Page 26 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & III • September 15, 2010 Harvest Fest comes to State Botanical Garden The ninth annual Fall Harvest Fest will take place at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden on Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. NJBG/Skylands Association, the non-profit member organization that supports the Botanical Garden, sponsors this annual weekend packed with family fun. Activities for all ages include hay rides, pumpkin painting, face painting, a blacksmithing exhibit, storytellers, children’s games, dollar-a-minute chair massages, an autumn plant sale at the Volunteer Greenhouse, and even a few surprises. There will be free guided garden tours, or you can wander on your own on a self-guided scavenger hunt or tour. Remember to bring your camera, as there will be photo face boards and lots of great photo ops. For hungry guests, the Harvest Café will offer tasty fall treats, popcorn, and traditional Oktoberfest food. There will be live music and dancing both days from 1 to 4 p.m. At the Beer-Tasting ($15, adults only), participants can sample several different Oktoberfest beers. Free guided garden tours will be available each day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Gift Shop and Craft Fair open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The Botanical Garden, with all its fall plantings and foliage, is open free of charge. Parking is also free. Proceeds from Harvest Fest activities benefit NJBG/Skylands Association in its public-spirited work improving the New Jersey State Botanical Garden. NJBG is still welcoming sponsors for the Harvest Fest. If your business is interested in sponsoring an activity or donating in other ways, contact Pauli Maniscalki at (973) 907-7823. Donors’ generosity will be publicly displayed at the festival and contributions are tax-deductible. NJBG is located on Morris Road in Ringwood State Park, Ringwood. Call (973) 962-9534 or visit www.njbg. org for directions and any changes due to weather. Originally assembled from pioneer farmsteads of the 1890s, The New Jersey State Botanical Garden has a venerable history. In 1922, Clarence McKenzie Lewis, an investment banker and trustee of the New York Botanical Garden purchased the property and original Victorian mansion from Francis Lynde Stetson. Over the next three decades, Lewis built the current 45-room Tudor manor house and transformed Skylands into a botanical showplace, engaging prominent landscape architects to design the grounds and collecting plants from all over the world. In 1966, the State of New Jersey purchased the 1,117 acres of Skylands as the state’s first acquisition under the Green Acres preservation program. Governor Thomas Kean designated the central 96 acres surrounding the manor house as the state’s official botanical garden in 1984. The gardens contain many unique features, including an extensive collection of statuary, trees, formal annual garden, perennial beds, and an heirloom collection of lilacs. Since 1976, NJBG/Skylands Association, an incorporated, member-supported non-profit organization of volunteers, has worked with the state to preserve and protect Skylands and its historical structures. NJBG receives no state funding. NJBG sponsors programs, concerts, and events throughout the year at the botanical garden. Guided tours of the gardens are offered on Sundays at 2 p.m., May through the end of October, weather permitting. Call (973) 962-9534 or visit www.njbg.org for more information about NJBG membership, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, or directions. The NJ Botanical Garden is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the botanical garden is free, and parking is free in the fall, winter, and spring. ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 ARIES -- Mar 21/Apr 20 With lofty plans in mind, you set out With lofty plans in mind, you set out to make a commotion this week, Arto make a commotion this week, Aries. However, you’ll find that your imies. However, you’ll find that your impact isn’t quite what you had hoped it pact isn’t quite what you had hoped it to be. to be. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 TAURUS -- Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, resolutions to change are only Taurus, resolutions to change are only effective if you really want to change. effective if you really want to change. Think about whether you’re ready to Think about whether you’re ready to take on this task. take on this task. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI -- May 22/Jun 21 Your supportive and caring nature Your supportive and caring nature comes through on Wednesday, Gemicomes through on Wednesday, Gemini, when you’ll be asked to go above ni, when you’ll be asked to go above and beyond in a certain situation. and beyond in a certain situation. CANCER Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER -- Jun 22/Jul 22 What you view as flaws are barely disWhat you view as flaws are barely discernable by others, Cancer. This week cernable by others, Cancer. This week you’ll have the opportunity to see you’ll have the opportunity to see yourself in an entirely different light yourself in an entirely different light and it will be a revelation. and it will be a revelation. LEO Jul 23/Aug 23 LEO -- Jul 23/Aug 23 You’ll get to the finish line whether You’ll get to the finish line whether you run or walk, Leo, so don’t feel the you run or walk, Leo, so don’t feel the pressure to perform over your ability. pressure to perform over your ability. The end result will be the same regardThe end result will be the same regardless of the pace. less of the pace. VIRGO Aug 24/Sept 22 VIRGO -- Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, never think twice about what Virgo, never think twice about what you know to be the right choice deep you know to be the right choice deep down in your gut. You have never been down in your gut. You have never been one to confuse right from wrong, so one to confuse right from wrong, so don’t worry. don’t worry. LIBRA Sept 23/Oct 23 LIBRA -- Sept 23/Oct 23 When someone opens up to you this When someone opens up to you this week you don’t know how to react, Liweek you don’t know how to react, Libra. It’s better to be honest with this bra. It’s better to be honest with this person, otherwise he or she may not person, otherwise he or she may not feel comfortable talking to you again. feel comfortable talking to you again. SCORPIO Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO -- Oct 24/Nov 22 You’re at a crossroads in your career, You’re at a crossroads in your career, Scorpio, but certain signs will present Scorpio, but certain signs will present themselves later in the week. You may themselves later in the week. You may be surprised at the direction they take be surprised at the direction they take you. you. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS -- Nov 23/Dec 21 Adjust your way of thinking when it Adjust your way of thinking when it comes to a family member who usucomes to a family member who usually pushes all your buttons, Sagittarially pushes all your buttons, Sagittarius. You have to be the bigger person in us. You have to be the bigger person in this situation. this situation. CAPRICORN Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN -- Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, remarkable things can hapCapricorn, remarkable things can happen when you set your mind to them pen when you set your mind to them and this week is no different. You may and this week is no different. You may need a little help from Virgo in this need a little help from Virgo in this situation, though. situation, though. AQUARIUS Jan 21/Feb 18 AQUARIUS -- Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, just when you thought you Aquarius, just when you thought you couldn’t take one more obstacle, the couldn’t take one more obstacle, the road opens up and is clear sailing toroad opens up and is clear sailing toward your goal. Now is the time to ward your goal. Now is the time to pick up the pace. pick up the pace. PISCES Feb 19/Mar20 PISCES -- Feb 19/Mar20 Does it seem like you’re swimming Does it seem like you’re swimming against the current, Pisces? It could be against the current, Pisces? It could be because you just like to do things a bit because you just like to do things a bit differently from others. differently from others. Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle