Greetings Friends!

Crew Leader David marks the loop trail at Port Warren

This past week was full of contrast. From starting the week with the weather in the mid-30’s, to a warm windy Friday in the 70’s - we had the whole ‘in like a lamb, out like a lion’ thing.

Our grant will provide opportunities to improve the gateways into Phillipsburg.

It was a hectic week too - what seemed disjointed and chaotic actually represented a lot of work that we accomplished. We finished up and submitted a grant application, made a quick trip to another Youth Corps program to help them out, started planning for our gardens, starting winding up our project at Delaware River Park, plotted out a course for a new trail along the Morris Canal property at Port Warren and this morning we will be welcoming our new ‘nuc’ - (a nucleus hive) - of bees as we begin again in our beekeeping project. See? that’s a pretty good week!

I suppose it’s just that sometimes when we are trudging away at our goals, it’s good to take a look around at the landscape and see the progress we are making. It might seem incremental at best, but when you’re head down and driving, you have to take the time occasionally to see the progress you’ve made. Sometimes, that perspective is the fuel you need to get back at it, and be more determined to get things done.

Today we take a moment to wish our dear friend Happy Birthday! Carolyn Wallace is the matriarch of the Youth Corps movement here in New Jersey - she is a fierce advocate for opportunity youth, a mother (and grandmother) figure to the Newark community and all across New Jersey. Suffice it to say, the world is a better place because she is in it. Happy 86th, Ms. Carolyn!!

Next week will find us out on the trails, hitting the books, and welcoming more new Corpsmembers to the NJYC family. Here’s to getting things done! Have a great weekend!

More next week-

Michael