The Sterling Hill Mining Museum, located in Ogdensburg, NJ, formerly known as the Sterling Hill Mine, once had one of the world’s richest zinc ore deposits and is now recognized as a National Historic Site. If that were not enough, they have recently made some discoveries and connections to a collection of native artifacts, dating back 12,500 years ago!

In the Fall of 2024 archeologists along with educators and students examined a private collection of arrowheads and stone tools. Everett Conklin, one of the researchers noted, “When I first saw the collection at the mine, it was beautiful, but there was no archaeological or cultural context. There was no timeline to help the public understand what they were looking at.”

With help from Sussex County Community College’s archeology lab and modern x-ray fluorescence analysis they were able to trace these artifacts to known quarries and other sites in Sussex County. The college is now using this collection as an educational tool helping with preserving and cataloging this very important part of our local history and its first inhabitants.

Based on these findings, the museum is developing a new paired down archeological exhibit. Conklin states, “Instead of displaying 335 artifacts, we want to curate about 70 pieces that represent specific time periods and cultural developments. Our goal is to create a meaningful, well-organized research collection that is thoroughly documented and accessible for both students and the community.”

The year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Communities large and small throughout the country will be celebrating what is also known as the nation’s semiquincentennial! I am old enough to remember the bicentennial in 1976. I had a lot of fun collecting the bicentennial quarters. That year our school play was about the bicentennial and I vaguely recall that I spoke about Francis Scott Key who wrote The Star Spangled Banner. What does spangled mean anyway? From Vocabulary.com, “Spangled means to be decorated, covered, or sprinkled with small, shiny objects like sequins, beads, or jewels that catch and reflect the light”

On a national level, The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established by Congress in 2016. It’s a nonpartisan group which has several initiatives as part of the 250th celebration also known as America 250 including:

· Give 4th Initiative – encourages everyone to make this Independence Day and every year thereafter a day of charitable giving

· America Gives Initiative – asks that we make this year the largest ever in volunteering Learn more about these initiatives and other activities at https://america250.org/.

Park Golf…have you heard of it? Me either. Well, the Japanese have been doing park golf since the early 1980’s! They even have their own Japan Park Golf Association overseeing this sport. Last May, the Great Gorge Golf Club in Vernon, NJ opened its own park golf course called 1Club. It’s the first and may still be the only official park golf course in the state.

What is park golf? Some call it the “pickleball of golf”. It is a simplified version of golf with only one club, one ball and a larger cup. The club is shorter than a traditional golf club, some say similar to a croquet mallet. It’s suitable for all ages and no skills or experience is required, they even have music playing in the background! 1Club provides you with the equipment, so just book a tee time and have fun.

This year Great Gorge has graciously donated a 1Club foursome for our Casino Night. It will be one of many prizes that attendees will have the chance to win, last year over $9,000 of prizes were handed out. It’s not too late to join us, please visit https://familypromisesussex.org/index.php/casino-night/ for more information and to buy tickets.

Well May typically is supposed to be a month of nice days and warmer temperatures (we’ll see) when people spend more time outdoors. To coincide with this the American Health Association in 2007 introduced May as National Walking Month.

Those who are avid readers of this blog (you know who you are), are aware that I have written several blogs on the topic of walking. I am an avid walker, if the weather is tolerable, I will use my lunch break to take a 30 minute walk. Not a walker? As part of national walking month there is a #Try20 Challenge, the goal being to promote a 20 minute daily walk to see health benefits. Some of the benefits are: helps lower blood pressure, aids in weight management, strengthens muscles and increases mental well being.

I also enjoy a good list of fun facts. National Today had a list of walking facts here a few that caught my attention.

· Walking is the most popular exercise in the United States

· The average person walks 65,000 miles in their lifetime. This is equivalent to three times around the world!

· Walking engages 200 muscles

So, get out there and take a walk or two this month.

Previously, veteran services in our state were part of the NJ Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMAVA). Starting in January 2026, the Department of Veteran Affairs officially separated from DMAVA, forming the NJ Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).  Its mission is to deliver exceptional services, support and advocacy for Garden State veterans, families, care givers and survivors.  DVA honors those who have served and the people who love them by delivering access to earned benefits, programs and resources. 

Sen. Joe Vitale, D-19^th District who was a prime bill sponsor which established this new standalone department stated, “New Jersey’s veterans deserve nothing less than a government fully committed to their well-being because of all that they sacrificed serving our nation. Veterans need to know their voices are being heard and their needs prioritized, (this separation) reflects that commitment by giving them a dedicated seat at the table and a department that works only for them.” 

We at Family Promise of Sussex County could not agree more.  Last year our agency served 46 local veteran households.  On July 18^th we will be holding our third annual Service Strong, veteran resources and job fair.  Please call our office if you are interested in participating.
Contact Vicki at vsadiwnyk@familypromisesussex.org or call 973-579-1180 ext. 1034

In 2025, Newton became one of 191 New Jersey towns with the distinction of being deemed Sustainable Jersey certified. The town was classified as bronze level in sustainability. So, what does this all mean? Well, there is a non-profit called Sustainable Jersey, who received their 501(c3) status in 2011. Sustainable Jersey’s mission is to: empower New Jersey communities to build a better world for future generations with the tools, training and financial incentives necessary to pursue critical sustainability initiatives.

So what makes a sustainable community? As their website states, “A sustainable community is one that can continue to provide what people need and value—now and for generations to come. That means caring for the natural environment that sustains us, supporting strong and resilient local economies, and making thoughtful choices about priorities, trade-offs, and impacts rather than allowing decisions to be shaped only by power or circumstance.”

Sustainable Jersey also defines three pillars of sustainability.

· Environment – protecting our natural resources, most of what we think of when we talk about sustainability

· Economy – allows for long term growth in a community / town

· Equity – equitable access to resources and everyone having a voice in the decision making

All of these pillars and actions result in a long term healthy community for many generations to come. Let’s all do our part in maintaining and growing Newton’s sustainability status as well as other communities we call home.

This year for our Casino Night fundraiser, being held on June 11th at The Conservatory at The Sussex County Fairgrounds (check out our Casino Night tab on our website for tickets), we were graciously donated a Traeger Ironwood Pellet Smoker Grill! It’s a 6 in 1 BBQ smoker grilling combo. You can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and BBQ all in this one unit! We will be holding a raffle for the smoker/grill as well as a bag of pellets to get you started valued at $2,000 the night of Casino Night. At the event, participants will be able to purchase a ticket for $20 or 6 for $100.

This got me thinking about grilling and smoking. When you search the topic the first match is “Smokin & Grillin with AB”. Who is this you say? Well, Aaron “A.B.” Brown is a self-taught culinary creator and the face behind Smokin and Grillin with AB. He has one of the most influential food channels on YouTube, with over 3.6 million subscribers worldwide and 2+ million followers on Facebook with over 1 billion views! That’s a lot people interested in grilling and smoking and obviously the numbers don’t lie…AB is your guy!

So, come to Casino Night you’ll have a great time with professional casino tables and chance(s) to win many fabulous prizes and the opportunity to win our Traeger Smoker Grill Raffle! Just in time for peak “smokin and grillin” season here in Sussex County. Why do I have a sudden urge to grunt like Tim Allen did on Tool Time!

Check out the grill here: Amazon.com : Traeger Ironwood XL Wood Pellet Smoker Grill, 924 Sq In Cooking Area, WiFIRE Smart Temperature Control, Up to 500 Degrees, Super Smoke Mode, 6 in 1 Outdoor BBQ Electric Smoker and Grill : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Buy your 2026 Casino Night tickets here: Event Registration – Family Promise of Sussex County

Every year on April 22nd, people around the world celebrate Earth Day. The first one was held in 1970, which many say was the beginning of the environmental movement. The day serves as a reminder of everyone’s responsibility to protect our natural resources for future generations.

The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Our Power, Our Planet”. What are some things we can incorporate into our everyday lives to help ourselves and our community? Please see a list below that I saw in the Sussex County Division of Health’s April Newsletter.

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle

2. Conserve water by fixing any leaks and using less when possible

3. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use

4. Use reusable bags, bottles and containers

5. Limit single-use plastics

6. Walk, bike or carpool instead of driving alone

7. Plant trees or support local green spaces

8. Buy local and sustainable products

9. Dispose of waste properly, including hazardous materials

10. Educate others about environmental health and sustainability