I grew up in New Jersey where I explored the banks and fished the waters of the Rockaway River. With my brothers, I skimmed rocks, swam in the shallow pools, and turned over stones to discover crawfish and salamanders. I treasure those memories and understand the urgency to conserve our precious resources as so many of our familiar landscapes are disappearing.

When my wife Kathy and I moved to Oldwick in 2014, we were introduced by neighbors to Raritan Headwaters Association, the watershed watchdog that has been dedicated to protecting this part of the world since 1959. It is because of this organization that Oldwick and so many of our surrounding communities have maintained a rural character reminiscent of my childhood home.

I am proud to be associated with Raritan Headwaters Association as a friend, supporter and new member of the Board of Trustees. RHA advocates for environmental policies in our towns and in Trenton; monitors water quality in our streams and our wells; educates children in schools and nature camps; engages thousands of citizens each year in stream cleanups; and preserves and stewards land. Their dedication has kept our watershed healthy and our communities wonderful places to live, work and play.

My family has had a long commitment to preserving and maintaining our waterways. Raritan Headwaters Association relies on the generosity of individuals like us that give what they can to support the protection of land and clean water. This year we supported their 60th anniversary, an important milestone and will continue to invest in this amazing organization.

I ask you to join Kathy and me in making a year-end gift. Your donation will contribute to the protection of this beautiful place we each call home.