Current - Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy
Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy A Not-for-Profit Organization Member: National Association for Olmsted Parks Member: Native Plant Society of New Jersey Dedicated to the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the Grover Cleveland Park Vol. XIV Issue I March 2015 AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF GROVER CLEVELAND PARK The celebration of Grover Cleveland Park’s centennial in 2013 spawned the idea to commemorate the park’s centennial with a printed compilation of the history of the park over the past 100 years. The extensive research was initiated by Richard Cummings, a former Board member, with assistance from current Board member Warren Marchioni. The goal is to publish a bound historical record illustrated with photos, maps, and vintage postcards that will bring life to the past and preserve it for future generations. This project is slated to be completed in 2015. The research has revealed many surprises about past events in the park’s chronology including turning part of it into a farm during the years of World Wars to grow crops such as corn. Also surprising was that naming the park after Grover Cleveland had its critics, some contending that he did not spend enough time living in the borough to warrant his name being permanently associated with our park. In addition, there were several other areas in West Essex that were alternately considered for the location of our local county park. One of the reasons for the selection of the current location was the development of homes in what became known as “The Cedars” which is adjacent to Grover Cleveland Park on its northern border. Obviously having a park so close to this new development was a major selling point. The proximity of the park is used, as it was in the 1920s, as an incentive to purchase properties in adjacent neighborhoods. While the research phase of the park’s history is largely completed, photos or other historical artifacts related to the park are still gratefully accepted. Of particular interest are materials that are prior to 1970. Please contact the GCPC to share your artifacts; your contribution will be credited. Please contact the GCPC to reserve a copy of the book. RECAP OF GROVER CLEVELAND PARK 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION In case you missed it… 2013 was a year like no other at Grover Cleveland Park! Energy was focused and hundreds attended events planned and run by the volunteers at Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy with support and partnership from the Essex County Park System. Four lectures were hosted, three which were presented by GCPC members, Dr. Richard Cummings, Warren Marchioni, Claudia Kolster and Caroline Mescia. Model remote-controlled sailboats were launched on the pond thanks to the Sunset Lake Model Yacht Club and historic photos of the park were displayed at the Caldwell Public Library. A tented reception catered by Tierney’s Copperhouse of Fairfield preceded the annual summer concert where The Kootz performed. The Duke Lukic Trio performed during the preconcert reception. Hog Wild provided dinner offerings to the concert crowd. The year-long celebration was capped off by a fun afternoon for the whole family in the park in September and then the return of the beloved Halloween Parade in October. The Five-O Trio and Friends performed at the Centennial Celebration while guests enjoyed crafts, games, and a scavenger hunt and could learn a few things at various demonstrations. Thank you to all who participated in the 50/50 raffle; $2,310 was raised. Half of the total was divided amongst three winners: Dave Kole, Dainius Liaukus and Rameeza Narine. The Halloween Parade was co-sponsored by West Caldwell Recreation with over 200 children in attendance. BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Don’t miss the chance to honor loved one or a pet with a brick paver for the playground walkway! They are available again! See insert for ordering information. CAR MAGNETS Become a member or renew your membership and receive a GCPC car magnet. Proudly display your support of Essex County’s gem on your car! Please make note of the GCPC’s new phone number: 862-505-2243 P.O. Box 203, Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 862-505-2243 [email protected] www.groverclevelandpark.org Page 2 Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy NEW MERCHANDISE! The GCPC is proud to introduce a new line of clothing merchandise which is available for purchase by contacting the GCPC and at all of our events. Makes a great gift! Cap: $15 T-shirt – sizes youth M – adult XL: $12 T-shirt – sizes 2XL-3XL: $14 Women’s t-shirt: $12 Hoodie: $25 (large logo on back of t-shirt and hoodie) HALLOWEEN PARADE MARCHES ON! Halloween was celebrated by many children on October 25, 2014 at Grover Cleveland Park. The Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy and the West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation Department again partnered in sponsorship of the parade which was enjoyed by over 200 children. Children dressed in creative costumes, marched in the parade around the pond, and enjoyed Halloween-themed games, crafts and activities, as well as a spooky story time in the Pond House. Trophies were awarded for best costume in different age categories and all participants received goody bags filled with holiday treats. Jack’s Super Foodtown donated cider and donuts and the Conservancy provided complimentary coffee on the beautiful but chilly Saturday morning. Winners display their trophies. SEASONS OF THE POND ICE SKATING: The pond was open for a few days in January until substantial snow fell. Some area residents enjoyed hockey, skating, sliding or just watching from inside the fireplace-warmed pond house. A small group of volunteers have offered to clear the ice in the future. Please let us know if you would like to help them. For optimal skating conditions, the snow should be removed within a day or so of snowfall. March 2015 The GCPC has a selection of skates to swap or borrow. Please make plans to check our inventory and leave time to get the skates sharpened. POND HEALTH: The pond continues to be plagued by curly leaf pond weed, originating from Eurasia and used as decoration in aquariums. This is an invasive water plant that grows in mid-spring and lasts until mid-summer when it is replaced by the alga ydrodictyon sp. or water net. The weed cannot be eradicated, only controlled with herbicides or by physically removing the entire plant including the roots. This is a tremendous undertaking and would require many volunteer hands. The GCPC is working with the county and actively seeking a partner to assist with the removal. If you are interested in helping, please contact us. GROVER THE TURTLE The Final Chapter For those who were following the rescue of a clutch of turtle eggs back in June 2012 and the subsequent hatching of one strong snapping turtle affectionately named Grover, there is a happy beginning – the end of his rearing. The clutch of eggs. Grover shortly after hatching Conservancy member Greg Michales rescued and raised this snapper who was just larger than a nickel when born. In August 2014 Greg released Grover into the Passaic River. At that time he measured 3.5” long. His chances of survival are good at this size. So – should you be canoeing or fishing on the Passaic and see a snapper – think of Grover! At the time of his release – seems to be smiling at the thought of freedom! This past summer, a few people in the park witnessed two turtle hatchlings cross from the flag garden to the pond. The turtles knew exactly where to go despite being shorter than the grass. Looks to be another snapper – could it be Grover’s relative? Page 3 Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy ANNUAL MEETING March 2015 PARK CLEAN-UPS The 2015 Annual Meeting was on February 25. Project plans for 2015 were laid out including to finalize the invasive plant removal plan and plant trees to replace many that were lost. The three Trustee positions were filled by Loren Betros, Susan Zayas, and Diane Mensinger. Officers for 2015 are President Lisa Garrity, V. President Susan Zayas, Treasurer Loren Betros and Secretary Caroline Mescia. Please become involved with the GCPC. New volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization providing new ideas and renewed energy! The Advisory Board is a way to get involved in a limited way. Or just come to a meeting or an event and share your thoughts. All are welcome! At the 2014 Annual Meeting, Lisa Garrity was elected President, Susan Zayas – Vice President, Kathleen Carrara – Secretary and Loren Betros – Treasurer. Sharon Morrissey was newly elected as a Trustee from the Advisory Board and Warren Marchioni and Caroline Mescia were re-elected for new 3-year terms. MAINTENANCE & GROUNDS The GCPC works closely with the Essex County Park System to identify areas of concern and assist where able. Dangerous trees have been removed and various issues in the playground addressed. The Conservancy does not like to see a tree removed from the park, but when a weak tree is near walkways, it is prudent to remove it. Every effort is made to replace especially prominent trees. In January 2014, a diesel spill from a body shop on Bloomfield Avenue made its way into the brook nearby and subsequently the park downstream. Booms to collect the spill were placed in the park’s brook. The GCPC continues to maintain all of the gardens in the park replacing and adding plants as needed. The county provides mulch as needed. The ornamental grasses in the turtle garden were removed as they were hiding the turtle and are indeed invasive. The grasses in the flag garden will be removed in 2015. Invasive plant species continue to spread in the park threatening native species. The GCPC is hoping to identify a corporate partner or generous donor to help eradicate the invasive species. Any suggestions are welcome. NOTE CARDS Note cards of scenes of Grover Cleveland Park are available for purchase. Ten cards and envelopes are $15. Each package has two cards each of five different seasonal scenes of the park taken by the late Dr. David Fri sc h. The se ma ke wonderful gifts! Contact GCPC to purchase. Spring Clean-up Volunteers Thank you to these folks and others who assisted in our spring and fall clean-ups. There were almost 50 volunteers in attendance at the spring clean-up on April 26, 2014. GCPC volunteers go beyond where the landscapers go – into the woods, waterways and gardens – to collect trash and prune trees and shrubs. Gardens are weeded and mulched as well. This work is of utmost importance to maintain the natural beauty of the entire park – even the areas not frequented by most. The spring clean-up this year will be on April 18, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. by the playground. All are welcome and encouraged to lend a hand! YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS VITAL TO THE PARK The Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy has been working tirelessly since 2001 to make improvements to the park and to offer fun and informative events. We can’t do it without the support of volunteers and members. A household membership is only $20. Having a strong membership base not only helps us to fund our mission, but also shows others that we have the backing of the community. This is vital when applying for grants or making appeals to the county for funding or making maintenance requests. If you have received a paper copy of this newsletter, the date on your address label is the date of your last donation. If there is no date on your label, you have received a complimentary newsletter. Please make a donation to support the work of the Conservancy and Grover Cleveland Park. We gladly accept your employer’s matching gift. Receive a GCPC logo car magnet with each $20 membership. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to support the Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy. It’s a small price for big benefits to your community! EDITORS Lisa Garrity Claudia Wilcke Kolster Caroline Mescia Suzy von Lengerke Page 4 Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! Listed below are those who have supported the GCPC for 5 or 10 years. The continued support of many makes it possible for the GCPC to continue its work to make Grover Cleveland Park a safe destination for all. 5 years: Conti, Morrissey 10 years: Glazier, White, Berisso, Feldman / Davidson CENTENNIAL SPONSORS PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL Bay Roofing & Construction ARCHITECT LEVEL John Young Realtors Dancy Funeral Home Gelotti Stop & Shop ESSEX LEVEL Cloverleaf Tavern Forté Pizzeria & Ristorante Jack’s Super Foodtown Tierney’s Copperhouse PATRON LEVEL Calandra’s Italian Village Caldwell Seafood Doug Morrison Print Shack Original Pancake House R. Ventola Landscaping LLC SPONSOR LEVEL Anne Filkin Lamps and Shades Caldwell Collision, Inc. Caldwell Plumbing Conceptual Interiors James R. Haas Landscape Spectrum K. Macken Landscaping Lakeland Bank Linda Hann Paintland Rotary Club of Fairfield Smith & Co. Spencer Savings Weffering & Co., CPAs, LLC West Caldwell Animal Hospital SPONSORSHIP LEVELS Presidential – Grover Cleveland ($2,000+) Revolutionary – James Caldwell ($1,500) Architect – Frederick Law Olmsted ($1,000) Benefactor – Andrew Carnegie ($750) Essex – Lewis Lockward ($500) Patron ($200) Sponsor ($100) TRUSTEES President, Lisa Garrity ‘16* V. Pres., Paul Boeckel, ‘16 Treasurer, Loren Betros ‘18 Secretary, Caroline Mescia ‘17 Claudia Kolster ‘16 Warren Marchioni ‘17 Diane Mensinger ‘18 Sharon Morrissey ‘17 Susan Zayas ‘18 *year term expires ADVISORY BOARD Wendy Callaghan Janet Calvert Kathleen Carrara Douglas Morrison Suzy von Lengerke GCPC MEMBERS 2013 Adams, Gilbert – in honor of his birthday by: the Domenicks Azouvi, Allegra Basile, Salvatore & Stephanie Berisso, Jane Betros, Loren Blumberg, Irene Boeckel, Paul & Carol Brown, Florence Brown, Philip & Lori Callaghan, Wendy Calvert, Janet Cane, Linda Carrara, Doug & Kathleen Nelson, Wilmer & Laverne Nordstedt, Mary Ellen in memory of: Marie Mazzeo Pak, Kirstin Pettit, Valerie Piccoli, Lenore Pirozzi, Michael & Jenny Loan Roth, Rebecca Rozman, Marjorie Stewart, James & Louise Thibodaux, Jay & Jennifer Travers, Stephen & Diane Vellekamp, Roger & Gail Vitkowsky, Barbara Vogelsang, Jane March 2015 Chaney, Elgie Cicchetti, Michele Cocozziello, Vinnie Collura, Pat & Grace Conti, James & Laura Cordaro, Barbara Ann Cummings, Richard & Anne Dassing, Ann DeFilippis, Carl Dell, Amy Durkin, Cornelius & Mary Ellen Eicher, Barbara Fedlman, Stuart & Jackie Davidson Fischer, Kathleen Fox, Matthew & Ruth Ann Keenan Frelinghuysen, Rodney Frisch, Paula Garden Club of the Caldwells Garrity, Francis & Lisa Geib, Curtis & Margaret Glazier, Gwen in honor of Charley Halprin, Arthur & Doris Hann, Linda Hannigan, Thomas & Ruth Hanrahan, Ed & Ann Heberling, William & Lorraine Hunter, Robert Jones, Ellen Kaplan Robert & Barbara Kelley, John & Susan Kent, Gregory & Phyllis Kinzel, Phil & Eleanor Kocornik, Richard Kolster, David & Claudia Konner, Jarett & Margaret Kuczborski, Anthony & Roxanne Knott Langer, Jason & Margie Leonard’s Barbershop Lynch, James Nelson, Wilmer & Laverne Maguire, Mike & Julianne Mannell, Matthew & Lara Marchioni, Warren & Ann Marx, Lisa McGrogan, Patty McKenna, Robert Mescia, Peter & Caroline Michales, Greg, Carole & Cameron Michelsen, Deborah Mondsini, Frank & Natalie Morrison, Doug & Susan Morrissey, Thomas & Sharon Sachs, Michael & Cathryn Sandler, Richard & Susan Scott, Andrew & Stacey Scott, Bruce Searing, Claire Selzer, Joseph Spillane, Thomas & Barbara Stairiker, Peter & Ginny von Lengerke, Justus & Suzy Weil, Gil & Shirley White, Brad & Ellie Witt, Penelope Wood, Lin & Diane Mensinger Zatta, Leo & Janet Zayas, Jeff & Susan Zhang, Heng & Kim Wing Cheung 2014 Basile, Salvatore & Stephanie Berisso, Jane Betros, Loren Boeckel, Paul & Carol Brown, Florence Callaghan, Wendy Calvert, Janet Cane, Linda Carrara, Doug & Kathleen Cordaro, Barbara Ann Cummings, Richard & Anne Dassing, Ann Dell, Amy Eicher, Barbara Fischer, Kathleen Frelinghuysen, Rodney Garrity, Francis & Lisa Glazier, Gwen Hann, Linda Kent, Gregory & Phyllis Kolster, David & Claudia Kuczborski, Anthony & Roxanne Knott Lally, Tim & Kathleen Macaluso, Jeff & Kendra Maguire, Mike & Julianne Marchioni, Warren & Ann Menk, Jean-Marie Mescia, Peter & Caroline Michelsen, Deborah Mona, Ellie Morrison, Doug & Susan Morrissey, Thomas & Sharon Murphy, Harriet Nelson, Wilmer & Laverne Nordstedt, Mary Ellen in memory of: Marie Mazzeo Pak, Kirstin Piccoli, Lenore Roth, Rebecca Sachs, Michael & Cathryn Sandler, Richard & Susan Spillane, Thomas & Barbara Stieve, Bruce & Cathy Thibodaux, Jay & Jennifer Vellekamp, Roger & Gail Vitkowsky, Barbara Vogelsang, Jane von Lengerke, Justus & Suzy White, Brad & Ellie Zayas, Jeff & Susan Zhang, Heng & Kim Wing Cheung CORPORATE MATCHES ADP Business Wire Benjamin Moore Paints The Prudential Foundation IN-KIND DONATIONS •John Badagliacca, Esq. and the law firm of Garrity, Graham, Murphy, Garofalo & Flinn MEMBERSHIP LEVELS James Caldwell Circle ($2,500+) Olmsted Circle ($1,000+) Andrew Carnegie Circle ($500+) Lewis Lockward Circle ($250+) Sponsors ($100+) Donors ($50+) THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS Support The Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy! Thank you to those who volunteered their time and effort in from June 2013 – December 2014. Without these people, the work of the Conservancy would not be possible. If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know! Name Betros, Genna Blumberg, Irene Boeckel, Carol Boreham, Doug Boreham, Spencer Brown, Tim Callaghan, Abigail & Jerry Calvert, Janet Carrara, Doug, Olivia & Madeline Coleman, Christine Courtright, Gregory & Matthew Cummings, Dick DeFazio, Marie DePrenda Family (3) Dromgoole, Cathy Fox, Matthew Garetano, Rory Garrity, Christine & Francis Glazier, Gwen Gluckler, Kim Hann, Linda Karlsen, Earl Khost, Deborah Kolster, David Langer, Jason Lipkin, Randi List, Leslie & Maddie Lomauro, Isabella Name Marchioni, Anne Markman, Bob & Josh Masella, Bob McCann, Emily & Will Mensinger, Diane Mescia, Jacqueline & Trevor Mondalto, Mary & Rachel Prior, Kathleen Remler, Caitlin, Lisa, & Sara Robson, Matthew & Stephen Scannelli, Sophia Stable, Jaime Stairiker, Anna & Ginny Sules, Chris, Paul & Peter Summerville, Corrine & Gary Tanelli, Nicole Young, Ruth Vega, Colin Vitiello, Sam Weinfield, Sarah Zayas, Jeff Brownie Troop 22927 GCPC Trustees & Advisory Board Essex County Park System West Caldwell-Caldwell Recreation Please Join Us! Name Address City State Zip Phone Email Check if your contact information has changed. Annual Membership Levels: $20 Member I’d like to volunteer $50+ Donor I’d like to receive email $100+ Sponsor communication $250+ Lewis Lockward Circle I’d like to receive the $500+ Andrew Carnegie Circle newsletter via email $1,000+ Olmsted Circle $2,500+ James Caldwell Circle $5,000+ Grover Cleveland Circle Other I have enclosed my employer’s matching gift form. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law Note: Donations of $20 or more entitle you to a GCPC Annual Membership. Please make checks payable to: Grover Cleveland Park Conservancy Send to: P.O. Box 203 Caldwell, NJ 07006 You can also contact us at: 862-505-2443 or [email protected] LOCATION Grover Cleveland Park is located in Caldwell along Brookside Avenue and in Essex Fells along Runnymede Road.
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