You Know You’re From Sussex County When…

…you consider a movie theater with more than two screens “big.”

…you know what “Harvard On the Hill” is.

…the 4-H is one of the most popular groups in your town.

…you’ve cursed loudly while trying to drive around the square in the center of Newton.

…you keep your trash cans inside so that the bears can’t get at them.

…in order to get anywhere you have to get onto either Route 23, Route 206, or Route 15.

…you’ve gotten stuck driving behind a tractor.

…you’ve futilely tried to explain that the Parkway goes nowhere near your house, and you don’t designate your town with an exit.

…you’ve gotten pissed at someone for insisting that there are no rural areas left in New Jersey.

…you consider five inches of snow “a dusting.”

…going to the mall requires a serious time commitment.

…you’ve had to stop your car in the middle of the road and wait for the cows to cross.

…you’re overwhelmed when your radio picks up more than two stations.

…you begin to appreciate woodpiles as a decorative feature for the front porch.

…you don’t believe in streetlights.

…you take deer crossing signs very seriously.

For more of these hilarious insights into Sussex County, visit the list on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2213077057&v=wall#.

Free Drinks on New Year’s Eve

Photo by Russ DeSantis of the Star-Ledger

No, not those kind of drinks.  The Turnpike Authority is offering free coffee, tea, and milk to travelers on the Turnpike and Parkway from 9:00 PM on New Year’s Eve through 7:00 AM on New Year’s Day.  It’s part of a fifty-year tradition and effort to keep people safe and alert while traveling during the holiday.  Now if only we could get free coffee on 15 or 206…. 

Take This Job And Love It

Times are tough and job searching is a pain.  Luckily, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is sponsoring a job fair on Thursday, October 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Little Center in Franklin.  About 60 companies from at least 5 counties will be on hand to speak to job seekers.  Spellcheck your résumé and head on down.  Any questions, call Bill Weightman at 973-209-1217 or William.Weightman@dol.state.nj.us.   

Getting High in Sussex County

The High Point Memorial in High Point State Park in Sussex, NJ marks the highest elevation in New Jersey.  The Memorial was completed in 1930 and is dedicated to soldiers of all wars.  The hike to the Memorial is worth it.  Although windy and cold this time of year, the views are spectacular.  You can see the New York Catskills to the north, the Pennsylvania Poconos to the west, and the rest of New Jersey spreading beneath you to the south and east. 

Admission to the park is $5.00 per car during the summer ($10.00 on the weekend), but free after Labor Day.  We visited this weekend, and there were lots of people braving the cooler weather to picnic, frolic on the playgrounds, and skip rocks across the lakes.  There are several trails to hike, including the famed Appalachian Trail, and cross-country skiing is available in the winter.  There are over 15,000 acres available for boating, swimming, fishing, camping, and hiking.  Take advantage of this beautiful natural resource in Sussex County’s backyard. 

Feast of Apples at Andre’s

Andre’s Restaurant on Spring Street in Newton is one of the few (only?) Zagat-rated restaurants in Sussex County.  The restaurant is certainly worthy of notice.  Although the regular and bistro menus offer tasty choices, the Sunday prix fixe menus truly showcase the chef’s talents.  Each month, the Sunday prix fixe highlights a particular cuisine or food.  July was a feast of crab, August spotlighted pan-Asian dishes, September was a harvest of local foods, and this month is an apple spectacular.  Enjoy pork in an apple brine, warm brie and apple Waldorf salad, apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream–we’ll keep the sumptuous amuse-bouche a secret. 

Autumn On The Green, Newton

Hey, is this thing on?

Sorry we’ve been away from the blog lately, folks.  We’ll be back soon.

Bikes & ‘Cue for Liberty Towers

The 5th annual motorcyle run and chicken barbecue is taking place today in Newton.  The day’s events are to raise awareness and money for Liberty Towers, an independent living facility in Newton which houses 90 elderly and disabled residents.  The motorcyle run will begin and end at VFW Post 5360 on Mill Street, and the chicken barbecue will start at the VFW at noon.  The suggested cost of the barbecue is $12 at the door.

Music and vendors will be on hand, including Satin Jack’s Cigar Room of Lafayette Village, Undaunted Leathers, MetalDogz, and others.  Prizes will be offered, including a grill from Home Depot, golf packages from Crystal Springs, Farmstead Golf & Country Club, and Rolling Hills in Andover, coolers, and dinner certificates from local restaurants like the Walpack Inn, Riviera Maya, Fratelli’s Restaurant and Blue Ribbon.

Proceeds from previous events enabled the facility to customize bathtubs for residents who were having difficulty getting in and out of the tub and were afraid of falling.

Just For Girls Summer Camp

Project Self-Sufficiency will host the “Just for Girls Summer Camp” for young women entering 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade, from Monday, July 27^th – Friday, July 31^st.  The camp will take place from 9:00 – 5:00, with extended hours available for working parents.  The camp will feature games, arts and crafts, music and other age-appropriate activities.  The fee is only $10 per camper.  Space is limited, and registration is required.The Just for Girls Summer Camp will take place at the Community Education Center, located at Project Self-Sufficiency, 127 Mill Street in Newton.  To register, or to find out more about the Just for Girls Summer Camp at Project Self-Sufficiency, call the agency at 973-940-3500.

Motel Motel In Our Backyard

Motel Motel. Photo by Davey Wilson.

One of the members of Brooklyn-based alt-country band Motel Motel, Matthew Murphy, grew up in Andover and decided to shoot the band’s video for “Coffee” at his childhood home.  Check out the band’s romp in the Andover woods and waters here. 

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut

Sparta’s candy store, Nutty Over Sweets, recently moved to White Deer Plaza.  The new store is a treasure trove of sweets, including a wall of Jelly Belly jelly beans, fudge, retro candy, nuts, and pretzels.  Nutty Over Sweets now offers about a dozen gelatos to help you cool off this summer.  It’s a beautiful store full of mouth-watering treats.  We visited the other day and were mesmerized by the selection.  Treat yourself to Nutty Over Sweets!

New Jersey Beer & Food Festival

This weekend, Crystal Springs Resort in Hardyston is hosting the 1st Annual New Jersey Beer & Food Festival.  The festivities begin on Friday with a Sam Adams Beer Dinner.  Saturday features a shotgun golf event and beer tasting.  The big event starts at 3:30 and runs into the evening, with beer, bands, and food on the 9th hole of the Cascades Golf Course.  The weekend is capped off with a VIP after party.  Grab your tickets now–they’re almost sold out!

What are you doing on the internet?

Seriously.  It’s 77 degrees out, with cloudless blue skies.  It’s beautiful!  Go outside!

Something In The Square

The third annual Something In The Square music festival is going on today in downtown Newton.  Starting at 6:00 PM, ten bands and musical acts will play.   The lineup includes Tiny People, The Smallboypants Collective, Future Future, Bermuda Urn, Saint Names, William Wilson, Sally Rad, The Sloth, Cort Enoksen, Ben Kling, Tom Clean, Brianne Farrelly and for.language.  This year’s event was organized by Maxwell Paparella, a 2009 graduate of Newton High School.

The festival is free and open to the public, but donations will be accepted for a fund established in memory of Greg Karakos, a recent Kittatinny Regional High School graduate who died on July 3, after battling cancer since he was in the sixth grade.

For more information, email maxwell.paparella@gmail.com.

PowWow Wow

This weekend, the Sussex County PowWow will take place at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ.  Emceed by John Block, the PowWow will feature Native American dance contests for folks of all ages.  Iron River and BlackBear will accompany dancers on drums.  The PowWow is sponsored by the Redhawk Indian Arts Council.

Sea Food, Eat It

On Sunday, July 12, Andre’s Restaurant is having a Crab and Lobsterfest with tasty seafood specialities offered for four courses for $55.  The restaurant is one of the few (if not only) local restaurants rated by Zagat’s, and Zagat’s has bestowed it with the honor of being a best buy for prix fixe dinners.  Andre’s is located at 188 Spring Street, Newton.

Free Summer Movies

Beginning July 10, Project Self-Sufficiency of Newton will host Family Movie Nights every Friday in July and August.  The shows begin at 6:30  at 127 Mill Street, Newton, and they’re free!  This summer’s line-up includes:  Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Horton Hears A Who, The King and I, The Muppet Movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Oliver, Gone With The Wind, and 101 Dalmatians.  For more information, call Deborah Berry-Toon at (973) 940-3500.    

Rockets Red Glare

Get your fireworks fix on Friday, July 3 after the Sussex Skyhawks 6:45 PM game at the Skyhawks stadium in Augusta.

Sparta has activities all day on Saturday, July 4, starting with a parade at 10:00 AM which winds from East Shore Trail Drive to the Sparta Library.  The Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks will perform a water show on Lake Mohawk, then fireworks will grace the sky over Lake Mohawk at dusk. 

The Highland Lakes and Vernon fire departments are sponsoring their annual fireworks fundraiser with proceeds going to the fire departments.  The party starts at 6:30 PM on Saturday, July 4 at Lounsberry Hollow School, 30 Sammis Road.  There will be food, music, and fireworks at dusk.  

Intermission

More Cows Than People is taking a very short break from blogging.  We’ll return in a day or two.  Stay tuned.

Boardwalk Garden, Lake Mohawk, Sparta