Lower Milford Rec & Open Space Board Welcomes New Member

Lower Milford's Recreation & Open Space Board welcomed new member Ron Thornton at its meeting last Wednesday.

Thornton, a recently retired insurance officer, moved to Lower Milford in early Dec. 2010. “We moved in time to have the family over for Christmas,” said Thornton. Before moving to his new residence in East Mill Hills (Woodlands), he and his wife lived in West Windsor, NJ near Princeton.

Thornton moved into the area to be closer to his two children. His son, a landscape architect, lives in Fort Washington, a Philadelphia suburb, and his daughter lives in Allentown. In his spare time he watches his three grandchildren. “After the babysitting duties, I hope to start gardening,” said Thornton.

Thornton's road to board membership started at ain the township. There he met with board members and was asked by township Supervisor Donna Wright if he was interested in serving on any boards. Shortly after, he received a letter from the township asking him to fill an open spot on the rec board.

After welcoming Thornton, the board discussed preparations for the 9th Annual Fall Festival on Sept. 24 from 10am to 5pm at the township municipal building with free parking and admission. It will feature music by bluegrass band Country Grass Band and classic rock group Groovitude, a band from Southern Lehigh High School.

Wright informed the board that one vendor, Smoking Smitty's, would be at the festival serving barbecue chicken and pulled pork. The township will be taking vendor applications until the week before the festival. “We started with 12 vendors and had 50 booths; eventually we had as many as 70 booths,” said Wright.

For the kids, the festival will have a coloring contest and the Kiddie Tractor Race, where children will ride in a pedal-powered John Deere tractor. “The race is a huge hit,” said Wright.

Wright also announced the return of the Silent Auction. The board auctions off reward baskets and donated items such as computer parts and sports memorabilia. In the past has donated a case of cigars to be auctioned off.

In other business, board member Gary Campbell discussed the idea of having an unofficial open space map to plan for future land openings in Lower Milford. The board could use such a map to list favored areas for parks and recreation. Meanwhile, the board scrapped a plan to create an environmental and stream history program.

The Recreation and Open Space Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the .