World-renowned equine personality, professor and former mounted patrol horse, Lord Nelson, passed away on April 12 at Gales Way Farm in Wrightstown, N.J. Lord Nelson, who will be remembered as Rutgers University’s only equine professor emeritus, lived a distinguished life, full of adventure, up until the ripe age of 42… His personality is one that Karyn Malinowski, director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center and faculty member in the Department of Animal Sciences, says was “one-of-a-kind.” She remembers one night working late in Bartlett Hall on the Cook campus and all of a sudden hearing a fast-paced gallop coming from the road. Upon looking out the window, she saw Lord Nelson, who remembered to “walk” on the sidewalk and not the street, going back to his stable on College Farm Road followed by a police officer, on foot, in hot pursuit. Apparently he wanted to end his shift early that night… Lord Nelson will also be remembered as the first, and only, horse to ever receive an official football penalty in a NCAA football game. In addition to his time with the student mounted patrol, Nelson also served as the horse that was ridden by the Scarlet Knight at Rutgers football games. During a close game against Army in 1994, Nelson broke onto the field and raced all the way down the sideline to the opposite end of Giants Stadium. Receiving a yellow flag for his “un-sportsHORSE-man like conduct,” he almost cost Rutgers the game.
National 4-H Paper Clover Campaign set for April 22-May 3
National 4-H Council announced the launch of the spring 2015 4-H Paper Clover Campaign in partnership with Tractor Supply Company (TSC). This event marks the sixth year of collaboration between the organizations on the national in-store fundraiser, ben…
Why the Odds of a Hurricane Hitting N.J. This Year Might Be Cut in Half
Unlike much of the planet, the recently developed El Nino doesn’t mean much to New Jersey. But it may have one blessing in store for the Garden State come summer… Researchers at Colorado State University predict that the emerging El Nino pattern will likely have a significant impact on the Atlantic Hurricane Season this year, lessening the likelihood that New Jersey will be affected by a tropical system after being hammered by Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy in consecutive years to start the decade… “Tropical systems generally like a nice, quiet environment to develop,” said David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University. “This environment makes it difficult for them to get their act together.”… Does this mean for certain that New Jersey will be spared? Absolutely not. It only takes one storm to remember a tropical season, so coastal residents are urged not to let their guard down.
Rutgers Landscape & Nursery in Ringoes Breaks Ground on Sustainable Rain Garden
Rutgers Landscape & Nursery announces the installation of a sustainable rain garden at their nursery location on Route 202 in Ringoes… The garden will feature wet-tolerant plants adapted to our region, and will be fed rainwater from the shop roof…
Centenary College Hosts Dr. Anthony Broccoli, Climate Modeling Expert on April 22
This year as part of Earth week and in attempt to educate the community on Earth-related issues, Centenary College is inviting Dr. Anthony J. Broccoli, from the School of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University, to campus to speak about the climate ahead and the models’ projections for the future. The lecture will be held on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, in the college’s Ferry Building, Room 12. Admission to this event is free to the public and will begin at 2 p.m… Dr. Broccoli’s presentation, titled “The Climate Ahead: Global Changes, Local Impacts” focuses on the science of climate change, and includes a discussion of the basic physics, global observations of climate change and model projections of future climate. The talk will also discuss some of the potential impacts of the changing climate on our region and will close with a brief discussion of society’s options for dealing with change. Members of the community are invited to learn more about this topic and participate in a discussion after the presentation… “We are very pleased to have such a well-established researcher come to Centenary to speak to the community about this issue,” said Krassi Lazarova, Assistant Professor of Physics at Centenary College. “This is not only a great opportunity for the College, but also for the community, to speak with an expert in the area of climate research.”
R.I.P. Winter: Spring Expected to Take Hold for Good in N.J. This Week
New Jersey’s winter has been called. Time of Death: April 1, 2015… After enduring its second straight long and cold winter, it appears spring is finally prepared to take hold in New Jersey for good, an analysis of forecast and climate data show… “You could have a feeling of true winter if a storm comes right in here and hits you on the nose but you’re not going to get days where the high is struggling to get above freezing,” said David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University. “I think the one thing people are going to notice is how vastly different the landscape is going to look 30 days from now.”… This doesn’t mean New Jersey won’t deal with a bout of chilly weather in April, but several day stretches where temperatures struggle to reach 40 degrees aren’t likely to be an issue for the state for another six months.
Soil Test Among Tips on Spring Gardening Checklist
A capacity crowd of 30 filled the Mercer County Connection office in the Hamilton Square Shopping Center on Tuesday to hear a presentation by Mercer County Horticulturist Barbara Bromley on spring planting essentials… Rooted in 60-plus years of gardening, Bromley freely shared her experience and advice on subjects ranging from the commonplace “you can fertilize now” to the esoteric “downy mildew is an emerging disease that is decimating impatiens… The Mercer County Extension program is part of the statewide Rutgers Cooperative Extension that has offices in all 21 New Jersey counties. The Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station is at 930 Spruce St. in Trenton.
Madara Dias Honored for Volunteer Service with President’s Volunteer Service Award
Madara Dias of Bridgewater, an 11th grade member of the Somerset County 4-H Youth Development Program has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award… The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. Somerset County 4-H Youth Development, part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, nominated Madara for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service… In addition to her commitment to the 4-H program, Madara spent three weeks in Sri Lanka teaching English to underprivileged students. Her desire to help the community comes from her grandparents in Sri Lanka. “They have always helped the less fortunate and I want to do that too,” says Madara… The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County, an off-campus division of Rutgers University.
Local Members Participate in 4-H Leadership Conference
Sixty-nine 4-H members representing 18 counties will be participating in the 4-H Discover the Leader in You! 4-H Leadership Conference scheduled for March 21, at Rutgers University in Middlesex County… The Discover the Leader in You! 4-H Leadership C…
As New Jersey Allergy Season Arrives, Questions Arise About Impact of Climate Change
The warming weather from this past week, and the promise of higher temperatures to come, will start up the gears for Mother Nature’s annual spring allergy season this week, says a New Jersey’s expert on pollens, ragweed and molds… Springfield allergist Dr. Leonard Bielory said he expects the kick off of the tree pollen season to begin before the spring equinox on Friday… “It’s going to shoot and my prediction is it’s going to be greater than last year,” he said… Bielory is the principal investigator in a federally funded grant program at Rutgers University to study the connection between climate change and allergic airway disease… This weekend, in fact, Bielory is in Buenos Aires to make a presentation on climate change and its effects on asthma at a conference of experts on allergies, asthma and immunology. Climate change aside, Bielory says data shows increases across age groups in most areas of the country for sensitivity to various allergens.
