Sara Catherine Lichon

The Black River Journal — It’s a sweltering summer morning as bees flit from one flower to the next. A heron glides overhead, while in the field below, dozens of people meander through a labyrinth of wildflowers and tall grasses at Whittemore CCC's recent dedication ceremony for their labyrinth, the culmination of a years-long effort by Carl Klemme, WCCC’s Director of Wellness, to create a meditation circuit in the heart of the Tewksbury nature preserve.

The Black River Journal — Holiday celebrants in search of inspiration return each year to "It's a Wonderful Life," whether they're watching the classic Frank Capra movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, viewing a theatrical production on stage, or visiting the historic marker next to the Califon bridge. But this holiday season, STNJ's lively and uplifting production of, "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" will transcend your expectations.

The Black River Journal — When in doubt, add purple. That’s the motto of artist Andrea Gianchiglia, Califon-based animal portraiture and landscape artist, art instructor, and (though not an official title), personal cheerleader. Andrea captures the soul of her subjects on canvas, while also sparking passion for creativity in the souls of her students. Through her art, classes, and business Create & Inspire, Andrea brings light and color everywhere she goes, helping others find their confidence and create their own masterpieces.

The Black River Journal — The French doors of Branch Home open to a warm, welcoming space, where natural light filters in through the large windows and front door, filling the shop from its hardwood floors to the high, lofted barn-like ceiling and beams.

New Jersey Stage — New Jersey has a truly diverse and thriving art scene, drawing inspiration everywhere from the high rises of Jersey City to the tree canopy in Hunterdon County. This is the theme of WhittemoreCCC (WCCC)'s latest art exhibit, "Bridging Nature." This exhibit not only comments on how humanity can connect to nature, but also creates a bridge between the two seemingly-distant sides of northern New Jersey: the eastern, more dense metropolises and the western, more rural forests and fields. With almost 40 submissions, WCCC's first small-works exhibit brings together a large array of ideas about nature, while also tying together several strands of the Jersey art scene into one stunning tapestry.

The Black River Journal — A mink scampering along the riverbank among a cluster of trout lilies showing off their orchid-like flowers. A skulk of foxes romping through the trees with a flock of noisy grackles overhead. The Black River region is brimming with spectacular natural areas and varied wildlife. Take a walk in any direction and you'll come across wetlands, forests, fields, rivers and streams.

New Jersey Stage — On a sunny spring evening, you enter a small and unassuming art gallery nestled in the forest. It's buzzing with excitement. Classical guitar weaves through the rooms, filling the space between conversations and observations.

The Black River Journal — For centuries, nature’s cycles have been reflected in our lives and customs. Nearly all of our ancestors, regardless of what cultural backgrounds we come from, lived their lives by the seasons and celebrated each seasonal shift. By honoring the winter solstice and observing the changes in nature during this season, we can deepen our own connection to the world around us. But how can we lean into this time of year, and absorb the lessons winter has to teach us? To explore this question, we met with Lauren Theiss, the Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA)’s Director of Education, and Chris Neff, the NJ Audubon Society’s Director of Communications, at RHA’s nature preserve, Fairview Farm.

The Black River Journal — This time of year, nature is a well-stocked pantry, full of edible plants. Foraging for food can open our eyes to the natural world around us, which in turn encourages us to care for it. To learn more about how to forage and grow wild food sustainably, we met with Dan Lipow of The Foraged Feast, who showed us how getting to know the food available in the wild can help us cultivate sustainable practices and build a relationship with nature.

The Black River Journal — Opera Magnifico Brings Accessible, High-Quality Opera to the Somerset Hills. Originally a passion project, a small production of La Bohème by Stephen Walley and his friends in early 2022 quickly caught spark and exploded into a professional company that is now spreading the bel canto feeling with the Gladstone area, while also providing opportunities to emerging opera artists that they may not have had before. The Opera Magnifico crew has a strong passion for sharing opera that makes their work shine, and their mission of making opera accessible above all else breathes fresh life into the art form.

The Black River Journal — Art, music, nature and food all have a place in the "symphony" at Whittemore CCC, where Community, Culture and Conservation share center stage. Hidden in the trees of an unassuming road just off I-78 in Oldwick, Whittemore is a buzzing hub of creativity, where there’s a little something for everyone. In the height of summer, gardeners tend to vegetables in raised beds, painters recreate flowers on canvas, musicians fill the air with song, hikers traverse the trails, and patrons practice yoga in the field. These seemingly different ventures are bound together by a common thread: Whittemore’s dedication to community.

The Black River Journal — PAGE 28. The Hunterdon Art Museum serves as a community art space that's seen countless art, craft and design exhibitions and trained many local artists for the past seven decades. And with its thought-provoking exhibitions, it's a facilitator for important conversations relevant to today's ever-changing world. Recent exhibitions addressed decolonization, racial justice, and proto-feminism — while also featuring whimsical structures, bright colors, and soft fabrics.

The Black River Journal — Mushrooms, meditation, music. These are just some of the things that fueled Playful Banter – the moniker of Morris County singer-songwriter duo Alexis von Aulock and Kim Sanchez – through 2020. While the world experienced tremendous change over the past year, Alexis and Kim underwent their own transformations. Wise beyond their years, the two old souls used lockdown to discover what most fail to learn until much later in life, if at all: we are free to live life how we want, even if we have to step out of what’s comfortable in order to grow and achieve our dreams.

SunCity Paradise — Nashville-based singer Mandy Barnett has a long and eclectic resume leading up to this point. Starting on Music Row, she later channeled Patsy Cline in a theatrical musical. She was signed to Sire Records by Seymour Stein and worked with power pop-centric producer Andy Paley.

SunCity Paradise — When preparing for a trip, your packing list will probably include clothes, chargers, money, your passport.. but, there's something else you should make sure to pack: a journal. Keeping a journal while you travel is a great way to make memories and reflect on your adventures.

SunCity Paradise — With summer in full swing, it's the perfect time to go camping. Whether deep in the woods among the trees, on the beach by the waves or in a field with a view of the stars, camping is a great way to have an adventure at an affordable price.

SunCity Paradise — Traveling to the United Kingdom and Scotland brings a lot of things to mind: the Highlands, Loch Ness and castles, but another thing the UK is well-known for is its love of tea. In Edinburgh, this love for tea is prevalent everywhere - but don't fret those who aren't fans of tea, for Edinburgh also has a large array of independent coffee shops.

The Augsburg Honors Review — PAGE 43. Published in undergraduate research journal The Augsburg Honors Review, this paper argues that the end of the Cold War created conflicting identities between eastern Ukraine, western Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, which has contributed to the current and ongoing Ukraine Crisis.