HOLMDEL, NJ – March 4, 2002 - Bayonet Farm Beautification Plans: The Bayonet Farm Advisory Committee recently formed a Gardening Committee consisting of Kay O’Keefe, Nancy Fitch, Rose Colin, Anne Shramko, Isabelle McFarland and Sede Spang.  The committee will be working to rejuvenate the magnificent grounds around Bayonet Farm.   The committee has met three times and is already hard at work pruning back the overgrown boxwood bushes, lilacs, holly trees and apple trees.

Future plans call for doing small flower plantings along the driveway.  The committee is also planning to develop a daffodil garden since Laura Harding, the former owner of Bayonet Farm, was especially fond of daffodils.  She had them planted all through the woods where she rode.  If anyone wishes to donate funds for a planting in the daffodil garden in memory of a loved one, the committee will provide markers for that section of the garden.  This would be a wonderful way to remember someone.

The committee will be meeting, as weather permits, throughout the spring and working at the farm.  If anyone likes to garden, we would love to have you join us.  Please call Sede Spang at 732-671-9196 - and spend a peaceful morning working in the sun on the beautiful grounds at Bayonet Farm.  And if anyone is interested in donating daffodils in memory of a loved one, please call the same number.

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Trenton, NJ - March 14, 2002 - DEP Drought Hotline and Website:
For up to date information on the state of drought conditions and measures undertaken to deal with the situation, visit  www.njdrought.org or call the drought hotline at 1-800-4-ITS-DRY.

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HOLMDEL, NJ – March 4, 2002 - Village School Students Developing Ramanessin Trail Field Guide:
Second grade students at Village School, along with their teachers Barbara Duggan and Ginny Russell, are working on a project to develop a field guide for visitors to the Ramanessin Brook Nature Trail.

They are photographing vegetation found along the trail during three seasons.  These photographs along with brief descriptions of each plant will be placed on the Environmental Commission Web Site.  Photos were already taken during the early fall and this will also continue in late winter and late spring.   These will provide an easy reference for those who already enjoy the trail and will encourage other residents to explore it.  Paper copies of the field guide will be available at Village School for teachers and students to use at the completion of this project in 2003. 

Mrs. Duggan and Mrs. Russell received a grant from the Coalition for Service Learning to work on this grant.  Larry Fink, a Holmdel Township Committeeman and former Chairman of the Environmental Commission, is assisting in identifying the varieties of vegetation found along the trail.