Junior Golf Scholarship Recipients

The Somerset County Park Commission has announced the recipients of the 2015 Dr. Michael S. Kline Youth Golf Scholarships for the Summer Junior Golf School at the Learning Center at Neshanic Valley, 2301 South Branch Road in Neshanic Station, New Jersey.

The Dr. Michael S. Kline Youth Golf Scholarships are funded by the Kline Family Foundation and are awarded to boys and girls ages 10 to 16. The 2015 recipients are Andrew Garcia of Bridgewater, Katie Walker of Branchburg and Aiden Torres of Bridgewater.

The scholarships entitle the recipients to participate in the weeklong Golf School and were awarded based on ability, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game of golf.

“We are grateful once again to the Kline Family Foundation for their support of golf in Somerset County,” stated Bob Ransone, Deputy Director, Golf Division. “The Kline Scholarships and the Park Foundation scholarships will help to get kids involved in a sport that they can play for their entire lives.” 

The Park Foundation continues to seek donations for the 2016 season to allow additional children to participate in the program. Each $150 donation will fund one child. Donations may be sent to the Somerset County Park Foundation, Post Office Box 5147, North Branch, NJ  08876. A note indicating that the donation should be dedicated to golf scholarships should be included with the check.

Golf School takes place at the state-of-the-art Learning Center at Neshanic Valley that includes a double-ended driving range with grass and mat hitting areas, a 12,000 square foot putting green, a practice facility including bunkers and three chipping greens, and two practice holes.

For information, contact Bob Ransone at rransone@scparks.org or call 908-369-1458.

Meteorologist Vists Camp Okee Sunokee

Meteorologist John Marshall recently brought “John’s Weather Tour” to campers at Somerset County Park Commission Therapeutic Recreation Camp Okee Sunokee.

“John’s Weather Tour” is a program that helps children understand the weather and the special effects that make television weather forecasting interesting and exciting. It helps children better understand the climate and weather by providing a hands-on approach to learning.  The program addresses questions including: Why is there weather; Explanation of fronts; Why are there seasons; Types of clouds and storms, and much more.  Bringing his mobile weather studio to camp, campers got to experience what it is like to be a weathercaster for a day and how green screen special effects work.

Camp Okee Sunokee is a six-week day camp for children with learning disabilities or Asperger's Syndrome, ages 7-14. Programs encourage the development of recreation and social skills and enhance self- confidence and educational growth through the participation in a variety of activities.

With this being his first visit to Camp Okee Sunokee Marshall reflected on the presentation, “The campers were so smart and I enjoyed their enthusiasm and how much they were engaged in what I had to say.” He continued, “The camp made me see how special these children are and when I left I felt extremely gratified.  The campers seemed to get so much out of the presentation, but more importantly, I got so much out of it.  I realized I taught them not only about the weather but also something about themselves, overcoming fears and seeing what they can do.”

To obtain more information about Therapeutic Recreation, call 908 526-5650 or log onto www.somersetcountyparks.org. John’s Weather Tour may be found at www.JohnMarshallWeather.com.

Local Artist "Camouflages" Warrenbrook Facility

Well-known local portrait artist Jamie Lindholm of The Martinsville Studio has returned to her roots when she began painting landscapes and still life with her project at Warrenbrook Golf Course on Warrenville Road in Warren Township.

Between the 11^th green and 12^th tee is a small concrete building that houses the ladies’ and men’s room. The formerly nondescript exterior now sports a lovely painted window treatment and flower box on the ladies’ side and a camouflage painting that blends in with the landscape on the men’s side.

Playing golf on Tuesdays at Warrenbrook, Lindholm was familiar with the facility centrally located on the 18-hole championship golf course. Manager of the facility, Bill McCallum, discovering that his regular customer was an artist, arranged to have the work completed.

“For what can best be described as a concrete bunker is now a far more attractive facility that blends in nicely with its surroundings,” commented McCallum.

“I really enjoy playing golf at Warrenbrook and am happy to make a contribution to the landscape on the course,” add Lindholm.

Warrenbrook is one of five championship golf courses in the Somerset County Park System. In addition to Warrenbrook are Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station, Green Knoll Golf Course in Bridgewater, and Spooky Brook and Quail Brook Golf Courses in Franklin Township.

It was recently announced that all five county golf courses have been recognized as River-Friendly by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority and as Groundwater Guardians by the Groundwater Foundation.

Information on Somerset County Park Commission programs and facilities is available at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

Tribute Benches & Legacy Trees Available in County Parks

The Somerset County Park Foundation has announced a new program to provide an opportunity to pay tribute to family and close friends through a donation of a tree or park bench at a location within the Somerset County Park system.

A tax-deductible donation of $2,000.00 will earn the placement of a bench or tree with a plaque memorializing the contribution. The Park Foundation will maintain a listing of all plantings and benches with information including the donor and the person being honored or memorialized.

Tribute Benches are available in three styles conforming to the type of park in which the bench is to be placed. The criteria for the site list per park is based on the needs in each park and a determination of the maximum number of benches appropriate for each park. Maintenance of the bench will be the responsibility of the park staff.

The plaques on benches located in the gardens are 2” x 4” anodized aluminum plates, black with silver letters. The plaques on benches located in the parks and at the Environmental Education Center are 8” x 5” cast bronze plate with dark oxide stain background finish and with bronze letters. 

Living Legacy Trees provide individuals and organizations with the opportunity to honor people and commemorate special events by planting trees in Somerset County parks. Living Legacy Tree requests will be accepted year-round and planted in the spring or fall to give the trees the best chance to survive. Through communication between Park Commission Horticulture staff and the contributor, an approved species will be chosen based on the desired planting site.

A donor may also choose an already established tree, to be designated as a Tribute Tree.  A commemorative plaque engraved according to the donor’s specifications will be placed at the base of the tree.

For more information on the Tribute Bench or Living Legacy Tree program go to www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-722-1200, ext. 228.

The Somerset County Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) created to preserve, support, and promote Somerset County Park Commission programs, facilities, and open space through advocacy and fundraising.

Engraved Bricks Available at TD Bank Ballpark

The Somerset County Park Foundation, in cooperation with the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, is offering the general public the chance to become a permanent part of history at TD Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots. The purchase of an engraved brick placed in the main gate at the Ballpark provides both a permanent remembrance and a scholarship opportunity for children and young adults to participate in Park Commission programs.

“Foundation of Opportunities” is a program that provides funding to support the Somerset County Park Foundation Scholarship Fund that assist participants of the Park Commission's Therapeutic Recreation Department. The Fund provides opportunities for children and young adults to participate in recreational programs and services at low or no cost.

Personalized engraved bricks will be installed in the grand main entry plaza at TD Bank Ballpark, providing an opportunity to convey a personal message or remembrance to hundreds of thousands of event attendees throughout the year. Bricks can recognize family members, friends, loved-ones, customers, and those who have made meaningful contributions to the legacy of Somerset County.

Bricks are available at $65 each and will be engraved with a maximum of three (3) lines of twenty (20) characters including spaces and punctuation. “Foundation of Opportunities” application is available at www.somersetcountyparks.org.  For information call the Park Foundation at 908-722-1200, ext. 228.

“The Park Foundation greatly appreciates the Freeholders' endorsement of this program that will continue to expand scholarship opportunities,” stated John Kitchen, Chair of the Foundation. “The Foundation is proud of the efforts of the Therapeutic Recreation Department and the fact that annually the Scholarship Program supports one-quarter of the participants enjoying the services of Therapeutic Recreation.”

The Therapeutic Recreation Program is a cooperative effort between the Park Commission and 16 municipalities, providing year-round recreation opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Programs include Camp Okee Sunokee, a six-week day camp for children age 7 to 14 with learning disabilities or Asperger's Syndrome; Summer Adventure, a two-week summer program for high school teens and young adults, ages 15-21; Kid Connection, a year-round program for children ages 6-12 with a developmental disability; Teen and Adult Programs featuring a variety of social, cultural, artistic, culinary, sports, fitness, community outings, horticulture, and overnight trips; and T.R.A.I.L.S., an adapted horseback riding program.

All County Golf Courses Now River-Friendly

 

At a gathering at Warrenbrook Golf Course on Warrenville Road in Warren Township, Somerset County Freeholders, Park Commissioners, representatives from the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA), and Park Commission staff celebrated as Warrenbrook became the fifth and final golf course to be recognized as both River Friendly and a Groundwater Guardian. 
 
Participating in the NJWSA River-Friendly program for golf courses has allowed the Park Commission staff to access the tools and receive the guidance needed to make the golf courses more protective of water resources while maintaining a high standard of play. Through the program, golf course staff have worked to attain specific goals and requirements in the areas of Water Quality Management, Water Conservation Techniques, Wildlife and Habitat Enhancement, and Education and Outreach. 

The Somerset County River-Friendly courses joining Warrenbrook are Green Knoll in Bridgewater, Neshanic Valley in Neshanic Station, and Spooky Brook and Quail Brook in Somerset. All five golf courses increased the acreage of ‘reduced mow’ zones that require less maintenance and reduced chemical application. In addition, staff tracks and monitors chemical and fertilizer usage to assist in understanding the specific needs of the course. Additional actions include the installation of blue bird and bat boxes throughout the properties to increase native wildlife and the addition of educational signage to help highlight the importance of natural areas. 

In addition, all five courses have been named “Groundwater Guardian Green Sites” by the Groundwater Foundation, honoring the facilities’ groundwater and environmental stewardship. The program recognizes green spaces for implementing groundwater and surface water-friendly practices. Qualification includes selection of appropriate plantings, tracking irrigation water use, maintaining a no-application zone around surface water and active wells, and applying fertilizer based on nutrient needs. 

"Earning these two very special designations is a credit to the staff at each of the county courses and the leadership of the Park Commissioners,” commented Darrell Marcinek, Director of Golf Maintenance for the Park Commission. “We understand our responsibility to the environment and our responsibility to provide championship golf facilities. We are extremely proud that we have been recognized for accomplishing both.” 

Kathy Hale, Principal Watershed Protection Specialist, commented “NJWSA congratulates Warrenbrook Golf Course on becoming the fifth Somerset County

golf course to receive River-Friendly certification. The stewardship actions taken by Tammy Stephens and her staff reflect their commitment to protection of drinking water in the Raritan Basin.” 

 

The New Jersey Water Supply Authority operates the state-owned Spruce Run, Round Valley, and Manasquan Reservoirs and the Delaware & Raritan Canal, which provide drinking water for approximately 1.5 million New Jersey residents. The Authority's Watershed Protection Programs Division administers the River-Friendly Programs to protect the quality of the regions' drinking water supply. For more information on River- Friendly Programs and other projects in the Raritan River Basin, visit www.raritanbasin.org/riv erfriendly.html. 

The Groundwater Foundations mission is to educate people and inspire action to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations. Information is available at www.groundwater.org. 

Information on Somerset County Park Commission activities and programs may be found at www.somersetcountypark

s.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

Stay Healthy & Fit with Duke Island Wednesday Walkers

Individuals looking for brisk weekly walk are invited to join a weekly walking group that meets every Wednesday at 9:30 A.M. at the Duke Island Visitor’s Center for a healthy walk through Duke Island Park along a beautiful stretch of the Raritan River. Coffee, tea, and treats will be provided.  For information call 908-722-1200, ext. 226.

Duke Island Park is located off Old York Road in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The walk is free of charge and continues weekly as weather permits.

Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org.