Thanks Climate Revolution Action Network for speaking at #NoKings about #climatechange

#SomersetCountyNJ #SomervilleNJ
#NoKingsSomervilleNJ
youtu.be/vVQwZvxvWgE?...

Let's GO! Have a great
#NoKingsDay 🚫👑everyone, excercise your
constitutionally-protected right to assemble, practice peaceful, non-violent protest, and don't forget to wear 💛yellow!💛
#SomervilleNJ #SomersetCountyNJ #centraljersey

Let's GO! Have a great
#NoKingsDay 🚫👑everyone, excercise your
constitutionally-protected right to assemble, practice peaceful, non-violent protest, and don't forget to wear 💛yellow!💛
#SomervilleNJ #SomersetCountyNJ #centraljersey

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Rockingham Historic Site The sun caught the treetops at Rockingham before it reached the ground. I’d been watching the light from home, waiting for that particular slant that only happens in August when the earth tilts the morning rays at just the right angle. Seven minutes by car from my home on the southern wedge of Montgomery Township. I grabbed the camera and left. By the time I’d walked from the car park to the comfort station, the drizzle had started. Not the kind that stops you—just enough to wet the grass and leave small water spots on the lens that you notice later when reviewing the files. The light was still good. Golden. Complicated by cloud cover but not ruined by it. I’d timed this right, or at least well enough. Rockingham Historic Site, Kingston, Somerset County · Tuesday 12 August 2025 FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 160 · 1/3 sec XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 51.6 mm · f/16 I was there to make photographs for the Somerset County Journey Through the Past event happening in October. Submissions needed photographs of historic sites in the county. I had a list. The problem with autumn is obvious if you work nine to five1: the sun rises late and sets early. By October, good light means a narrow window around mid-morning or late afternoon. Weekends fill up. But in August, the sun barely sleeps. It rises early enough that I could get out before work, photograph for an hour, and still be home for breakfast before 7:30 AM. In the evenings, I had an open window from 5:30 PM until near dark. Rockingham Historic Site, Kingston, Somerset County · Tuesday 12 August 2025 FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 160 · 1/75 sec XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 44.1 mm · f/2.8 The math was simple. Shoot in August for an October deadline. Use the light while it lasted. Rockingham has changed since I last visited properly. That was years ago when my eldest, Shaan, worked as a docent2. Back then you could walk the grounds more freely. The rear of the main house was open. Now there’s fencing—good solid post-and-rail work—because the deer had other ideas about what the restored gardens meant. Part of that fenced area has become a community garden. It’s useful. It’s alive. It’s also not what the house looked like in 1783. Rockingham Historic Site, Kingston, Somerset County · Tuesday 12 August 2025 FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 160 · 1/50 sec XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 42.7 mm · f/2.8 Here’s the thing about Rockingham that bothered me when I first learned it: the house wasn’t always here3. It was disassembled—literally taken apart—moved a few miles from a hillside near the Millstone River in Rocky Hill, then reassembled at this current location in Kingston. Not moved on a truck. Taken to pieces. Reconstructed. Which raises the obvious question when you’re standing there with a camera: what are you actually photographing? The building I saw that August morning is genuine in its materials. The brick is old. The wood is old. The craftsmanship is authentic. But the _building itself_ —the assembled whole—is a reconstruction. It’s been somewhere else. It was moved. The ground it sits on now isn’t the ground it settled on when it was first built. The trees surrounding it weren’t the same trees. The light hits it differently here. Rockingham Historic Site, Kingston, Somerset County · Tuesday 12 August 2025 FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 160 · 1/8 sec XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 22 mm · f/8.0 Yet there’s something oddly honest about this. The house _was_ moved because someone decided it mattered enough to preserve. That decision, whatever the practical reasons for it, was an act of faith in the building’s importance. Someone looked at this structure and thought: this is worth the impossible work of taking it apart and putting it back together somewhere else. Rockingham Historic Site, Kingston, Somerset County · Tuesday 12 August 2025 FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 160 · 1/10 sec XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 16 mm · f/8.0 The drizzle continued as I moved around it. The fencing meant I couldn’t get the angles I’d planned. The community garden, with its neat rows and practical gardeners’ stakes, sits where I’d expected to see a cleaner view of the house’s rear. The deer have won some ground, lost some ground, and now share the space with people growing vegetables. It’s messier than the marketing materials probably prefer. And it’s more real because of it. Rockingham Historic Site, Kingston, Somerset County · Tuesday 12 August 2025 FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 160 · 1/6 sec XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 16 mm · f/8.0 I kept shooting. The light was still good, even with the clouds. The water spots on the lens created a softness I didn’t plan for but didn’t mind4. The grass was actually alive—not dead and brown like it sometimes gets in summer heat, but genuinely green and damp. The restored buildings were doing what buildings do: standing. Existing. Housing the stories that people decide they’re worth housing. Rockingham Historic Site, Kingston, Somerset County · Tuesday 12 August 2025 FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 500 · 1/125 sec XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR · 16 mm · f/8.0 By the time I walked back to the car, my shoes were wet. The morning was moving toward actual work in an hour. I’d captured what I needed for the submissions, and I’d seen something that had been nagging at me for a while: you don’t need a building to be in its original place to photograph it honestly. You just need to show what it is now. A building that was taken apart and reassembled is still a building. It still has a story. It just happens to be a more complicated one than most. The Journey Through the Past is exactly that—a journey through what we’ve decided to preserve and why. And sometimes what we preserve is the act of preservation itself. * * * 1. Officially 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. ↩ 2. For Advanced Placed United States History credits ↩ 3. While the Continental Congress was meeting in Princeton, Rockingham served as General George Washington’s final Revolutionary War headquarters for over two and one-half months in 1783. You can learn more about Rockingham’s history at Rockingham Historic Site’s website. ↩ 4. Easily fixed with Adobe Lightroom Classic’s AI powered Dust Removal feature. It found and removed dozens of spots with a single click. ↩ ### Like this: Like Loading...

#somersetcountynj #historicpreservation

https://islandinthenet.com/rockingham-historic-site-2/

Rockingham Historic Site Rockingham Historic Site on an August morning.

#somersetcountynj #historicpreservation

2025-11-07 ICE Bound Brook, New Jersey #BoundBrookNJ #SomersetCountyNJ #NJ #Indivisible #EyesOnIce

2025-11-07 ICE Bound Brook, New Jersey #BoundBrookNJ #SomersetCountyNJ #NJ #Indivisible #EyesOnIce

#NJ #SomersetCountyNJ #Indivisible

NJ VOTE TODAY! Need info, help, find where? NJ State Link- nj.gov/state/electi...

#nov4 #Vote_NJ_governor #vote_today #YouVOTEMatters #NJ_Votes #NJ_Voted #NJ_indies #NJ_gigworkers #NJ_artist #NJ_bsky #bsky_NJ #NWNJ #WarrenCountyNJ #HunterdonCountyNJ #SomersetCountyNJ #SussexCountyNJ

Thank you Shanel Robinson, Somerset County Commissioner Director for speaking truth to power and inspiring the crowd on a beautiful fall #NoKings day #NJ #SomersetCountyNJ #franklintownship #Indivisible #indivisiblescnj

#NoKings #SomersetCountyNJ #FranklinNJ #NJ #Indivisible

NO KINGS Phillipsburg · No Kings **In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.** Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Bo...

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Join the Indivisible Somerset County Discord Server! Our Rights, Our Community, Our Values | 29 members

Hey #SomersetCountyNJ #CentralJersey, join us on our #Discord server! discord.gg/uS9apKeDWk

Marvyn Philips speaks at the Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey honoring the legacy of the late John Lewis. #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

Marvyn Philips speaks at the Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey honoring the legacy of the late John Lewis. #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey honoring the legacy of the late John Lewis #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

 

Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey honoring the legacy of the late John Lewis #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey honoring the legacy of the late John Lewis #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey honoring the legacy of the late John Lewis #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ #transgender #protecttranskids #transfamily

Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey honoring the legacy of the late John Lewis #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

Good Trouble Lives On rally in Franklin Township, New Jersey #GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

#GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

#GoodTroubleLivesOn #Indivisible #IndivisibleSCNJ #Activism #Resist #NJ #FranklinNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

a blue and white sticker that says i voted have you ALT: a blue and white sticker that says i voted have you

VOTE Mon 6/9 & 10 DEMS & FLIP BLUE INDIES! NJ Primaries! VOTE TODAY ALL DEMS! It takes 1 hr to VOTE; Saves COUNTLESS HOURS of worry, fret, regret, loss of freedom! @jugularjosh.bsky.social @stateofnewjersey.bsky.social #warrencountyNJ #hunterdoncountyNJ #sussexcountyNJ #somersetcountyNJ #share #NJ

Ecological Succession at Hobler Park Hobler Park’s quiet fields reveal a living story of change—where meadow meets woodland and nothing stays the same for long.

Hobler Park’s quiet fields reveal a living story of change—where meadow meets woodland and nothing stays the same for long.

#HoblerPark #Blawenburg #MontgomeryTownshipNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

Ecological Succession at Hobler Park I spent about half an hour near the edge of the lawn where it meets the old field, camera in hand, listening. The morning was still crisp, the sun just beginning to warm the ground. Birdsong echoed from deeper within Hobler Park, pulling me gently toward the loop trail. That’s where the field begins to give way—first to shrubs, then to woodland and wetland. The transitions are subtle, but they’re where the park’s most interesting stories unfold. Curved teasel heads · Saturday 29 March 2025 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Hobler Park, tucked into Blawenburg, isn’t dramatic. It’s quiet. Flat. Grassy. But it’s a good example of what ecologists call an _early successional habitat_ —what many of us would simply call an _old field_. It was farmland once. Now, it’s a patchwork of grasses, native and non-native wildflowers, and young trees all jostling for space. Maintenance crews mow the fields now and then, holding back the inevitable return of forest. That creates space for all sorts of things to take root. Spiky Teasel heads · Saturday 29 March 2025 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Along the trails, I spotted goldenrod, foxtail grass, teasel, and asters. Familiar plants, yes—but when you pay attention, you realise they’re doing important work. They feed pollinators like bees and butterflies. Insects thrive here. And where there are insects, there are birds. I’ve seen sparrows, chickadee, tree swallows, and even seen a kestrel or two gliding above the meadow1. Hobler Park · Saturday 29 March 2025 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR If you stand still long enough, you’ll start to notice how different areas of the park are in different stages of succession. The central meadow just north of the car park is mostly goldenrod and teasel, though there are signs of change—sumac and dogwood shrubs, for example. They’re edging in, waiting for their chance to take over. Along the eastern edge, young trees lean upward, reaching for light. Their presence hints at the next phase—when field becomes forest. Gall on dried Goldenrod · Saturday 29 March 2025 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR The southern section of the park is a different story altogether. There, the land dips slightly. It holds on to spring rain a little longer. That extra moisture changes everything. You’ll find sedges and rushes here, and other plants that like wet feet. These wet spots blend into the drier field—a gradual, messy merging of two plant communities. And that brings us to one of Hobler Park’s best features: its ecotones. Dried milkweed pods · Saturday 29 March 2025 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Ecotones are transition zones—the in-between areas where two habitats meet and mingle. They’re neither one thing nor the other, and because of that, they’re often buzzing with life. You get species from both sides of the divide, plus a few specialists that only live in the in-between. At Hobler, ecotones are everywhere. There’s the meadow–woodland edge on the west side, where deer and foxes2 pass quietly. The southern low spots show off the wetland–grassland mix. And all throughout, there are patches where shrubs are slowly turning meadow into young forest. Photographers might overlook these in-between places, especially in spring, when the temptation is to chase fresh flowers or dramatic skies. But the tangled bits—where dried grasses blur into thorny stems, or where red twigs catch the light—those places are where change is happening. Slowly, yes. But steadily. Thicket · Saturday 29 March 2025 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR Hobler Park is a record of ecological time. It’s showing us what happens when land is left to heal itself—what species return, what patterns emerge, and how different types of life layer over one another. There’s a quiet rhythm here. A movement toward forest, paused now and then by mowers, shaped by rainfall, nudged along by deer. It’s easy to walk right through without noticing. But if you slow down—even just a bit—you’ll see that Hobler isn’t static. It’s a place in motion, one that rewards patience and observation. Whether you’re watching birds, photographing plants, or just walking to clear your head, there’s something grounding about being in a place that’s both familiar and slowly changing. This is what succession looks like, up close. Not just in theory, but in a real patch of grass and brush just down the road. * * * 1. I really need those kestrels to sit on a branch and pose for me. ↩ 2. The foxes, like the kestrel, have so far evaded photography. ↩ ### Like this: Like Loading... Nature BlawenburgEarly Successional HabitatEcological SuccessionEcotoneHobler ParkMontgomery TownshipOld FieldSomerset CountyWild TeaselWildflower Meadow

Hobler Park’s quiet fields reveal a living story of change—where meadow meets woodland and nothing stays the same for long.

#HoblerPark #Blawenburg #MontgomeryTownshipNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

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American Robin – Common, Not Boring The American Robin isn’t rare—but that’s exactly why I appreciate it.

The American Robin isn’t rare—but that’s exactly why I appreciate it.

#Birds #USBirds #AmericanRobin #HoblerPark #Blawenburg #MontgomeryTownshipNJ #SomersetCountyNJ#MontgomeryTownshipNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

American Robin – Common, Not Boring American Robins are everywhere around here in central New Jersey. I see them hopping across lawns, flitting between trees, and calling from the tops of fence posts. To be honest, they’re almost like the squirrels of the bird world—so common that many people stop noticing them at all. That might be why some photographers skip past them. There’s a tendency to chase after the rare or exotic. But I think that’s a mistake. For me, their everyday presence is exactly what makes them interesting. Because they’re so common, I’ve had many chances to watch them closely. I get to see their behaviour change with the seasons, their movements through the day, and how they interact with their environment. And because they’re not rare, I don’t feel rushed. I can slow down and try to really see them. That’s what happened on this particular morning at Hobler Park. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) · Saturday 29 March 2025 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR I was walking near the entrance to the loop trail, listening for bird calls and enjoying the crisp spring air. It was still early, the light soft and angled. As I approached a cluster of trees, I heard a familiar call, looked up, and there it was—an American Robin perched on a slender, leafless branch. Its bright orange breast stood out vividly against the soft green blur in the background. Something about this bird’s posture made me smile. It seemed almost deliberate, as if it was trying to get my attention. I imagined it thinking, “Hey, mate—don’t forget me. I’m right here!” Of course, I have no idea what a robin might be thinking. But that’s how it felt in the moment. It’s part of what made the shot special for me. Of all the photos I took that morning, this one is my favourite. There’s something direct about it. The robin is perched confidently, the background is soft and simple, and the colours feel honest—no need for dramatic editing. It’s just a moment of calm, and a reminder that even the most familiar birds still have beauty worth noticing. ### Like this: Like Loading... Birds Wildlife American RobinBirdingBlawenburgHobler ParkMontgomery TownshipSomerset CountyTurdus migratoriusUrban Birds

The American Robin isn’t rare—but that’s exactly why I appreciate it.

#Birds #USBirds #AmericanRobin #HoblerPark #Blawenburg #MontgomeryTownshipNJ #SomersetCountyNJ#MontgomeryTownshipNJ #SomersetCountyNJ

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