105 chickens die in fire

FRANKLIN TWP.| A fire at the former Apple Valley Farm on Friday night destroyed a chicken coop, a storage barn and an outbuilding, killing 105 chickens.

But the main barn filled with horses and a historic farmhouse were saved.

Warren County Fire Marshal Joe Lake said the fire has been ruled an accident. It appeared to have started when an extension cord powering electric heat lamps and heaters in the chicken coop overheated.

There were no injuries reported, he said.

At about 9 p.m., 14 fire companies from Warren and Hunterdon counties were called out to battle the blaze during snow and wind at the intersection of old Main Street and Asbury Anderson Road.

"They did a pretty good job keeping it under control. There was a huge barn that was untouched nearby," Lake said.

Lake said so many companies were called in primarily because of the need for their water tankers. The area does not have a public water system for fire engines to connect to.

Bill Leavens, who is also president of the Musconetcong Watershed Association, owns the farm.

Leavens commended the firefighters who kept the fire from spreading to the property's main buildings.

"The real story is just how good the emergency services are in this part of the world," he said Saturday. "They are volunteers. They are excellent. They are selfless, and they are quick. The coordination between the fire companies I was beyond impressed. I was flabbergasted."

Leavens said by the time he made it to the farm it was 9:45 p.m. and the fire was contained. Approaching the property, he said, he saw hundreds of flashing lights and lots of equipment that helped save the barn and farmhouse.

He said he hopes this serves as a lesson to be careful with extension cords.

The farm is now an organic community-sponsored farm called Asbury Natural Village Farm.

Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-2174 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com.

Grants go to river preservation groups

WHITE TWP. | The Warren County freeholders awarded $800,000 in grant money Wednesday to two preservation groups for Musconetcong River recreation development.

The open space tax monies will help the Heritage Conservancy pay for the purchase of 5 acres along the river in Mansfield Township and help the Musconetcong Watershed Association build a river resource center downstream in Franklin Township.

The two groups plan to work together to develop river recreation and educational opportunities for Warren County residents.

"The county must use an innovative approach to do more with less money," said Beth Barry, the watershed association's executive director, during a presentation to the board. "Nonprofits make our living by learning to do more with less. All year, all the time."

The Pennsylvania-based Heritage Conservancy plans to use its grant to purchase the Cliffdale Inn property on Route 57 in Mansfield Township, which has 1,000 feet of river frontage.

The group hopes to work out an arrangement with a concessionaire to rent kayaks and canoes and provide fishing gear to river users.

The Franklin Township river resource center will function as the association's headquarters and an information center for river visitors. The $400,000 will help the group complete its renovations of an existing building to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building standards.

The freeholder board expressed a desire to get the projects going as soon as possible.

"This is certainly a unique opportunity for the county," said Freeholder Deputy Director Richard Gardner. "I hope with great fortitude we push ahead."

Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-2174 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com.

Franklin approves 13-house subdivision

FRANKLIN -- The Land Use Board granted preliminary approval on Nov. 7 to the developer of a 13-house development to be located off Asbury-Anderson Road.

Prior to approving the project, the board discussed street lighting and landscaping -- including trees -- in the development and the development's impact on water quality. During the meeting, board members requested there be "unobtrusive lighting" in the development.

Each lot will be serviced by a septic system and well. The development will have two roads with cul-de-sacs. At the intersection of the roads a 30,000-gallon fire suppression tank will be installed.

A portion of Asbury-Anderson Road will be widened at the entrance to the development.

During the same meeting developer Frank Greek, who has facilities in East Brunswick, spoke about his interest in constructing industrial buildings off Route 78.

Greek said the industrial park would be primarily made up of warehouses storing what he termed "safe" goods, such as toys of canned goods. Greek has yet to file plans for the proposed complex.

Open space advocates lobby for more funding

The tract along the Musconetcong River is home to the Warren County Rod & Gun Club. Preserving the land has helped keep fish and animals plentiful for the club's members.

It's one of the many examples of how state open space funding has benefited a wide range of people, open space advocates said Monday at the club. The advocates were there to promote the passage of public question No. 3 on the Nov. 6 ballot. Approval would allow the state to issue $200 million in bonds for open space funding.

The New Jersey Keep It Green Campaign, a coalition of more than 90 organizations supporting the ballot proposal, organized Monday's event. The funding helps preserve farms, create local recreation parks, buy flood-prone land and preserve historic sites, the advocates said.

Beth Styler Barry, chairwoman of Franklin's Open Space Committee, said recreation parks provide a centerpiece for many towns. Last year, Franklin bought 40 acres for just such a facility. The township is also active in preserving farms and open space.

"Our work would come to a grinding halt without funding from the state," Barry said.

The funding helped the rod and gun club expand its land holdings, President Mike Zawacki said. After preserving the club's original tract, members were able to use the state money they received to buy another 160 acres across the road, Zawacki said. They have also preserved that land.

After Amy Hansen preserved her Bethlehem Township farm, she was able to start an organic food business. She recently started selling her organic fruits and vegetables at the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance farm market in Raritan Township.

"The farmland preservation program can really help farmers keep farming," Hansen said.

The advocates said they are miffed at the opposition to the additional open space funding. The state's Americans for Prosperity chapter, run by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan, is running a campaign against the three state ballot questions that concern spending. The group is opposed to any more taxes.

Debbie Pasquarelli, a Highlands Council member and former Greenwich Township mayor, said conservative Republicans like herself should support open space funding.

Preserving land helps to control property taxes since more development requires more government services, she said.

"Open space preservation is truly an investment in our communities that yields lower property taxes," Pasquarelli said.

State Sen. Leonard Lance, R-Warren/Hunterdon, said he is opposed to unbridled government borrowing, but ballot questions allow voters to decide spending.

Open space preservation is a worthy expenditure, he said.

"We need to preserve as many farms as possible and this is particularly true with the Highlands Act," Lance said.

Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com.