Locked and Loaded in Pohatcong

Two generations square off at a friendly Tuesday Night Rifle Shoot at the Phillipsburg Pistol Club

The recent shocking story of an attempted daytime burglary by a career criminal on Still Valley Road (or home invasion as it turned out since the elderly homeowner was present) may have gotten some Pohatcongers seriously thinking about exercising their second amendment rights and maybe join the growing ranks of responsible gun owners to protect their family and loved ones. This would make them part of a burgeoning  trend in America where gun sales are currently booming as the larger economy continues to deteriorate and fear of crime and an ever intrusive government feeds the frenzy.  

Fortunately, for those aspiring to become new gun owners there are an increasing number of local resources that have become available for legal purchase and training of firearms. But before you run out to empty your wallet on that new Zombie-busting, semi-automatic Howitzer you intend to buy, don't forget the first step: acquiring your New Jersey Firearms ID Card.  The ID card is required for not only the purchase of any long gun (e.g. rifle, shotgun) but also for purchasing ammunition here in nanny state New Jersey. Also note that in New Jersey, there is a separate permit requirement for pistols so there is additional paperwork to be filled and submitted. The Pohatcong Police Department will then happily process all your paperwork along with doing the background and fingerprinting chores required by Federal and State law and, assuming you clear all the tripwires, your ID card should be in hand within 3o days or so.

By this time you have already undoubtedly spent many days and nights researching on the internet and have compiled an impressive shopping and "to do" list for your new hobby.  By now, you are no doubt aware of major retailers like Cabelas  as well as a multitude of  internet resources so I will skip those and list some more local ones instead.  This is not intended to be a comprehensive list but just a helpful start from someone who may have been there before.

The Owls Nest
(908) 995-7903
97 County Road 519  Pohatcong, NJ
( No website available) 
Okay had to start with Jim Heebner's place first.  This is the local gathering spot for gun enthusiasts and sportsmen and women. New or used gun and archery sales and equipment.  Gunsmithing service. Hunting and fishing licenses. Oh and did I mention live bait of various sorts or refills for your kid's paint ball gun.


Jim Flynn's Truck Repair

(908) 537-6446

2135 State Route 31
Glen Gardner , NJ 08826
(No website available) 
Huh? You're probably saying.  Truck repair joint? Have I lost it? Not really.  Jim Flynn runs a hybrid 
business so if it's not truck repair you're looking for then you are here because you probably heard about Jim's sterling reputation as a firearms dealer and his low, low prices. This is not a conventional retail store so don't expect to see much product on display. Instead, sales are mostly via Jim's catalog but pricing is, as his many followers will attest-exceptional. Ammo however is stocked and his pricing tends to be pretty rock bottom. Btw-Cash only.


Heritage Guild of Easton
70 Hilton Street
Easton, PA 18042
tel: 610.258.5500
Website 
Just across the river and brand spanking new, the Guild has a very large showroom with an impressive inventory or firearms on display for those who like to feel and touch their equipment before purchasing.  Some handgun models can even be rented to try out on their ultra modern range before you lay out your hard earned cash. Lots of shoppers here from New Jersey whenever we have visited.

Sarco, Inc.
50 Hilton St
Easton PA 18042
tel: 610.250.3960
Website
A few paces down from the Heritage Guild and also recently arrived (actually, transplanted from New Jersey), is this unique emporium for gun enthusiasts that has a kind of flea market vibe to it.  Lots of used
firearms along with military memorabilia and army surplus goods. Be prepared to spend some time here if this is what floats your boat.

Places to shoot:

Phillipsburg Pistol Club
PO Box 836
25 Howard St
Phillipsburg NJ, 08865
908-454-1232

Website

Within a few minutes drive for most folks in town, the club has both indoor and outdoor ranges.

Along with pistols, you can also shoot rimfire rifles and shotguns (outside only). Classes and private instruction is also available along with many other events throughout the year.  Their NRA First Steps safety class is held on a regular basis and highly recommended for beginners and novices alike. 

 
Easton Fish and Game Association, Inc.
PO Box 3352
Easton, PA  18043-3352
Phone: 610-559-1763
Website
With a 100-yard outdoor center-fire range this is the place to come and test fire that tricked out 
custom bazooka you've been assembling.  With a new clubhouse under construction, this place will
likely become even more popular than it is now. Very busy at most times and especially on weekends.




Recommended Reading:  

New Jersey Gun Law Guide
By Evan F. Nappen and  Richard Gilbert 

Website

Boston's Gun Bible
By Boston Tea Party 
Website

Pohatcong Reality TV-Vol.1: Jerry Kern Unloads!

Jerry Kern (no relation to Mayor Jim Kern) takes exception to comments by Eugene Weber, of the Land Use Board, at the Pohatcong Town Council meeting on Mar.20th 2012 and offers up his own bit of history on the effects of the Highlands Act in his life. At issue this evening was Ordinance 12-02 : Of The Township of Pohatcong to Petition the Highlands Council for Plan Conformance for The Planning Area. Later,  motion to vote on ordinance failed when there was no second on council  to move ahead on vote.

(Note: Video is about 15 minutes. In 2 parts in order to comply with You Tube Terms of Service)

Pohatcong Job Opportunities

At some recent town council meetings several residents suggested that when openings for municipal jobs become available that this information should also be posted on the township website.  Well it now has:

MUNICIPAL COURT OFFICE ASSISTANT

The Township of Pohatcong is seeking a Municipal Court Office Assistant, Part-Time Position 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. /No Benefits. Pohatcong Residents preferred. Please submit application/resume by March 16th, to the attention of: Wanda L. Kutzman, Township Clerk, 50 Municipal Drive, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865.

FULL TIME LABORER ROAD DEPARTMENT

Township of Pohatcong

Applicant must possess a current Class B CDL License at minimum. Pohatcong Residents preferred. Please submit application or resume as soon as possible / by March 16th to: Wanda Kutzman, Township Clerk, 50 Municipal Drive, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865.

Pohatcong Food Pantry: An Update

Thank-you to those readers who responded to our initial post and have made contributions of food and other items to help our local pantry.  According to the nice ladies who volunteer at the church, there are approximately 185 people in our town who are currently using this resource -so the need continues to burgeon.  The ladies said they are particularly seeking additional supplies of protein rich foods, so if you are in a position to make a donation, please keep this in mind.

Where:  Finesville United Methodist Church
             150 County Road 627
             (908) 995-0115

When:  Every Wednesday morning from 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 Noon

Pohatcong Photo Gallery: Winter 2012

Villa Milagro: Vineyard at Rest

Still Valley Road Tunnel: Work in Progress

River Road : A Pole In the Road

Super Wal Mart: Pre-Opening

In the Belly of the Beast: Super Wal Mart Opening Day

A  Lonely, Desolate Place:  Phillipsburg Mall, New Jersey

Closed Stores: Phillipsburg Mall, New Jersey

As Good a Year as Any to Start Your Pohatcong Survival Garden

The beet goes on...

 Ever wonder what the greatest fear is for an average American these days? Well, according to a recent survey conducted by conducted by Leiflin, Inc for the EcoHealth Alliance, it is economic collapse-and by a wide margin. So while our government along with corporate media continually attempts to distract and buy off the people with bread and circuses, it is still startling to realize that the larger public has figured out, by way of third grade math, that the looming debt bomb is going to ignite one of these days real soon -and it will not be a pretty conflagration.  Sad to say, while this will be a frightening and cataclysmic event for many people (and the narrative beyond this occurrence gets worse yet) there is not much that we can do to jam up the gears on this runaway train except... garden as if your life depends on it!

This is a theme I first encountered when I traveled in parts of former Soviet Union in the early 1990's where people had lived under the heel of a completely dysfunctional command economy that struggled to meet even the most basic needs of its subject population.  Human resilience and adaptability being what they are, many people learned to grow their own food and a typical house then was not surrounded by useless ornamental shrubbery and lawn but rather a full-blown vegetable garden (often with small greenhouse) and an orchard of fruit trees. Producing a good part of their own food is may be a reason why, even to this day, people over there look a lot healthier to me than the typical oftentimes obese Americanos.

In past posts I have already hammered on the themes of food security and localization so I will not revisit those threads here again other than to say that they are still very much apropos and in effect.  Some think that tough times have arrived here in America and they are correct- but even more difficult times lie ahead. Good sense would dictate that we look at people who have been there recently and take a page from their play book and start toughening up for the leaner times ahead.  Here on our own family's little patch of the universe, we have labored, year after year in our garden, the results of which I have shared in part, with you the  readers of this blog.  So with an unusually warm winter winding down, spring fever seems to have arrived early this year and our garden plans and strategies are already underway.  One thing I have hankered to do for many years now is to save my own vegetable seeds so, one of my first efforts will be is to grow heirloom (not hybrid) tomatoes this year. I'm using one of those off the shelf starter trays (pictured below) to get my seeds off to an early start indoors rather than attempting to locate appropriate transplants from commercial nurseries later on..  Should be a fun experiment for the tomato patch this year and updates will be posted.  In the meantime, give some serious thought to ripping out that toxic lawn (or at least part of it)  if you haven't already done so.  Eat better and spend some time in your new productive garden meditating with your local flowers and fauna. They will also appreciate the new tranquil environment and will be spared the future sight of a silly, mower riding, hairless monkey tearing up their neighborhood.

Getting Started

About 2 weeks later...all pods are go!