November 22: SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORICAL ANNUAL MEETING & PRESENTATION

The Somerset County Historical Society is proud to invite the public to visit the newly renovated Van Veghten House for the society's annual meeting and a presentation by historian and author of Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution, Terry Golway.

DATE: Sunday, November 22
TIME: 2:00Pm
PLACE: Somerset County Historical Society
Van Veghten House
9 Van Veghten Drive, Bridgewater
INFO: www.schsnj.com
CONTACT: schs@schsnj.com
(908) 218-1281

ADMISSION IS FREE!!!

The Van Veghten House was used by General Nathanael Greene during the Middlebrook encampment, from 1778 to 1779. Mr. Golway's biography of the general provides a rare glimpse into the man who, in the face of such desperate times, was forced to become a suburban military tactician and brilliant quartermaster general.

"Nathanael Greene was an unlikely warrior - a Quaker with a pronounced limp - he surprised fellow patriots by rising quickly to become George Washington's favorite soldier and heir apparent. After taking command of the failed Southern Army, Greene formulated an unorthodox guerrilla strategy-to win by surprise attacks and hasty retreats, which cut the enemy's supply lines until the outwitted British leaders grew tired of hunger and bloody sacrifices. His strategy of turning defeat into victory allowed the rebel army to gain momentum toward a final push, setting the stage for the victory at Yorktown."

Terry Golway is a frequent contributor to American Heritage, The Boston Globe, and The New York Times. His other books include: So That Others Might Live, The Irish in America, For the Cause of Liberty, Full of Grace, Together We Cannot Fail, and Irish Rebel.

EVENT ROUND-UP: November 2009 (Updated 11/18)

The wild gander leads his flock through the cool night,
Ya-honk! he says, and sounds it down to me like an invitation:
The pert may suppose it meaningless, but I listen closer,
I find its purpose and place up there toward the November sky.
-NJ Poet Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1855

Nov 7 WHY GO NATIVE? IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY--FREE
Nov 7 MEADOWS ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF NJ POETS
Nov 7 HISTORY OF NJ CEMETERIES & TOMBSTONES
Nov 14 HOLIDAY SALE, BLACKWELLS CANAL HOUSE--FREE
Nov 14 NATURALIST GUIDED WALK OF KINGSTON LOOP--FREE
Nov 15 CANOE/KAYAK D&R CANAL, KINGSTON-AMWELL--FREE
Nov 21 FIRESIDE CHAT: THE LIZZY BORDEN CASE
Nov 21 CANOE/KAYAK D&R CANAL, AMWELL-DEMOTT--FREE
Nov 22 SCHS OPEN MEETING & PRESENTATION--FREE

November 21 FIRESIDE CHAT: THE LIZZY BORDEN CASE

Lizzy Borden took an axe,

And gave her mother forty whacks,

When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

DATE: Saturday, November 21
TIME: 2:00PM
PLACE: The Van Wickle House
1289 Easton Avenue, Somerset
TKTS: $10.00 per Person
RSVP: (732) 560-1977

The New England spinster, Lizzy Borden, was actually acquitted of the INFAMOUS gruesome August 4, 1892, murders of her hated stepmother and skin-flint father.

Come, and you are welcome to entertain the lesser known details of the case, and share your thoughts on: Did Lizzy hate the folks THAT much? Do Lizzy's movements on that day fit the time line? Why did the police refuse to use the new-ish science of finger printing to collect evidence from Lizzy and the murder weapons?

November 15: CANOE/KAYAK THE DELAWARE & RARITAN CANAL!

Come join the New Jersey Sierra Club for a relaxing and informative 11 mile paddle under the spectacular fall foliage along the scenic stretch of the D&R Canal from Kingston to Amwell Road!

DATE: Sunday, November 15
TIME: 9:00AM
MEET: D&R Canal State Park Kingston Office
145 Mapleton Road, Kingston
BRING: Your own boat (rentals not available), lunch, beverages, portage wheels for one canal lock (if you have them)
CONTACT: Trip Leaders, George & Leona Fluck
leona@pineypaddles.com
(609) 259-3734

Pre-Registration is Required!

November 14: ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE AT THE BLACKWELLS MILLS CANAL HOUSE!

The holidays will be here before you know it, so please join the Meadows Foundation at the historic Blackwells Mills Canal House to stock up on one of a kind treasures for everyone on your gift list!

DATE: Saturday, November 14
TIME: 10:00AM to 4:00PM
PLACE: Blackwells Mills Canal House
Blackwells Mills Rd. & Canal Rd., Somerset

ADMISSION IS FREE!!!

New, antique, and second-hand items will include unique jewelery, home accessories, and garden item!

November 14: WALK THE KINGSTON LOOP TRAIL WITH A NATURALIST!

Come join the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park's resident naturalist and historian for a guided 3.5 mile walk along the newly created trail system in Kingston!


DATE: Saturday, November 14 [Weather Permitting!]
TIME: 10:00AM
MEET: D&R Canal State Park Kingston Office
145 Mapleton Road, Kingston
RSVP: Click HERE to Pre-Register
Pre-Registration is Required

This walk will lead you through the beautiful D&R State Park, the Mapleton Preserve (former site of the Princeton Nurseries), the Cook Natural Area, and the Middlesex County Open Space Park, Heathcote Meadow Preserve. The pathways are mostly dirt and gravel and the terrain is flat.

November 7: WHY GO NATIVE? THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

You will wonder why you didn't "Go Native" sooner at Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park's presentation by Robert Wells, Kingston resident and Associate Director of Arboriculture Outreach of the Morris Arboretum at the Old Princeton Nursery headquarters!

Robert Wells' talk is based on Dr. Doug Tallamy's book, Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens, and will cover the wonders of native-NJ plants, the importance of biodiversity, and how homeowners can create sustainable landscape designs on their properties that will provide a critical wildlife habitat.

DATE: Saturday, November 7
TIME: 10:00AM to 10:45AM
PLACE: D&R Canal State Park Office
145 Mapleton Road, Princeton

No registration required and ADMISSION IS FREE!!!

Visitors are encouraged to explore the trails of the Mapleton Preserve after the talk and, so far, looks like Saturday is going to be beautiful weather!

November 7: MEADOWS ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF NEW JERSEY POETS!

The Meadows Foundation is delighted to invite you to their annual presentation of New Jersey Poets, featuring two award-winning talents, Charles Johnson and Diane Lockward!

DATE: Saturday, November 7
TIME: 2:00PM to 4:00PM
PLACE: Tulipwood
1165 Hamilton St., Somerset
TKTS: $10.00 per Person
Light refreshments will be served!
Books will be available for purchase!
RSVP: 732-560-1977
Reservations Strongly Recommended

Each poet has several volumes of poems to their credit, as well journal publications and high-profile readings!

[From the Meadows Foundation website]
Mr. Johnson’s third poetry collection, Smoke Signals, is forthcoming. He was a first-place winner of the 1998 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award. A two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, he received a 2007 Paterson Award for Literary Excellence for his book Sam’s Place.

Diane Lockward is the author of What Feeds Us, which received the Quentin R. Howard Poetry Prize. Her poem “Linguine” was featured on Garrison Keillor’s “The Writer’s Almanac” newletter on February 20, 2009 and others in his book, “Good Poems for Hard Times. In May 2009 she was named “Poet Laureate” of West Caldwell. Her poetry has been nominated for several Pushcart Prizes. She has been featured in a number of festivals, including the Dodge Poetry Festival.

November 7: NEW JERSEY'S CEMETERIES & TOMBSTONES: HISTORY IN THE LANDSCAPE

The Heritage Trail Association is delighted to invite you to a fascinating exploration of the last 400 years of New Jersey cemetery and tombstone design!

DATE: Saturday, November 7
TIME: 3:00PM
PLACE: The Historic Van Horne House
941 East Main Street, Bridgewater
TKTS: $5.00, Register Online HERE
Registration Appreciated, Not Required

Historians Richard Veit and Mark Nonestied's presentation will cover the evolution of burial sites and gravemarkers from the 17th century to the dawn of the 21st century and address topics such as colonial gravestones, stone carvers, Victorian cemeteries, monuments, mausoleums, and ethnic and cultural burial grounds.

The speakers' combined years of research culminated in the wonderful book published by Rutgers University Press, New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones: History in the Landscape. Signed copies will be available for purchase!

BONUS! Optional Pre-program Old Cemetery Walking Tour!
MEET: The Old Raritan Cemetery
191 South Bridge Street, Somerville

The Old Cemetery was established shortly after the Revolutionary War, and contains many examples of tombstone carvings from the 19th and early 20th centuries! The grounds and stones have been meticulously maintained by the Old Cemetery Association of Somerville.