RIDER’s DIGEST
May 2005
2004 Officers:
President: Lou Corbo
Vice-President: Tom Aversa
Treasurer: Judy Tucker
Secretary: Scott Whitaker
Membership/newsletter: Sherri Dolan
Trustee Pete Tucker
Trustee Bill Daniels
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THE NEXT GENERAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF THE AEA WILL BE:
May 24th, 7:30pm at the Alexandria Twsp Park. ***************************************
TEAM PENNING SATURDAY, May 7th!
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CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: www.aea-nj.com
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PENNERS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!
Just plain having fun has
always been one of AEA’s hallmarks. To that end, recent team penning events
have been “spot on” ! They’ve been well attended, well done and thoroughly
enjoyed by lots of folks.
The foremost fun here is
obviously the competition; the rigors of cutting cattle on horseback. Then
comes the small stuff that may add up to nearly half the fun! Some of those
things shouldn’t even be laughed at. When a guy falls off his horse, that’s
serious business.
But when Phil Rochelle picks
himself back up, shakes off the stonedust and re-mounts…well that’s worth a
laugh or ten. This was, of course, accompanied with a few macho caveats from
the rider himself attempting to dissuade even the slightest perceptions of
faulty horsemanship…some hair-splitting diatribe as to the difference between
being thrown and the horse making an improper move. But the damage was already
done, Phil. Besides, it’s O.K. that you
fell off!
Just after the last penning
event this writer was working in the arena, fork and muck bucket in hand. AEA member,
Jim Virgo, was a fellow shoveler at the arena’s other end. The cows were still
in-house and Jim happened to divert one toward the pen.
“Hey, Pete”, he yelled.
“Let’s see if we can do this on foot!” Jim
chased the critter closer to the pen. I threw up my arms and screeched, the cow
threw a move, I countered and, bingo, it ran in the pen!
“This ain’t that tough”, Jim
mused. We’ll keep you posted, but talks
are already underway with the Penning Commission toward an additional
“horseless and afoot” feature at our next event. The commission is concerned,
however, about how popular this may become.
A fireside chat ensued at
this same event. Plans were developing among some members for a karaoke rendezvous
that night at the Little York Tavern. It came to pass and a raucous time was
had by all. My, those Aversa’s are a talented bunch! Singing like you’ve never
heard and an eclectic mix of tunes, to boot. Folsom Prison Blues and Paradise
By the Dashboard Light… do they even belong in the same performance?
On a serious note- if you can
believe that- AEA membership volunteerism at these penning events has been
outstanding. Even our association checkbook appreciates it. That balance is at
record levels!
THE PLAYGROUND GETS SERIOUS
We tend to sound like a
broken record asking for volunteers all the time. This time it’s not even for
AEA.You may recall sometime last year that AEA donated the proceeds from one
of it’s team penning events to the
playground building effort at the park. The playground committee has raised a
lot of funds since then. The erection of the structure will take place on
Saturday, June 11, 2005.
AEA is looking to have
volunteer presence at the park on June 11.It is shaping up to be a “barn
raising” type community event. Any hours worked on this day may be counted
toward your yearly AEA volunteer total. All work will be supervised so all that
is needed is your enthusiasm and “elbow grease”. Lunch and refreshments will be
served. Work hours will be from 7AM to 7PM, but partial days are welcome if
that’s what you can give. Please mark this date on your calendar and let Judy
Tucker (735-9453) or Sal Aversa (996-0014) know if you can make it. We’re
attempting to know in advance how many AEA hands there will be. So far we have 11 members.
Who knows? We may even have
some fun!
All AEA family members who volunteer will receive a
free AEA T-shirt!
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TRAIL CLEARING AT THE SCHICK
PRESERVE
Trail
clearing at the Schick Preserve is in progress. We've had two sessions
thus far and more scheduled. Please check the AEA website www.aea-nj.com for dates and times or call
Judy Tucker or Lou Corbo. This is not a small undertaking but it's great
to see progress being made.
Until
the trail is finished and parking arrangements made it is still OK to ride at
Schick Preserve. Two points need emphasis. Trailers can be pulled
off to the side of Schick Road just as you have driven onto it from Hickory
Corner Road. Also, stay to the very edge of fields while riding!!!
That is the only request that the very cooperative farmer makes (Frank
Kocsis). Thanks, Frank!
We
are attempting to make parking arrangements at a contiguous property but that
has been delayed a bit. Stay turned to future newsletter or the
website.
GROPING FOR A STORY!
As a two decades plus veteran
in the newspaper business this writer well remembers
those issues that were, well,
thin. The beat wasn’t rife with news that week and what was being printed was
marginally newsworthy. Thank goodness for retirement. Those issues weren’t too
enjoyable! You did the best you could to make a story sound like a story and
moved on.
Déjà vu! Here’s one of those
stories. Fair warning! It’s mundane stuff. Not all would agree, though. For
some it’s momentous and it goes like this. The Feb.12 team penning was at a
fever pitch. Lot’s of spectators and riders were enjoying the show. As luck
would have it, our one and only toilet at the indoor chose that moment to go on
“the fritz”. It would not be fixed! We tried and we tried.
There is now a newly renovated
restroom at the indoor! New floor, new vanity, new toilet--the works! Why, you ask, is this momentous for some?
Well, consider the situation on Feb.12.Especially consider the women. Oh, those
tortured grimaces! Twisted mouths. That panicked glare in their eyes! The
silent anguish of unacceptable choices surrounding a simple relief of one’s
bladder! Where to go? A stall? Outside! In somebody’s trailer? The weeds. Yikes!
Was it Confucius who said that the most appreciated restroom is the one that doesn’t
work?
Thanks, incidentally, to the
Alexandria Twp. Park Committee for finding room in their budget for this job
.And thanks to Joe and Frank at A Plumber Now for understanding the urgency of
the situation.
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The T-shirts are coming, The T-shirts are coming!
Yes, with any luck the NEW AEA shirts will be available for sale at the next
team penning event on May 7. Thanks to Susan Rochelle for the clever
design you are bound to like. We plan on keeping an inventory
of shirts all year long in adult and children sizes. If you
would like to buy some contact Judy Tucker at tuckaway-farm@earthlink.net
735-9453. All shirts will be $10.
VOLUNTEER WORK BOND
If you have completed 5 hours
of volunteer service, you are eligible for a refund of the $50
work bond. Please contact Susan
Rocca at:
Amazingmane@aol.com or 908 479-6565 in order to report hours/duty. Checks will be issued at the general
membership meetings.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
May 7th -
Team Penning
Sept 24th – Community Day
Oct 22nd – AEA annual Picnic
LUSSCROFT FARMS HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE
Location: Neilson Road, Wantage Township
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Rain or Shine
Fee: $20.00/person
for ride and Bar-BQ (Hotdogs/Hamburgers)
Purpose: Fundraiser
for Heritage and Agriculture Association to support Lusscroft Farm
Parking: Ample for trailers
Facilities: Porta-John and water
Specifics for Equestrians:
Footing:
Rocky
Shoes Recommended:
Yes
Terrain:
Hilly Required: Proof of Coggins
Reservations Required – RSVP
& checks no later than May 30th 973-948-3814 after 6:00 p.m.
e-mail: gldg@nji.com
Checks made out to: Heritage and Agriculture Association
Mail to:
Sussex County Agriculture Development Board
One Spring Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Driving directions provided upon request
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acre farm. Some of the benefits include ceiling fan and quality, vented
gas-log fireplace in living room, dining room, new GE refrigerator, stove and
dishwasher in kitchen, basement laundry room with Maytag W/D and laundry
sink! Hardwood and ceramic tile floors, new and working windows
throughout, all new light fixtures, plenty of electric outlets and a bonus of
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property that displays gorgeous old trees. Must see!!
One year lease required
$2800/month
Security deposit of 2 months
required
Electricity not included
Contact owner directly with
name and phone number @ : jordanjablons@att.net