Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association 

To participate in the workshop advance registration is required. Please contact Sara Malone at 908.892.0020 or sjmalone@ejb.rutgers.edu by Thursday, March 14 to register.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++