The Fyke Nature Association is please to announce that our 2016 Celery Farm calendars are here, and we have added a day at no extra charge.

Can anybody guess what the 366th day is? (Answer below.)

The calendars, which feature a beautiful shot by John Pastore, sell for $15 each and will be available Friday @ the monthly Fyke meeting at Allendale Borough Hall on Crescent Ave. 

As always, for your convenience, they are divided into 12 months, and the months are divided into weeks and days. Plus all the important dates are designated. I could go on...

Also available at the Fyke meeting for the first time ever:  Celery Farm bumper ovals -- the perfect way to cover minor dents and scratches, as well as show your love of the Celery Farm.

The ovals, which coincidentally feature the letters "CF," are $2 each, or 3 for $5. Like the calendars, they are a great way to raise money for Fyke, and they make great presents for any occasion.

BTW, as you knew, the 366th day is December 31.

This Sunday, Sept. 27, at 9 a.m., is the date and time for the new Pirie - Mayhood Tower dedication.

We have a beautiful plaque honoring both Rob Pirie, who built the original platform, and Charlie Mayhood, longtime friend of the Celery Farm.

Members of both families -- including Rob himself and Charlie's sons from Ohio -- are expected to attend the event, which will take place just after that Sunday's Hour on the Tower (which begins at 8 a.m.).

In lieu of dignitaries, we expect Stiles Thomas to participate in some way.

We hope you can attend, too.

After the dedication, folks will gather for refreshments and good conversation at the historic Fell House, 475 Franklin Turnpike, just south of the Franklin Turnpike parking lot.

You can walk directly to the Fell House, or take a guided walk counter-clockwise and see most of the Celery Farm and then go to the Fell House.

Lots of hawkish screaming over the Celery Farm yesterday -- went to investigate and saw two Red-shoulders and a young Red-tail flying around. 

Red-shoulders disappeared into the tall evergreens by the Fell House, the Red-tail cruised the skies nearby for a few minutes. After the Red-tail left, so did the Red-shoulders.

Could not see a band, but it was most likely Laura and her mate.

We hear the Red-shoulders calling just about every day at the Celery Farm, but never this kind of hell-raising.

Photo above is the young Red-tail. The Red-shoulder is tucked away on a branch below.

Next month, I'll be giving five free readings of my new ghost story, "The Drownling" -- set in Allendale on Halloween Night, 1944 -- plus other cool topics. 

The spooky tale is featured in the latest issue of Autumn Years. ("The Drownling" starts on Page 48.)

Here's the schedule of my appearances, all free and open to the public:

Thursday, Oct. 22 @7pm,  Worth-Pinkham Memorial Library in Ho-Ho-Kus: I'll read "The Drownling" and present a slide show and reading of my ghost story “Phantoms of the Ramapos,” set in Mahwah, Ho-Ho-Kus and Allendale in 1938. 91 Warren Avenue.  hohokus.bccls.org

Monday:  Oct. 26 @7p.m., The John Fell House: I'll read "The Drownling" and give a slide show and talk about Founding Father John Fell and the historic Fell House. 475 Franklin Turnpike, Allendale. celeryfarm.net.

Tuesday, Oct. 27 @7pm, Ridgewood Public Library: I'll read "The Drownling" and present a slide show and talk on Allendale's Celery Farm Natural Area and historic John Fell House. 125 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood. ridgewoodlibrary.org

Wednesday, Oct. [email protected], Mahwah Public Library: I'll read "The Drownling" and present a slide show and reading of my ghost story “Phantoms of the Ramapos,” set in Mahwah, Ho-Ho-Kus and Allendale in 1938. 100 Ridge Rd, Mahwah. www.mahwahlibrary.org

 
Thursday, Oct. 29 @7pm, Franklin Lakes Public Library:  I'll read my new story and present a slide show and reading of my ghost story “Phantoms of the Ramapos.”  www.franklinlakeslibrary.org/

Who dat, and at which hawk lookout was the photo taken?