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January 6, 2025
In a winter pose, the Asbury Mill used water power to grind grain, and later process graphite. It anchored the growth of Asbury’s Historic District, which includes a number of extravagant homes from the 19th century. The Mill underwent significant structural rehabilitation, completed in 2019, with plans to open as an Interpretive Center with exhibits. The Mill exemplifies people’s connection to the Musconetcong National Wild and Scenic River – a recognition based upon the Native American, industrial, agricultural, and recreational uses of the river. Photo: Alan Hunt
Warm greetings and best wishes for a year marked by achievement and fulfillment! We hope you keep the personality of the New Jersey Skylands near and dear when you need to freshen your horizon among the hills and valleys of Northwest New Jersey!
Original Thought
On November 20, 1824, legislation entitled “AN ACT to erect the southwesterly part of Sussex county into a separate county, to be called the county of Warren” was passed by the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey. Warren County's origins are celebrated during this year's Bicentennial. And where did that name come from anyway?
Hand Warmers
Peters Valley School of Craft is excited to offer some innovative online workshops this winter and spring. Workshops will be added to the calendar on a regular basis and will complement our in-person learning. Check out the schedule and register online. You don't have to worry about getting to school through foul weather.
Rural Repoussé
Robert Lobe's Invisible Earth required excavation in order to expose a root system which got increasingly complicated and inspired the title.
Take an afternoon to explore the exhibit New Sculpture/New Jersey at the Morris Museum, open through February 2. Showcasing just over forty works from eleven sculptors together with short video interviews with the artists, the exhibition connects visitors with the purpose, context, and meaning driving their work and motivating their choices. One of the featured artists is Robert Lobe whose fascinating technique was largely developed in the woods of Northwest New Jersey.
Cold Calls
The shortened days of winter in the Skylands afford a chilly but unequaled opportunity to draw closer to nature and to enjoy the quiet that descends with the withdrawal of activity to the indoors. On these cold days, while local countryside vistas remain open and unshrouded by their canopy of leaves, the fields, forests, and woodlands of our region are prime for the pastime of winter birdwatching. More...
Breaking the Ice
Looking for a new relationship? Well, how about you and Northwest New Jersey; Perfect Together? The landscape is frigid and quiet, yet stunningly attractive. Somebody's got to take some action here. If you don't do it, somebody else will!
Life of Wiley
Coyote in Winter. Painting by John Mullane.
If rarely seen, the coyote is frequently heard. In the winter, during the January to March breeding times, listen for nocturnal howls when coyote are at their most vocal. They are happy to tell other coyotes, and the world, their location. Stop and listen. They'll fall silent all too soon.
Consider
Hamburg Mountain from Pinwheels Vista along the Appalachian Trail in Sussex County. Photo by Dwight Hiscano. A lifelong conservationist, Dwight has served on the boards of several conservation organizations in his home state of New Jersey. He has volunteered hundreds of hours and raised thousands of dollars for charities and conservation efforts. He founded and curated the Annual Highlands Juried Art Exhibit with the New Jersey Highlands Coalition.
The New Jersey Highlands hold countless stories from the past, but what about their future? The answer is both urgent and clear: climate change. Despite stark warnings, including this year’s devastating fires in Sterling Forest, many of us respond with passive acknowledgment, as if immune to the looming crisis. Meanwhile, local communities face mounting pressures—expanding development and a growing demand for living space—threatening the very values that define this cherished region.
For many, winter is a season for reflection. The challenge of the season strips away pretense, and offers a time for learning. The word “consider” traces its roots to the early French term for “star-like,” derived from the Latin word sidereal. Originally, its use implied that significant thoughts, judgments, and decisions should be guided by the wisdom and perspective of the stars. Today, we might say the meaning of “consider” has expanded—suggesting that by adjusting our perceptions, we can also be inspired to transform our actions.
We'll be slowing down a bit for the winter and sending
less frequently. Meanwhile, tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories.
Pick from a multitude of daytrip itineraries and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed.
For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or
choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website. Choose your own adventure!
Northwest New Jersey and destinations just beyond those borders, in Pennsylvania and New York, offer brilliant ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season.
Like many other small, independent and specialized information sources, our budget will increasingly rely on reader donations. Help us keep you informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey! If you like what we offer, we hope you'll consider a contribution.
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Skylands Visitor Magazine (Guest Services, LLC), PO Box 329, Columbia, NJ • Privacy Statement
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